Aging, Health, and Physical Activity in Korean Americans

• Published in: Geriatric Nursing Vol. 28; no. 2; pp. 112 - 119
• Main Authors: Lim, Kyung-Choon, Kayser-Jones, Jeanie S., Waters, Catherine, Yoo, Grace
• Format: Journal Article Book Review
• Language: English
• Published: United States Mosby, Inc 01-03-2007; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Aged; Aging; Aging - ethnology; Aging - physiology; Asian Americans; Asian Americans - ethnology; Asian Americans - statistics & numerical data; Attitude to Health - ethnology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cultural Characteristics; Cultural Diversity; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Exercise - psychology; Female; Health; Health Status; Humans; Korea - ethnology; Life Style - ethnology; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Nursing; Nursing Research - organization & administration; Older people; Physical fitness; Quality of life; Quality of Life - psychology; Research Design; Sex Factors; United States; United States; Korea
• ISSN: 0197-4572; 1528-3984
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2006.10.004

Little is known about the health benefits and the factors that influence physical activity among older adults from ethnically different backgrounds. The aim of this article is to provide a sociocultural context for understanding aging, health, and physical activity among older Korean Americans. Studies that focused on physical activity and exercise among older adults, older Koreans, or older Korean Americans were reviewed. The results of the review were integrated to better understand physical activity in older Korean Americans. Results from varied population-based, cross-sectional, and longitudinal studies that assessed the relationships among aging, health, and physical activity were relatively consistent in their findings. Many correlational studies found a strong, positive relationship between physical activity and health benefits and a moderately positive but sometimes mixed association between physical activity and quality of life among older adults. Additional research is needed to clarify the gap between physical activity and actual and predictive quality of life among older Korean Americans. Also, we need more evidences to show the effects of late-life physical activity or exercise on reducing or minimizing disablement in older Korean Americans.