Social networks, health promoting ‐behavior, and health‐related quality of life in older Korean adults

Abstract In this cross‐sectional, descriptive study, we compared the sociodemographic characteristics, social networks, health‐promoting behavior, and the health‐related quality of life of older Korean adults living in South Korea to those of older Korean adult immigrants living in the USA. A total of 354 older adults, aged 65 years or older, participated. Data were collected through self‐directed questionnaires, and analyzed using a two way analysis of variance, t‐tests, χ2‐tests, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The association between four sociodemographic characteristics and health‐related quality of life was significantly different between the two groups. For the older Korean adults living in South Korea, positive correlations existed between a measure of their social networks and both health‐promoting behavior and health‐related quality of life. For the older Korean immigrants, the findings revealed a positive correlation only between social networks and health‐promoting behavior. The study findings support the important association social networks can have with health‐related quality of life, and their possible relationship to health‐promoting behaviors of older Korean adults. We suggest that health policy‐makers and healthcare providers develop comprehensive programs that are designed to improve older adults’ social networks.
Source: Nursing and Health Sciences - Category: Nursing Authors: Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research