Citation

Kim HS, Miyashita M, Harada K, Park JH, So JM, Nakamura Y. J. Prev. Med. Pub. Health 2012; 45(4): 244-250.

Affiliation

Graduate School of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Korean Society for Preventive Medicine)

DOI

10.3961/jpmph.2012.45.4.244

PMID

22880156

PMCID

PMC3412987

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to examine the relationships among the psychological, social, and environmental factors influencing the utilization of senior centers among older adults in Korea. METHODS: A QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY WAS ADMINISTERED TO TWO TYPES OF OLDER ADULTS WHO LIVED IN SEOUL, KOREA: 262 older adults who used senior centers (3 places) and 156 older adults who did not use senior centers. RESULTS: Our results showed clearly that the utilization of the senior centers in Korea is affected by higher self-efficacy (odds ratio [OR], 6.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.31 to 12.32), higher perceived benefits (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.16 to 4.36), lower perceived barriers (OR, 6.43; 95% CI, 3.07 to 11.45), higher family support (OR, 4.21; 95% CI, 2.02 to 8.77), and higher support from friends (OR, 4.08; 95% CI, 2.38 to 7.81). The results also showed that participants whose total travel time was 15 to 29 minutes (OR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.21 to 3.64) or less than 14 minutes (OR, 4.68; 95% CI, 3.41 to 8.41) were more likely to use a senior center than those who had to travel more than 30 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the utilization of senior centers in Korea is affected by psychological, social, and environmental factors, specifically by self-efficacy, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, social support, convenience of transportation, and total travel time to the senior centers. The effects of longer-term utilization of the senior centers by non-users on health-related outcomes in a large population warrant attention.

Language: en