Abstract
This study attempted to analyze the general and physical characteristics, the status of physical function, the type and number of current diagnosis and self-reported symptoms, healthy life mode and food preference according to self-rated health (SRH) of older adults (135 men and 270 women). It also attempted to assess the factors affecting the SRH standards in agricultural and fishery areas located in southwestern Korea. The subjects considered themselves as being 'good'(57.6%), 'normal'(29.6%) or 'poor'(12.85) SRH, meaning positive self-rating of health and it was found that the correlation between factors such as the gender, current marriage status, monthly wage, the reception of the government's livelihood subsidy and subjective economical status and the SRH were significant. Regardless of the categories of obesity, a large number of the participants rated themselves as 'healthy', but not statistically significant. The subjects who reported poor ADL and IADL capacities, indicators of the status of physical function, were significantly more classified to the 'poor' health category and vice versa (P<0.001). The reported chronic diseases in this study that have lasted more than three months, were lumbago, sciatica, arthritis, high blood pressure and peptic ulcer. The current ratios of smoking, drinking and exercise were 85.3, 39.0 and 18.6%, respectively. The less drinking and exercising there was, the higher the 'good' SRH categories obtained (P<0.05). The respondents who had less chance of eating sour and hot foods estimated their health status as being better.
