사회생태적 모델을 적용한 쪽방 주민의 정신건강 영향요인 분석

Objectives: Residents of a single room occupancy (Jjok-bang) in Seoul are at high risk of having mental health issues. The majority of residents live in single households with past traumatic experiences including self-deprivation and social exclusion. This study was to investigate the association between mental health and socio-ecological factors at the intrapersonal and community levels. Methods: We conducted face-to-face surveys in Dongja-dong Jjok-bang area in June, 2014. Of 78 participants, 76% were male and the mean age was 60 years (SD=11.53). A multiple regression was used to analyze the association among depression, a sense of well-being, socio-ecological factors, and perceived empowerment and community solidarity. Results: Perceived empowerment (β =0.83; 95% CI=0.40, 1.26) and community solidarity (β=0.52; 95% CI=0.04, 1.01) were positively associated with a sense of well-being. Participants with empowerment (β=-2.55; 95% CI=-4.86, -0.23) and those with community solidarity (β=-2.36; 95% CI=-4.94, 0.21) were negatively associated with being depressed. Conclusion: Mental health of the residents in Jjok-bang was more influenced by empowerment and community solidarity than socio-demographic factors. It is necessary to improve public health infrastructures that can enable the residents to enhance empowerment and community solidarity utilizing socio-ecological perspectives.