• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 2008

Background : It was not uncommon authors as psychiatrists faced women patients with somatoform disorders who expresses their symptoms has been started after the poor adherence to 'Doing the month' practices (DMP). DMP is known as a traditional ritual for Korean postpartum women. Aims : This study is an cultural approach to explore the practices of Korean women during the postpartum period are related with the formation of somatoform disorders. Methods : 41 multipara women with somatoform disorders diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria and 91 healthy normal control were enrolled. Subjects were given scales of SOM scale of SCL-90R, Somatic Symptom Scale-Korean version, Korean 'Doing the month' practices Scale(40 items), Postpartum Sick Scale(14 items), Beck Depression Scale and State Anxiety Scale. Results : 1) The period of DMP less than one week were prevalent in the patients group(43.9%) compared to the control group(7.9%, p<0.01). 2) The period of DMP after the abortions showed no difference between two groups. 3) Subjective rate for their poor DMP was significantly high in the patients group(73.2%) compared to the control group(33.0%), and the patients group showed high score in Postpartum Sick Scale as well(4.1, 1.6 respectively). 4) Poor DM was negatively correlated with SOM scale of SCL-90R(correlation coefficient r=-0.47, p<0.01). Conclusion : Poor DMP may make a crucial role for their heath condition after the deliveries and which would be one of the major factors of the somatoform disorders in Korean women. And postpartum physical symptoms after the poor DMP could be last long enough to be diagnosed as somatoform disorders. By understanding the cultural nature of the somatization phenomena the doctor-patient relationship could be enhanced.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.149-164
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• 2000

Somatization is regarded as a process rather than a diagnostic entity. It should be emphasized to identify psychopathology rather than to make a choice regarding diagnosis in assessing somatizing patients. Psychiatrists should be aware of the psychosocial cues underlying the patients' physical symptoms. Special skills and strategies are required by nonpsychiatric physicians to facilitate the patients' acceptance of psychiatric treatment. The goal of treatment for somatization is management but not cure. The approach should be flexible, depending on the patients' responses and need. The difficulty in diagnosing and treating somatization is likely to be related to abnormal illness behavior such as the patients' denial of their psychosocial problems and resistance to psychiatric approach. In conclusion, biopsychosocial approach is needed to treat these patients effectively. Psychiatrists should also teach other physicians the interview skill that they could identify these patients as early as possible and facilitate their acceptance of psychiatric treatment.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.586-600
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• 2018

