PURPOSE
This study examined the mood state, activities of daily living, and attitude toward aging in the elderly according to the existence of a spouse and investigated the relation between these factors. METHOD: The subjects consisted of 190 elderly people, who were classified into two groups: those with and without a spouse. The data was collected from March to December 2004 using a structured questionnaire that included general characteristics, mood states, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and an attitude toward aging scale. The collected data was analyzed using the program SPSS, including descriptive statistics, chi2-test, ANOVA, Scheff's test, and the Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULT: 1. There were significant differences between the two groups in mood state (t=-3.349, p=.001), anxiety-depression (t=-3.350, p=.001), and anger (t=p=.003) in the mood state subscales, and in attitude toward aging (t=2.514, p=.013). 2. There was a significant positive correlation between vigor and IADL (r=.253, p=.012) in the elderly with a spouse. 3. When there was a spouse, there was a significant difference according to gender (t=2.587, p=.012) in IADL. Without a spouse, there were significant differences in mood states according to education level (F=3.315, p=.023), in anxiety-depression according to the presence of illness (t=2.156, p=.033), in vigor according to age (F=3.439, p=.020) and education level (F=5.285, p=.002), and in IADL according to monthly income (F=3.322, p=.023) and the presence of illness (t=2.172, p=.032). CONCLUSION: An individualized approach is needed for elderly people that considers living arrangements and the existence of a spouse.