Psychological,Social, and Environmental Factors Associated With Utilization of Senior Centers Among Older Adults in Korea |
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Authors: | Hyun-Shik Kim Masashi Miyashita Kazuhiro Harada Jong-Hwan Park Jae-Moo So Yoshio Nakamura |
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Institution: | 1.Graduate School of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan.;2.Department of Health and Sports Sciences, Tokyo Gakugei University, Tokyo, Japan.;3.Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan.;4.Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan.;5.Department of Physical Education, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea. |
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Abstract: | ObjectivesThe 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.MethodsA 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.ResultsOur 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.ConclusionsThis 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. |
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Keywords: | Senior center Prevention of long-term care Self efficacy Perceived benefits and barriers Social support Built environment |
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