Indian Journal of Science and Technology

Abstract

Purpose: This study purpose is to survey community-dwelling elders’ level in the meaning of life, to identify factors influencing their meaning of life holistically from the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects, and to provide basic information for developing intervention programs with strategies to enhance community-dwelling elders’ meaning of life. Methods: This study is a descriptive research designed to investigate the influencing factors on the meaning in life among community-dwelling elders. The participants were 306 communicable elders (Age≥65). Data collected from April to October 2013 were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. Results: There were significant differences in the meaning in life between gender, age, residential area, educational level, employment status, extra-occupational activity, marriage status, family living arrangement, relationship with people living together, living type, monthly allowance, welfare center visiting times. Significant correlations were found between health promotion behavior (r=.648), social supports (r=.672), self-transcendence (r=.300) and loneliness (r=-.698). Significant predictors of the meaning in life were loneliness, health promotion behavior, subjective health, self-transcendence, social support, vocation status, and family living arrangement. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that it is needed to develop integrative intervention program that can promoting the meaning in life and reduce the loneliness
Keywords: Elder, Loneliness, Meaning in Life