The purpose of this study attempted to collect basic data for development of an integrated self-management program for cancer survivors who completed cancer treatment. Self-management programs are divided into symptom management and physical activity management. Symptom management includes fatigue, sleep disturbance, pain, depression and anxiety. PubMed, CINAHL and EMBASE were used for searching guidelines. Based on the guideline quality evaluation, the final 8 guidelines were analyzed. The structured table was used to extract the screening subjects, timing, contents, subjects for comprehensive assessment and contents, and summarized contents related to the physical activity and exercise in non-pharmacological approach. As a result, after the completion of cancer treatment, all cancer survivors should be screened regularly using reliable and validated tools. In the case of fatigue, physical activity was recommended as the primary intervention, but it was recommended for other symptoms as adjuvant therapy. Therefore, Cancer survivors should be encouraged to be active in their physical activity, and maintain the moderate intensity physical activity as long as they have no complication related to the cancer treatment. Motivation strategies for physical activity need to be developed and applied.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.193-202
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of children's somatic symptoms and the relationships among parent and child variables such as parenting attitude, children's anxiety, emotional expressiveness and somatic symptoms. The subjects were 523 6th grade students in four elementary schools located in Seoul, Busan and Daejeon. All subjects were tested with the Korean version of Children's Somatization Inventory (K-CSI), Parental Rearing Attitude Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety for Children (STAIC), and The Emotional Expressiveness Questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed by the frequency and percentage of somatic symptoms the children had experienced during the last 2 weeks; Pearson's correlation and multiple regression were used for the selected data of 10 somatic symptoms which were experienced by over 10% of the children. The results are summarized as follows: First, abdominal pain, headache, dizziness, and memory failure, in that order, were experienced in over 20% of the children. Second, children's somatic symptoms had significant relations with mothers' and fathers' loving-denial attitudes and their anxiety and emotional expressiveness. Third, children's somatic symptoms were influenced by their anxiety and emotional expressiveness, but not by parenting attitude.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.65-73
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of emotional labor, compassion fatigue and occupational stress on the somatization of nurses in hemodialysis units. Methods: The sample consisted of 139 nurses in hemodialysis units from a tertiary hospital, a general hospital, a dialysis clinic, and a care hospital in G province. Data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations, t-test, ANOVA, Duncan test, Pearson's correlation and hierarchical multiple regression. Results: There were significant correlations of the experience of emotional labor, compassion fatigue and occupational stress with the somatization of nurses in hemodialysis units. Factors influencing somatization intention were 'emotional labor' (${\beta}=.37$, p<.001), which explained 28% of the variance (F=10.00, p<.001). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the factor influencing the somatization of nurses in hemodialysis units was emotional labor. Therefore, strategies to decrease emotional labor of nurses in hemodialysis units are required.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.158-167
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was done to identify the relationship of occupational stress, emotional labor, and general characteristics to somatization, and to identify factors affecting somatization in nurses. Methods: A quantitative, descriptive research design was used to study 227 nurses. Nurses completed a 52-item self-questionnaire that included 3 concepts assessing somatization, occupational stress, emotional labor. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression. Results: Mean scales for somatization, occupational stress, and emotional labor were $22.96{\pm}7.87$, $78.73{\pm}12.29$, $29.63{\pm}3.97$ respectively. The explained variance for somatization was 35.5%. Among the variables, frequency of emotional display (${\beta}$=.136, p=.042), one of the sub-domains of emotional labor, and role overload (${\beta}$=.178, p=.023), one of the sub-domains of occupational stress and working in the ICU, OR, or ER (${\beta}$=.296, p<.001) and education level of diploma graduation (${\beta}$=.143, p=.028) significantly predicted degree of somatization. Conclusion: Findings of this study provide a comprehensive understanding of somatization and related factors for nurses in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.224-234
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify family stress, somatization, social support, depression and its influencing factor among middle-aged workers. Methods: The research was cross-sectional descriptive study. The subjects were 212 middle-aged workers living in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. Data collection was done from May 21 to 31, 2015 using self-reported structured questionnaires asking about general characteristics, family stress, somatization, social support and depression. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, one way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, stepwise multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 19.0 program. Results: Mean score of family stress was 41.67 (range: 25~125), somatization 17.42 (range: 12~60), social support 69.79 (range: 12~84) and depression 13.01 (range: 0~60) and reported as depression in 34.0%. Social support (${\beta}=-.36$, p<.001), somatization (${\beta}=.28$, p<.001), family stress (${\beta}=.15$, p=.014) had significant association with depression and the most important variable was social support. Conclusion: It is suggested to check social support system in middle aged workers and needed to reinforce social support of community based on the relation of occupational category. Also, it is necessary to legalize the institutional devices to prevent and control depression to ensure industrial safety and disaster prevention.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.127-134
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was done to identify the effects of stress management program on perceived stress, geriatric depression, and somatic symptom in elderly Korean subjects. Methods: A pre-post test design with a nonequivalent control group was used. Fifty elderly Korean subjects with mild depression were recruited from the registerants at four public senior citizen centers within S-gu in Seoul. They were randomly allotted to the experimental group(n=25) and control group(n=25). The intervention was performed for one hour each week at each center for 5 weeks. The effects were measured by Perceived Stress Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale-Korean, and Patient Health Questionnaire-15. Results: Perceived stress and depression were significantly reduced in experimental group. The somatic symptom was not significantly different in the experimental group. Conclusion: The stress management program may have merit in improving mental health of elderly Koreans, although this conclusion is equivocal pending further well-controlled studies that include mediation techniques such as conversion therapy and health gymnastics.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.42-52
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• 2020

Objectives : Firefighters are always under stress due to their job environment, and they are likely to become psychologically vulnerable due to continuous exposure to traumatic events, which is a stressful situation that requires emergency standby at all times. The aims of this study were to examine mental health factors for each division of firefighters and to see the relationship between sleep and somatization symptoms among them. Methods : General characteristics and related inspections were conducted through self-reporting questionnaires for 1,264 firefighters working at Chungbuk fire stations. Several mental health factors were investigated by the Insomnia Severity Index, Severity of somatic symptoms, Impact of Event Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Resilience Scale, Alcohol Dependent Screening Scale, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Depression Scale and Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Results : Among the mental health variables, the relationship between insomnia and somatization varies significantly depending on types of work. It was reported that the first aid team was significantly higher than the fire suppression and rescue team. Post-traumatic stress, depression and drinking also differ significantly depending on types of work. The first aid team reported more posttraumatic stress than the fire suppression team and more depressed mood than the rescue team. The administration part had more alcohol consumption than the fire suppression or first aid team. Resilience was significantly higher in the rescue team than the first aid team. No significant differences between the types of work about stress and suicide risks. Insomnia, stress, and post-traumatic stress were significant predictors of somatization among firefighters. Above all, insomnia was significant mental health variable affecting somatization. Conclusions : Various mental health factors were different according to the types of work in firefighters. The First aid team was more vulnerable to mental health variables such as insomnia and somatization than other divisions. Insomnia is the most important cause of somatization in firefighters, so it is recommended that they be treated for insomnia and to prepare institutional policies.

• 한국생활과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.204-205
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• 2010