Multilevel Factors Associated with Frailty among the Rural Elderly in Korea Based on the Ecological Model

Ah Ram Jang and Ju Young Yoon
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Ah Ram Jang: Center for Human-Caring Nurse Leaders for the Future by Brain Korea 21 (BK 21) Four Project, College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Korea
Ju Young Yoon: Center for Human-Caring Nurse Leaders for the Future by Brain Korea 21 (BK 21) Four Project, College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Korea

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 8, 1-14

Abstract: Frailty is prevalent in the rural elderly and, as a result, they are vulnerable to serious health problems. The purpose of this study was to examine the multilevel factors affecting frailty among the rural elderly using the ecological model. A total of 386 participants aged 65 years or older from 60 rural areas were included in the study. Frailty was measured using the Cardiovascular Health Study frailty index. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors affecting frailty among the rural elderly. The results show that the levels of prevalence for robust, pre-frailty, and frailty groups were 81 (21%), 216 (56%), and 89 (23%), respectively. As for intrapersonal factors, old age, lower than middle school education, low and moderate levels of physical activity, depressive symptoms, and cognitive dysfunction significantly increased the risk of frailty; however, no interpersonal and community factors were significant in affecting frailty. The findings indicate that individualized strategies to encourage physical activity, prevent depressive symptoms, and preserve cognitive function are needed to prevent frailty in the rural elderly.

Keywords: frailty; multilevel factors; rural elderly; ecological model; multilevel analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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