The Relationship of Powerlessness, Sense of Belonging and Nutritional Status in the Elderly

Park, Seon Hwa; So, Heeyoung

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between powerlessness, sense of belonging and nutritional status of the elderly. METHOD: The study sample was 100 living at home and institutions. Data were collected by interview from Oct. to Dec. in 2003. The instruments were helplessness scale developed by Jung (1998), sense of belonging scale SOBI-A and nutritional initial screening. RESULT: The mean score of powerlessness was 2.71+/-.30, sense of belonging was 2.87+/-.19, and nutritional status was 4.42+/-.34. There was a statistically significant differences in powerlessness according to age (F=3.185, p=0.027), health status (F=6.945, P=0.002), religion (F=5.941, P=0.001), current spouse (t=-0.384, p=0.026), in sense of belonging according to age (F=4.40, P=0.006), length of education (F=10.64, P=<.0001) and in nutritional status according to age (F=3.34, P= 0.022), health status (F=2.86, P=0.027). There was a statistically significant correlation between powerlessness and nutritional status (r=0.219, p=0.029). CONCLUSION: Nurses are able to decrease powerlessness or increase sense of belonging and nutritional status of the elderly by developing the health promotion program, improving perceived health status and empowering social interaction of the elderly specifically living at institutions.