Journal of Korean Gerontological Nursing 2002;4(2):143-152.

한국 여성노인의 노화적응

조영숙

Abstract

Purpose
This study was to contribute to the development of theories about Korean aged women's aging experience and adaptation through the Grounded Theory approach. Method : The participants were 9 aged women who were more than 65 years old and deemed better adapted to aging. Data continued to be collected between September 2001 and February 2002 till the so-called saturation of meaning. The data were analyzed simultaneously by a constant comparative method in which new data were continuously coded into categories and properties according to Strauss and Corbin's methodology.
Result
Key phenomena on this study is positive health management. Aged women showed three types of behaviors as follows: First, they positively performed healthy behaviors to care for themselves. Second, they controlled their mind in such way of accepting and tolerating everything. Third, they try to keep a good relationship with family and friends through participate in religious activities.
Conclusion
These results of this study would help better understand aged women's real experiences of aging. For nursing research, the results would suggest the effectiveness of a qualitative study that forms a theory and knowledge from real experiences by its participants. In nursing practices, those results could be reflected in the nursing of old people, inducing old people's better adaptation to aging and contributing to their health promotion.

Key words: 여성노인, 노화적응, 근거이론