• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.117-149
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• 2011

This study examined the relationship between discrimination experienced by children of multicultural families and their psychological distress. As new minorities growing up with bicultural identities in Korean society, children from multicultural families are often exposed to racial discrimination and such experience often acts as a stressor in their everyday life. In order to examine the effect of discrimination on their psychological distress as well as the role of social support, a survey was conducted in 25 elementary schools in Daejeon city and Chungnam and Chungbuk province. Results indicated that children's experiences of discrimination significantly affected their psychological distress level that the more they were exposed to discrimination, the higher levels of depression and anxiety they experienced. Among social support domains, only peer support was found to be significantly related to both the experience of discrimination and their depression and anxiety levels. Supporting the social support deterioration model, the findings showed that more experiences of discrimination led to reduced peer support which in turn, increased the likelihood of being depressed and anxious. Peer support was also significant in partially mediating the discrimination-psychological distress relationship. Implications for social work practice with children from multicultural families are provided.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2015

Objectives : This study developed and validated the Perceived Stigma of Delirium Scale(PSDS), which is designed to measure perceived stigma associated with delirium in patients suffering from that disorder. Methods : Based on a literature review of scales assessing stigma, a preliminary scale comprising seven items was developed. After recovering from delirium, 128 patients completed the PSDS and the Distress Thermometer (DT). Factor analysis was used to examine construct validity, and internal consistency and test-retest reliability were examined to ensure reliability. Concurrent validity was assessed using the correlation between the total scores on the PSDS and the DT. Results : Factor analysis yielded a single-factor structure from the seven candidate items. One item was excluded due to low factor loading. The internal consistency was computed and Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ was 0.85 for the total score. The overall test-retest reliability was 0.71, with items ranging from 0.58 to 0.83. The total score on the PSDS was significantly correlated with the DT score. Conclusions : The PSDS may be a reliable, valid instrument for evaluating perceived stigma in patients who have recovered from delirium. Further study of the perceived stigma by delirium patients is required to assess the implications of the PSDS for clinical practice and research.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.50-62
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• 2023

Objectives : This study aimed to identify unmet needs and influencing factors for patients who have breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, and thyroid cancer. Methods : We reviewed the SCIE publications on unmet need of four prevalent cancer patients published after 2010 through a web search. Results : The measurement tools primarily used were Cancer Survivors' Unmet Needs and Supportive Care Needs Survey questionnaire. Lung cancer patients reported a relatively higher rate of unmet needs. Breast cancer patients frequently reported unmet needs in the healthcare system and information, while thyroid cancer patients in post-treatment management and psychological issues. Colorectal cancer patients reported unmet needs in psychological and comprehensive care domain, and lung cancer patients reported unmet needs in physical and daily life management. Younger age, a shorter time since diagnosis or treatment, and higher levels of anxiety, depression, distress, and reduced quality of life were associated with more significant unmet needs. Conclusions : Unmet needs and influencing factors vary by cancer type. Considering the characteristics of each patient group and unmet needs can help in development of more effective treatment and support programs.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.661-670
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the mediation of psychological distress in the relationship between disturbance in ADL from chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy and quality of life in order to provide a basis for planning nursing interventions to improve the quality of life in cancer patients. Methods: A purposive sample of 130 patients treated with chemotherapy were recruited in the cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires. The instruments were the Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Assessment Tool (CIPNAT), Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G). Results: The mean score for disturbance in ADL from chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy was 3.30. Overall quality of life was 2.48. The mean score was 1.04 for psychological distress. The prevalence was 35.4% for anxiety and 47.7% for depression. There were significant correlations among the three variables, disturbance in ADL from chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy, psychosocial distress, and quality of life. Psychosocial distress had a complete mediating effect (${\beta}$= -.74, p <.001) in the relationship between disturbance in ADL from chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy and quality of life (Sobel test: Z= -6.11, p <.001). Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, nursing intervention programs focusing on disturbance of ADL management, and decrease of psychological distress are highly recommended to improve quality of life in cancer patients.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.471-483
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was done to evaluate the effects of dignity interventions on depression, anxiety and meaning of life in terminally ill patients. Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library CENTRAL, EMBASE, CINAHL and several Korean databases were searched. The main search strategy combined terms indicating dignity intervention, presence of terminal illness and study design. Methodological quality was assessed using Cochrane's Risk of Bias for randomized studies and Risk of Bias Assessment tool for non randomized studies. Data were analyzed by the RevMan 5.2.11 program of Cochrane Library. Results: Twelve clinical trials met the inclusion criteria with a total of 878 participants. Dignity intervention was conducted for a mean of 2.2 weeks, 2.8 sessions and an average of 48.7 minutes per session. Effect sizes were heterogeneous and subgroup analysis was done. Dignity interventions had a significant effect on depression (ES= -1.05, p<.001, $I^2$=15%) and anxiety (ES= -1.01, p<.001, $I^2$=0). For meaning of life, dignity interventions were effective (ES= -1.64, p=.005) and effect sizes were still heterogeneous. Conclusion: Results support findings that dignity interventions can assist terminal ill patients in reducing emotional distress and improving meaning of life. Further well-designed dignity studies will lead to better understanding of the effects of treatments on spiritual well-being.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.704-714
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether psychological distress is an independent risk factor for recurrent cardiac events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: A prospective cohort of studies that measured psychological distress and the incidence of recurrent cardiac events in the adult population were included. Three computerized databases were assessed (PubMed, CINAHL, and PSYCINFO). Meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model to determine summary estimates of risks of major recurrent cardiac events associated with each psychological distress. Of 506 publications identified, 33 met inclusion criteria, and 24 studies were used to estimate effect size of psychological distress on recurrent cardiac events. Results: Mean number in the research sample was 736 and mean time of follow-up was 4.0 years. Depression, anxiety, anger, and hostility as psychological factors were studied. According to estimation of effect size using random model effect, depression (OR=1.39, 95% CI: 1.22-1.57), anxiety (OR=1.22, 95% CI: 0.96-1.56), and anger/hostility (OR=1.29, 95% CI: 1.07-1.57) CAD patients in significantly increased risk for recurrent cardiac events. Conclusion: Finding suggests that psychological distress in forms of depression, anxiety, anger, and hostility impact unfavorably on recurrent cardiac events in CAD patients.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.222-229
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• 2022

