The Moderating Effect of Social Networks on Health-Promoting Behaviors Among Korean Older Adults

Abstract

This study is a secondary analysis of data collected in a previous study that consisted of 354 older adults, including 226 living in South Korea and 128 South Korean immigrants living in the United States. The aim of this study was to identify the moderating effects of social networks on health-promoting behaviors among Korean older adults with chronic illnesses. Using moderated mediation analyses, we found that the interaction effect between U.S. residency, the number of chronic illnesses, age, and education level accounted for 25% of the social networks. Our findings highlight the importance of social networks in promoting health behaviors and the need to strengthen social networks to improve the health of Korean older adults with chronic illnesses living in the United States. These results also emphasize the need for distinct approaches to health promotion, as health-promoting behaviors vary based on the number of chronic illnesses and country of residence. Older adult immigrants are at risk of suffering from chronic diseases compared to those born in the country. Health-promoting behavior is a way that could reduce the risk of this chronic disease. Several experts are looking for approaches to enhance health-promoting behavior in immigrants, including the existence of social networks. This study aims to find whether social networks have an effect on health-promoting behavior in Korean older adults with chronic illnesses. The study used data from previous research involving 354 Korean older adults, including 226 living in South Korea, and 128 South Korean immigrants living in the United States. The results of this study indicate that social networks has contribute a 25% interaction effect between living in the United States and the number of chronic illnesses, age, and level of education. Health-promoting behavior varies based on the number of chronic illnesses and the country in which they reside. In this study, it is whether they live in South Korea or in the United States. This difference in residence necessitates a different approach to improving health promotion behavior for Korean older adults in the two countries. Therefore, in our study, we explain the importance of social networks on health-promoting behavior and the need to strengthen social networks to improve the health of Korean older adult immigrants with chronic illnesses in the United States.