Association between Family arrangements and Health behaviors by Gender in Older adults

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study aims to examine the relationship between family arrangements and health behavior by gender among older people aged 65years and older. METHOD: Data are from the Living Profiles of Older People Survey conducted by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Health & Welfare in 2011. The number of research subjects totaled 10,674 composed of 4,606 males and 6,068 females. For data analysis, the study conducted a frequency analysis, a cross analysis, and a binomial and multinomial logistic regression analysis using the SPSS 18.0. RESULTS: In this study, there were significant differences at the level of health behavior practice in four items including smoking, drinking, nutrition management, and exercise for Korean elderly people according to their family arrangements. Even after controlling for socio-demographic factors, health condition factors, and social support factors, family arrangements still had a significant effect on health behavior practice. In male elderly people, family arrangements affected nutrition management, appropriate drinking, and regular exercise, whereas for female elderly people it affected nonsmoking, nondrinking, appropriate drinking, nutrition management, regular exercise, and irregular exercise practice. Also, it was found that many more health behavior items were being practiced in other family arrangements compared with a single elderly household. In addition, concerning male elderly people, it was found that elderly people household living with children, elderly couple household, and other elderly household practiced all the four health behavior items at a three times higher level than single elderly household. Meanwhile for female elderly people, it was found that elderly couple household practiced these health behavior items at a nine times higher level than single elderly household. CONCLUSION: From this study, it was discovered that family arrangements worked as the greatest influential factor on the health behavior practice of elderly people. Also, since family arrangements affect health behavior practice differently by gender, the study proposes the need for differentiated approach strategies for enhancing the health behavior practice of elderly people

목적: 본 연구는 우리나라 65세 이상 남녀 노인을 대상으로 가구형태가 건강행위에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 함이다. 방법: 본 연구 자료는 보건사회연구원과 보건복지부가 실시하는 2011년 노인실태조사 원시자료를 이용하였고, 연구대상자는 65세 이상 남자 4,606명, 여자 6,068명으로 총 10,674명이다. 자료 분석은 SPSS 18.0을 이용하여 빈도분석, 교차분석 그리고 이항 및 다항 로지스틱 회귀분석을 실시하였다. 결과: 본 연구에서 우리나라 노인은 가구형태에 따라 흡연, 음주, 영양관리, 운동 4항목의 건강행위 실천정도에 유의한 차이를 보였다. 인구사회학적 요인, 건강상태 요인, 사회적지지 요인을 통제한 후에도 가구형태는 4가지 건강행위 실천에 유의한 영향을 미쳤는데, 남성 노인에서 가구형태는 영양관리, 적정음주, 규칙적 운동에 영향을 주었고, 여성 노인에서 가구형태는 금연, 금주, 적정음주, 영양관리, 규칙적 운동, 불규칙적 운동에 영향을 미쳤다. 또한 노인독거 가구에 비해 다른 가구형태에서 더 많은 건강행위 항목을 실천함을 알 수 있었으며, 남성 노인은 노인독거가구보다 자녀동거노인가구, 노인부부가구와 기타노인가구에서 4가지 건강행위 항목을 모두 실천하는 경우가 3배 정도 높았고, 여성 노인은 노인독거가구보다 노인부부가구에서 9배 높게 나타났다. 결론: 본 연구를 통해 가구형태는 노인의 건강행위실천에 큰 영향요인으로 작용함을 알 수 있었고, 남녀별로 가구형태가 건강행위실천에 미치는 영향력이 다르므로 노인의 건강행위실천을 높이기 위한 차별적인 접근전략이 필요함을 제안한다.