J Nurs Acad Soc.  1974 May;4(2):32-43.

A Study on The Extent of Alienation Reavealed among A Group of Aged People in Seoul City

• Kim HJ

Abstract

A steady increase in the aged population poses a great challenge to nurses with their divesities of health care needs, especially of psychosocial nature, such as an alienation problems among the aged. The purpose of this study is to examine the nature of alienation problems among the aged in urban areas to provide basic informations for a better understanding of aged people. In this study, the investigator has tried to identify causes of alienation in the aged, and to determine the extent of alienation in relation to sex, family structure, religion, economic status and participation in social activities. The survey was done during the period from the last part of August to the end of Sep tember 1973. After a day's training, 10 interviewers have interviewed 210 stratified random samples of people over the age of 65 residing in Seoul with the free-ended questionnaire prepared by the investigator. The result of the study was tested by Critical Ratio. Following Hypothesis have guides formulation of the study: I. The extent of alienation in old man would be higher than in old woman. II. The extent of alienation in the aged who live alone wlould be higher than those living with their family. III. The extent of alienation in the aged who have no spouse would be higher than who live with their spouse. IV. The extent of alienation in the people without religious beliefs would be higher than the people with religious bilefs. V. The extent of alienation in the aged would be higher in proportion to decreased level of their economic productivity. VI. The extent of alienation in the aged who do not participate in social activities would be higher than that of the aged who actively participate. The analytic results of the study are as follows: 1. The extent of alienation in woman was revealed higher than that of man by showing signifcant difference at P<0.01 level. (CR=3.66) Accordingly hypothesis I was denied. 2. The extent of alienation in the agad who live alone was revealed higher than that of the aged who live with their family by showing a significant difference at P<0.01 level. (CR=7.31) So hypothesis It was supported. 3. The extent of alienation of the aged who have no spouse was revealed higher than that of the aged who live with their spouse at the significant level of P<0.01. CR=4.65) Accordingly hypothesis III was supported, 4. There was no significant difference in the extent of alienation between the people with and without religion. Thus hypothesis IV was rejected. 5. The extent of alienation in the aged was found to be higher in proportion to decreased level of their economic ability. a. The aged with greatest income showed least alienation. b. The aged with no income had a greater extent of alienation than the aged with minimal' income by showing significant difference at P <0.01 level . (CR=4.82) c The difference between the greatest income group and the minimal income group was found to be less singnificant than the difference between minimal income group and the-people without income. Thus hypothesis V was positively supported. 6. The extent of alienation in the aged who do not participate in social activities was higher than that of the aged who actively participate. (P<0.01, CR=6.24) Accordingly hypothesis VI was supported.

MeSH Terms

Delivery of Health Care
Efficiency
Emigrants and Immigrants*
Female
Humans
Surveys and Questionnaires
Religion
Research Personnel
Seoul*
Spouses