The purpose of the study was to research how elder abuse affected the abuse results (self-esteem, depression, somatization) through coping strategies.

A convenient sample consisted of 499 subjects from 65 to 85 years old. Data was collected using structured questionnaires from July to August, 2002. The SPSS WIN 10.0 version was used for data analysis.convenient sample consisted of 499 subjects from 65 to 85 years old. Data was collected using structured questionnaires from July to August, 2002. The SPSS WIN 10.0 version was used for data analysis.

The pathway of elder abuse affecting elder's self-esteem was researched by passive coping, emotional abuse, financial abuse, and physical abuse as the variables that directly affected self-esteem. The pathway of elder abuse affecting elder's depression was researched by passive coping, aggressive coping, verbal abuse, and neglect as the variable that directly affected depression. The pathway of elder abuse affecting somatization was researched by neglect, emotional abuse, and aggressive coping as the variables that directly affected somatization.

We should develop a systematized intervention program so that elders can learn positive coping in their abuse circumstance.

This study was conducted in order to examine the effects of death anxiety and meaning of life on somatization of grandparents raising grandchildren.

A convenience sample of 92 elderly grandparents raising grandchildren was recruited. The study instrument for death anxiety was the 5-point 15 items scale designed by Templer and translated by Ko, Choi, & Lee and for meaning of life, the 7-point 10-items scale by Steger, Frazier, Oishi & Kaler and translated by Won, Kim & Kwon. For somatization, the 5-point 12 items scale designed by Derogatis and translated by Kim, Kim & Won was used. Collected data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson Correlation and regression using the SPSS 21.0 program.

Average scores were 3.55 for death anxiety, 3.43 for meaning of life, and 2.74 for somatization. Death anxiety had the highest positive correlation with somatization. Meaning of life was negatively correlated with death anxiety and somatization. Death anxiety and health status were shown to influence somatization but meaning of life was not shown to influence somatization.

The research results indicate that death anxiety and health status influence somatization in grandparents raising grandchildren. These results also provide basic information on the importance of nursing interventions in which the variables influencing somatization in grandparents raising grandchildren are considered.