Abstract
Elders living alone may experience worse health outcomes than do those living with spouse and/or children. Using baseline
data from a randomized trial to promote high blood pressure (HBP) control in Korean elders (N = 440), we examined the relationship
between living arrangements and HBP control. We also interviewed a sub-sample to better understand the patterns of social
interactions associated with different types of living arrangements. One in five reported living alone; this group tended
to be older and female, and resided in senior group housing. Those living alone were twice as likely as those living with
a spouse to have controlled BP (OR = 2.08; 95 % CI 1.09–3.97), even after controlling for study covariates. Those in senior
group housing had frequent social interactions that involved conversations around health, encouragement concerning medication
taking, and health information sharing. In conclusion, Korean elders living independently are neither socially-isolated nor
at increased risk for poor BP control.
data from a randomized trial to promote high blood pressure (HBP) control in Korean elders (N = 440), we examined the relationship
between living arrangements and HBP control. We also interviewed a sub-sample to better understand the patterns of social
interactions associated with different types of living arrangements. One in five reported living alone; this group tended
to be older and female, and resided in senior group housing. Those living alone were twice as likely as those living with
a spouse to have controlled BP (OR = 2.08; 95 % CI 1.09–3.97), even after controlling for study covariates. Those in senior
group housing had frequent social interactions that involved conversations around health, encouragement concerning medication
taking, and health information sharing. In conclusion, Korean elders living independently are neither socially-isolated nor
at increased risk for poor BP control.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10903-012-9679-2
- Authors
- Hae-Ra Han, The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, 525 N. Wolfe St. Room 526, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Youngshin Song, Eulji University School of Nursing, Seongnam City, Gyeonggi-Do, Korea
- Hee-Jung Song, University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, College Park, MD, USA
- Miyong T. Kim, The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, 525 N. Wolfe St. Room 526, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Journal Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- Online ISSN 1557-1920
- Print ISSN 1557-1912