earticle

영어

The purpose of this study was to examine any possible differences among elderly people in oral dryness and oral health-related quality of life according to their life satisfaction and social activity participation, which might be influential factors for the two variables, in an effort to provide some information on the oral health care of the elderly. The subjects in this study were 130 senior citizens who were at the ages of 65 and up and who visited community senior welfare centers in the city of Mokpo. After data were gathered, the collected data were analyzed. The findings of the study were as follows: 1. There were significant differences in six out of 10 items of the oral dryness inventory according to life satisfaction. 2. There were no significant differences in all the 10 items of the oral dryness inventory according to social activity participation. 3. There were significant differences in nine out of 14 items of the inventory for the oral health-related quality of life according to life satisfaction. 4. There were no significant differences in all the 14 items of the inventory for the oral health-related quality of life according to social activity participation. The above-mentioned findings of the study illustrated that the life satisfaction of the elderly people exerted an influence on their oral health-related quality of life. Therefore elderly people should be helped to lead a more satisfactory life, and the development of oral health education programs and oral health care programs tailored to their regional characteristics and living standard is required.