Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association 2008;46(8):97-107.
전남지역 노인에서 우울 및 자아존중감의 인식정도에 따른 영양위험도 및 영양소 섭취량의 변화 양상
김복희, 정은
조선대학교 식품영양학과
The Changes of Types of Nutritional Risk and Nutritional Intake according to Depression and Self-esteem among the Elderly in Chunnam Province
Eun Jung, Kim, Bok-Hee
Department of Food and Nutrition, Chosun University, Department of Food and Nutrition, Chosun University
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted in order to identify the relationship between psychological factors, such as depression and self-esteem, and nutritional status, such as nutritional risk index and nutrient intake, among the elderly in Chunnam Province. The participants were 119 elderly individuals over the age of 65 years who visited the Senior Welfare Center in Chunnam province between January 29 and February 2, 2007. This study was conducted using a structured questionnaire that included, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), General Self Efficacy Scale (GSES), Nutritional Screening Initiative Checklist (NSI checklist), questions pertaining to the general characteristics of the participants and an estimation of nutrient intake using the 24-hour recall method. Data were analyzed by the SPSS program. Analysis of the participant's CES-D scores revealed that 43.7% of the subjects were normal and 56.3% had more than mild depression. The mean GSES score was 45.9 for the entire group of subjects (51.9 for men, 43.6 for women). The mean nutritional risk index value was 4.30 (5.03 for men, 4.01 for women). Analysis of the participant's scores on the NSI checklist revealed that 69.7% of the subjects were normal and 30.3% exhibited a moderate nutritional risk. The CES-D was positively correlated with the NSI checklist (p < 0.05) but negatively correlated with nutrient intake. However, the GSES was negatively correlated with the NSI checklist (p < 0.05), but positively correlated with nutrient intake (P < 0.01 for protein, calcium, phosphorus, zinc etc.). The results of this study indicate that it is necessary to manage psychological factors, including depression and self-esteem, in the elderly in order to decrease their nutritional risk and increase their nutrient intake.