The correlation between activity participation, cognition, quality of life and depression of the elderly in rural area : a pilot study

농촌 지역 노인의 활동참여, 인지, 삶의 질, 우울의 상관관계 연구 : 예비연구

This study was conducted to investigate the correlation between cognitive function, activity participation level, number of participating activities, quality of life, and depression level, and used as basic data for intervention related to activities of the elderly. The average age of the subjects who participated in the study was 22 elderly people living in the rural area and 75.18 ± 11.83 years old. The subjects" gender and general level of education level were examined and MMSE-DS, a cognitive test, was conducted through a one-to-one interview. In addition, quality of life and depression were examined and the Korean Activity Card Sorting(K-ACS) test was conducted to confirm the activity participation level and the number of participating activities. Statistical significance was set at 0.05, and correlation analysis was conducted for each factor. The results showed that cognitive function was significantly correlated with activity participation level of K-ACS test(IADL, r=.441; Leisure, r=.496; Social activity, r=.586). In addition, the number of participating activities in all domains showed a significant correlation with cognitive function (r = .443 ~ .587). The quality of life was significantly correlated with activity participation level of leisure and social activities, but not with the number of participating activities. Based on the results of this study, it is expected that programs for various leisure and social activities will be activated for cognitive functioning health of the elderly in rural areas.

본 연구는 노인의 인지기능과 활동참여, 삶의 질, 우울 간의 상관관계를 조사하여 노인의 활동관련 중재의 기초 자료로 사용하기 위하여 실시되었다. 연구에 참여한 대상자는 농촌 지역에 거주하는 22명의 노인으로 평균 나이는 75.18 ± 11.83세였다. 대상자들의 성별, 학력수준의 일반적 정보를 조사하고 1대1 면담을 통해 인지검사인 MMSE-DS, 삶의 질 검사, 우울검사와 활동보유수준 및 참여활동의개수를 확인하기 위하여 한국형 활동카드분류검사를 시행하였다. 통계분석은 유의수준 0.05로 설정하여 각 요인별 상관관계를 분석하였다. 연구결과 인지기능은 한국형활동카드검사의 활동보유수준에서 유의한 상관관계를 보였다(IADL, r=.441; Leisure, r=.496; Social activity, r=.586). 또한 모든 영역의 참여 활동의 개수도 인지기능과 유의한 상관관계를 보였다(r=.443~.587). 삶의 질은 여가와 사회활동 영역의 활동보유수준과 유의한 상관관계를 보인 반면 활동의 개수와는 관련이 없었다. 본 연구결과를 바탕으로 농촌지역 노인의 인지기능 건강을 위하여 다양한 여가, 사회활동을 위한 프로그램이 활성화되길 기대한다.