The extensive use of external prestressing system with PSC-I beam to strengthen reinforced and prestressed concrete members requires the full understanding of the behavior of the strengthened members. The main approach of this research was to experimentally investigate the flexural performance of the PSC-I beam considering external tendon and an equation was developed which indicated the produced incremental stress in the tendon due to applied load. Further, this equation was verified through performing static loading tests on two experimental specimens considering the presence or absence of external tendon. The test results revealed that, the flexural performance enhanced due to the use of external tendon. Moreover, the magnitude of the estimated flexural strength using proposed stress increasing equation almost coincides with the experimental test results. However, it was the evident of the improvement of the flexural performance of the system by reinforcing with the external tendon and also proved that the proposed equation was valid and effective.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.368-374
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• 2011

The relationship between MDHA reductase activity and ascorbate, dehydroascorbate, and hydrogen peroxide content was evaluated, and this experiment was conducted to determine the change of MDHA reductase activity and the level of steady-state mRNA abundance of MDHA reductase in lettuce leaves subjected to low temperature stress. MDHA reductase activity of chloroplastic and cytosolic fraction in lettuce leaves subjected to $4^{\circ}C$ for 24 hr increased, followed by a steady decrease during the duration of recovery to $20^{\circ}C$ for 48 hr. The content of ascorbate slowly increased during low temperature treatment, followed by a rapid increase during the duration of recovery to $20^{\circ}C$ for 48 hr, while dehydroascorbate content rapidly decreased. The relationship between MDHA reductase activity of chloroplastic and cytosolic fraction in lettuce leaves subjected to $4^{\circ}C$ and ascorbate content correlated positively ($R^2$=0.9240, 0.9108, respectively), but MDHA reductase activity of chloroplastic and cytosolic fraction and dehydroascorbate were reversely correlated ($R^2$=0.8638, 0.8980, respectively). Hydrogen peroxide content and MDHA reductase activity of chloroplastic and cytosolic fraction in lettuce leaves subjected to $4^{\circ}C$ correlated positively ($R^2$=0.9443, 0.9647, respectively). Northern blot analysis showed that the level of mRNA transcript of MDHA reductase was similar to total activity of MDHA reductase, and also that the level of mRNA of MDHA reductase after recovery to $20^{\circ}C$ for 24 hr decreased.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.41-48
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• 2014

Purpose - This study aims to investigate a solution to reduce the negative reactions arising from the performance of duties or the job distress of workers in the service industry, because human resource statistics regarding workers in the service sector have been unreported, while concerns regarding exposure to emotional exertion and poor working conditions have been continuously increasing. Research design, data, and methodology - This study specifically focused on workers in highway service areas. It differs from previous studies because it involves the perspective of the person-organization fit and regards workers' cognition of leaders through the psychological distance toward the leader and the contact frequency between workers and leaders within the framework of the leader-individual fit. Moreover, this study highlights the role of the self-leadership of workers as an important factor that becomes manifested in the individual-level fit to the organization. Hence, this study investigates whether the positive role of the above factors, in turn, could reduce job distress. Workers from highway service areas in Gyeonggi-do province provided data; 141 valid questionnaires are collected. SPSS 19.0 and AMOS 19.0 were used to test the reliability and validity of constructs. Simple regression, multiple regression, and 3 step mediation tests were used to test the hypotheses after the correlation tests. Results - Results indicated that leader-member contact frequency and psychological distance have negative effects on job distress but positive effects on self-leadership. A mediation test revealed that self-leadership, in the relationships between contact frequency and job distress and between psychological distance and job distress, resulted in partial mediation and full mediation, respectively. Conclusions - The result can be understood through two different possible explanations. First, service area workers generally possess a positive perspective toward their leaders. This can be interpreted to mean that increased contact frequency and psychological distance would be considered as supports from the leader, rather than intrusive controls or management schemes. Therefore, the management in highway service areas should invest efforts in increasing contact frequency as well as maximizing psychological similarities by adopting the viewpoints of workers in terms of moral and ethical management, to reduce the workers' job distress. The results relating to self-leadership also indicate that increased contact frequency must be accompanied by intentions for the effective promotion of workers' self-leadership. It also signifies the necessity of a strategic approach by leaders to induce workers to perceive "in-group"ness as suggested both by the similarity-attraction theory and by the social identity theory. In addition, the results of the mediation test of self-leadership indicate that because workers' self-leadership activates upon increased contact frequency by the leader, it should not be a means of control and should not be utilized only from the perspective of management. It is also suggested that strategies such as transfer of authority could have a positive effect in promoting the expansion of self-influence from workers.