Activities, Adaptation and Aging
2019

Exploring Health Benefits through Senior Center Engagement: A Qualitative Investigation of Older Korean Immigrants (Article)

Kim J.*
  • a School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States; Department of Health and Human Performance, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, United States

Abstract

Senior centers serve as an avenue where older adults gain various health, social and psychological resources and information. This study attempted to illuminate the benefits that older Korean immigrants gained at ethno-specific senior centers. Using in-depth interviews among eighteen participants, three major themes were identified as health-related benefits: (a) experiencing self-development, (b) perceiving psychological comfort, and (c) cultivating a healthy lifestyle. This suggests that senior centers not only offered educational and self-learning opportunities but enhanced social and psychological well-being to participants. It also suggests that senior centers create a unique cultural avenue where older Korean immigrants maintain their cultural values as well as embrace new cultural perspectives. © 2019, © 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Author Keywords

Health Older Korean immigrants Ethno-specific senior centers

Index Keywords

cultural value male female psychological well-being immigrant healthy lifestyle Aged clinical article senior center Article interview human Learning human experiment comfort

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85075713439&doi=10.1080%2f01924788.2019.1698121&partnerID=40&md5=959830f5e24bb820543623c899b5fff9

DOI: 10.1080/01924788.2019.1698121
ISSN: 01924788
Original Language: English