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노화는 인간 모두가 당면하는 현상이며, 인간은 늙어가면서 여러 변화르 경험한다. 노년기의 건강생활양식은 노인의 건강과 안녕을 증진시키고 높은 질의 삶을 살도록 한다. 생활양식은 사회문화에 의해 구성되며, 그 개인의 환경과 상호작용하여 재구성된다. 그러므로 노인의 건강 생활양식은 노년기의 여러 상황들, 문화적인 측면을 고려하여 연구하여야 한다. 본 연구는 노인도 환경과 상호작용하며 건강한 삶을 영위하고 있다고 보는 관점에서 출발하여 노인의 건강한 삶을 이끄는 양상과 일련의 원리를 추출함으로써 노인의 건강 생활양식을 밝혀보고자 문화 기술지 연구방법을 적용하였다. 연구결과에 의하면 노인의 건강 생활양식은 노인됨의 자가과 수용, 신체조절, 관계망 형성, 영속적인 삶의 추구로 나타났으며, 이러한 노인의 건강생활양식은 초월성, 집단성, 조화성의 원리에 따라 이루어진다. 이 연구결과는 우리 문화에 맞는 노인 간호를 하는 데 기여할 수 있으며, 이를 통해 노인들이 높은 질의 삶을 살도록 도와 줄 수 있다. 또한 다른 상황에 있는 노인의 연구를 통해 노인의 건강 생활양식에 대한 지식체 개발에도 기여할 수 있다.
Aging is a universal human phenomenon. Human beings experience various changes with age. The health lifestyle of the elderly acts to promote the quality of life and wellbeing. Health lifestyles are lived within a sociocultural context, in interaction with the environment. An under-standing of the health lifestyle of the elderly must take into consideration the social and cultural environment.
This study described the health lifestyle of Korean elders. The purpose of this study was to understand the health lifestyle and contributed to elderly care for quality of life and knowledge development of the health lifestyle of Korean elders. The research question was "what is the health lifestyle of Korean elders?". The health lifestyle of the elderly is defined by a set of folk principles and norms. The researcher viewed from holistic paradigm of the health lifestyle ofelders.
To understand this health lifestyle the researcher conducted an ethnographic study. The fieldwork for this study was done from July, 1991 to July, 1992 in a village in Chun Buk province. Research participants consisted of elders from 60 to 99 age.
Several health lifestyle patterns emerged from the data : awareness and acceptance of becoming older, management of bodily changes, formation of an interpersonal network, pursuit of a continuing life.
The elderly were aware of becoming older through the experience of physical changes with age, the 60th birthday ceremony, and comparison to other elderly. Acceptance of becoming older was manifested by acceptance of the physical changes, and a flexibility of outlook on life gained through life´s experiences. Other manifestations of acceptance were assuming an elderly
appearance, behavior appropriate to an elder, exercise of an elder´s authority, and transition in to the elder´s role. These manifestations established one´s identity and self-respect as an elder.
Management of bodily changes meant acceptance and adjustment to physical changes, through maximization of efficient use of physical resources
Physical limitations were minimized, and physical transcendance was enhanced.
Interpersonal network consisted of sons and daughters, other relatives, the same age group, the village people, and ancestors. The relationships with sons and daughters were a given from birth. The elderly felt a spiritual connection with sons and daughters. The network with maternal relatives, in-laws, and the same age- group developed when the sons and daughters, or close relatives (dang-nae members) did not live in the village. Members of the same age group supported each other and lived as a community. The elders are integrated into the village network. Through theirrelationship with the ancestors, the elders play the role of the ancestor,, with their descendants. This role confirmed the elder´s status and prepared for becoming an ancestor. These connecting relationships become the elder´s support and enhance an expansion of consciousness of the self.
Pursuit of a continuing life centered around the family and was manifested by expansion of the self, preparation for becoming an ancestor, and succession of the family name. As the elders identify with their ancestors and descendants, they become embodied symbols of the continuing family within the living family.
Cultural principles of the health lifestyle of the elderly were transcendance, group membership, and harmony.
This study enhances the nurse´s understanding of the health lifestyle of Korean elders. The findings contribute to nursing knowledge development about the health lifestyle of the elderly.
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