Social support exchange and quality of life among the Korean elderly.

This study examined the impact of providing and receiving support on the quality of life (QOL) of the elderly. Trained interviewers conducted face-to-face interviews with 714 rural community residents aged 60 and over in Korea. Subjects were asked a series of structured questions including age, sex, living arrangement, physical functions, and the frequency of providing and receiving support in their network (spouse, children, and friends). The Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale was used to measure degree of QOL. Results indicated that respondents had family-centered support networks. We found a significant correlation between support and physical functions and, less strongly, between support and age. When physical function was controlled, ANOVAs (Analyses of Variance) showed that providing support to their children and friends was more strongly related to QOL score than receiving support from the in both males and females. Overall, the elderly who exchanged support frequently, both providing and receiving support, showed the highest QOL in most situations. Researchers and policy makers should explore the potential benefits of providing support as well as receiving support.