Perspectives on the happiness of community-dwelling elderly in Korea

Sang Won Jeon, Changsu Han, Jongha Lee, Jaehyoung Lim, Hyun Ghang Jeong, Moon Ho Park, Young Hoon Ko, Chi Un Pae, Seung Hyun Kim, Sook Haeng Joe, David C. Steffens

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: A community survey was performed to investigate the factors and perspectives associated with happiness among the elderly in Korea (≥60 years). Methods: Eight hundred volunteers selected from participants in the Ansan Geriatric study (AGE study) were enrolled, and 706 completed the survey. The Happiness Questionnaire (HQ), which asks four questions about happiness, was administered. To explore the relationship between happiness and depression, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) also were administered. Results: The participants’ average level of happiness, determined using a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS) of the HQ, was 64.7± 26.0. The happiest situations for most people were “getting together with family” (23.8%) and “living in peace with family members (well-being)” (13.2%). Frequent reasons for not being happy were “worsened health condition” (28.7% of the not-happy group), “economic problems of their own” (16.5%), and “economic problems of their children” (14.8%). The participants’ choices regarding the essential conditions for happiness were “good health” (65.3%) and “being with family” (20.5%). The BDI and GDS scores were negatively related to the happiness score. A preliminary scale [Happy (Haeng-Bok) aging scale] based on the HQ for measuring the happiness level of the Korean elderly was suggested for follow-up studies. Conclusion: The most important factors determining the happiness of the community-dwelling elderly in Korea were good family relationships, economic stability, and good health. A higher depression score negatively impacted happiness among Korean elders. Further studies on the factors in their happiness are required.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)50-57
Number of pages8
JournalPsychiatry Investigation
Volume13
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016 Jan
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Korean Neuropsychiatric Association.

Keywords

  • Depression
  • Economic problem
  • Elderly
  • Family
  • Happiness
  • Health

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Biological Psychiatry

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