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Hwang, Lim, and Lee: A Comparison of the Factors Influencing the Life Satisfaction of the Elderly According to their Cognitive Impairment Level
Original Article
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2009; 39(5): 622-631.

Published online: 31 October 2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2009.39.5.622

A Comparison of the Factors Influencing the Life Satisfaction of the Elderly According to their Cognitive Impairment Level

Rah Il Hwang1, Ji Young Lim2, Young Whee Lee2

1Senior Researcher, National Health Insurance Cooperation, Seoul, Korea.

2Professor, Department of Nursing, Inha University, Incheon, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Lim, Ji Young. Department of Nursing, Inha University, 253 Younghyeon-dong, Nam-gu, Incheon 402-751, Korea. Tel: 82-32-860-8210, Fax: 82-32-874-5880, lim20712@inha.ac.kr

Received 25 September 2008       Accepted 16 July 2009

Copyright © 2009 Korean Society of Nursing Science

Abstract

Purpose

This study was conducted to analyze the factors that influence the life satisfaction of the elderly according to their cognitive impairment level.

Methods

This study was conducted by dividing 3,012 elderly residents of a regional community into three groups based on the scores of the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination: a normal group without any cognitive impairment, a suspicious group with a mild level of cognitive impairment, and a high risk group with a high level of cognitive impairment. Researchers made phone calls, house calls, and personal visits to health centers and shelters for the elderly to gather the information required for this study.

Results

The results of this study revealed that social relationships, depression, and activities of daily living had a significant impact on life satisfaction for the normal group, while social relationships and depression had a high impact on life satisfaction for the suspicious group, and social relationships had high impact on the life satisfaction of the high risk group.

Conclusion

Based on the results of this study, we suggest that programs that promote development of the social relationship networks of the elderly should be established to promote their life satisfaction.

Keywords: Aged, Cognitive disorders, Satisfaction

Figures and Tables

Table 1
General Characteristics of Subjects according to Level of Cognitive Impairment (N=3,012)
jkan-39-622-i001

*Missing value excluded.

Table 2
Mean of MMSE-K Score (N=3,012)
jkan-39-622-i002

MMSE-K=Mini-Mental Screening Examination-Korea.

Table 3
Scores of Research Variables in the Elderly according to Level of Cognitive Impairment (N=3,012)
jkan-39-622-i003

ADL=activities of daily living.

Table 4
A Comparison of the Influencing Factors in Elderly Life Satisfaction according to Level of Cognitive Impairment (N=3,012)
jkan-39-622-i004

ADL=activities of daily living.

Notes

This work was supported by Jung-gu Health Center in the city of Incheon.

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