title: Loneliness, depression and health status of the institutionalized elderly in Korea and Japan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to describe loneliness, depression, and health status in Korean and Japanese institutionalized elderly and explore differences between the countries. Also this study determined predictors of depression in each group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Elderly subjects, aged 65-98 (n = 184), were recruited from private nursing homes in Korea and Japan. Subjects were interviewed on health status, loneliness, and depression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Korean subjects had higher loneliness scores than Japanese. More Korean elderly had depressive symptoms than Japanese elderly. The mean GDS score of Korean elderly was 8.07 and that of Japanese elderly was 5.21. Korean elderly had less physical function, and perceived their general health to be poor. Loneliness and perception of general health were significant predictors of depression in Korean and Japanese subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is necessary to assess the levels of loneliness and depression of institutionalized Korean elderly and pursue an intervention to reduce these problems.
authors.affiliation: Professor, Division of Nursing Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Oksoo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Professor, Division of Nursing Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Soon
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Byeon
authors.affiliation: Full-time Lecturer, Department of Nursing, Woosuk University, Wanju-gun, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Professor, Musashino University, School of Nursing, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Emiko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.affiliation: Professor, Miyazaki Prefectural Nursing University, Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akahoshi
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Miyazaki Prefectural Nursing University, Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ogasawara