• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.16-21
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• 2019

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to comparatively investigate the correlation among body composition, resting metabolic rate (RMR), and physical activity (PA) between young and middle-aged Korean adults. [Methods] A total of 53 [male n=23, female n=30] subjects were included in this study, among whom 34 subjects were healthy young adults [male n=18, female n=16] and 19 were middle-aged adults [male n=5, female n=14]. The body composition and RMR of all the participants were measured after overnight fasting (≥8 h). The Korean version of the WHO Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) was used to assess physical activity. [Results] Body composition was not significantly different between young adults and middle-aged adults. Whole-body bone mineral density and bone mineral contents (BMC) were significantly lower in middle-aged adults than in young adults. Total blood cholesterol (TC) and blood glucose levels were significantly higher in middle-aged adults (TC; 195.21 ± 43.34, glucose; 103.57 ± 12.61 mg/dL) than in young adults. RMR was significantly lower in middle-aged adults (1619.57 ± 290.28 kcal/day) than in young adults (1894.37 ± 405.00 kcal/day). In middle-aged adults physical activity (PA). PA (METs, min, EE) was inversely correlated with fat mass (FM, kg, and %) and blood triglyceride (TG) level in young adults. In middle-aged adults, PA showed a significant positive correlation with lean body mass (LBM), FM (%), and RMR. Furthermore, PA EE showed significant interrelatedness with BMC among middle-aged adults. [Conclusion] These results demonstrated that high PA levels enable LBM and RMR maintenance in middle-aged adults. Furthermore, in young adults, more PA is required to induce change in body composition.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.17-27
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• 1999

This study was performed to investigate the dietary habits, nutrient intake, and health status and to explore the relationship between dietary habits and health status in the middle-aged men and women. The subjects consisted of 220 men and 220 women aged 40-59 years old. Dietary habits and nutrient intake were assessed by self-administered questionnaire and 24 hours dietary recall method by personal interview. Percent of body fat, serum cholesterol, and serum triglyceride level were measured. The middle aged adults who had breakfast and meals irregularly were more than 60% of the study subjects. The middle aged men had meals habits significantly more irregularly than the middle aged women. The middle aged men had high fat meat intake more frequently than the middle aged women. The middle aged men had significantly high energy and protein intake more than the middle aged women but the middle aged women had significantly high carbohydrate intake more than the middle aged men and tended to consume milk higher than the middle aged men. The middle aged adults who had high body fat tended to overeat food, to have high fat meat and processed food intake more frequently than those who had low body fat. The middle aged adults who had high serum cholesterol and triglyceride level tended to overeat food and to have processed food intake more frequently than those who had low serum cholesterol and triglyceride level. The middle aged adults who had regular meals habits. tended to have low serum triglyceride level than those who had irregular meals habits.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.221-239
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• 2001

The purpose of this research was to identify arid to compare stereotypes toward the elderly held by adolescents and middle-aged adults. Stereotypes toward the elderly were examined at two levels: to assess students′and middle-aged adults′beliefs about the traits of the elderly and to categorize the traits into stereotypes. Traits groupings were analyzed with hierarchical cluster analysis. The main results of this study were as follows: First, both adolescents and middle-aged adults believed the negative stereotypes were more characteristic of the elderly than the positive ones. Second, middle-aged adults reported more complex negative stereotype sets of the elderly than adolescents. Third, Adolescents reported even more negative physical appearance trails of elderly persons than the middle-aged. Fourth, the traits endorsed as characteristics of elderly persons were often contradictory within two age groups. For example, adolescents perceived "sacrifice" as a positive trait of the elderly, while middle-aged adults perceived it as a negative one.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.464-472
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify aging anxiety and influencing factors of middle-aged adults. Methods: Descriptive correlation design was used. Three hundred and three middle-aged adults participated in the study and completed the questionnaires in the period from September 11 to October 15 of 2011. The data was analyzed using independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheff$\acute{e}$ test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchial multiple regression analysis. Results: Aging anxiety of middle-aged adults was higher than a moderate level. Socio-demographic variables such as age, religion, education, economic level, perceived health status and experience of living with older adults influenced significantly on aging anxiety. In contrast, general self-efficacy, aging knowledge and attitude toward older adults were negatively correlated with aging anxiety. Hierarchial multiple regression analysis incorporating these variables showed an explanation rate of aging anxiety at 21%. And religion, perceived health status, attitude toward older adults, and general self-efficacy were statistically significant among variables that influence on aging anxiety. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that senior preparation programs that can enhance self-efficacy, induce positive attitude on older adults and promote health should be implemented to reduce aging anxiety of middle-aged adults.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.293-303
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the level of knowledge about dementia and to find the related factors in middle-aged adults. Method: The research design was a descriptive study by using a constructive self-report questionnaire with 34 items. Data were collected from 397 middle-aged adults using structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done by SPSS/WIN Programs using frequency, range from minimum to maximum, percentage, mean, SD, ${\chi}^2-test$, t-test, ANOVA, and Duncan's Multiple Range test. Results: The rate of correct answer of middle-aged adults was 68.7%, showing the mid-level of knowledge about dementia. There were significant differences according to age, education, marital status, job, income, information and information sources for dementia in middle-aged adults. Conclusion: These results indicate that Korean middle-aged adults need more education and counseling on dementia. Further studies are needed to overcome regionalism in sampling of this study and to develop standard measuring tools for the level of knowledge about dementia.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify and compare the factors influencing attitude toward one's own aging among Korean middle-aged adults and the elderly. Methods: A cross sectional study was performed with a total sample of 70 middle-aged adults and 64 elderly reside in two metropolitan areas. Data were collected from August 2015 to November 2015 using the Perceived Health Status Scale, the Health Locus of Control Scale and the Attitude Toward own Aging (ATOA) Scale. The statistics used include percentage, t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression. Results: Mean age for each age group were about 52 and 76 years old for middle-aged adults and the elderly respectively. A considerable proportion of all participants reported a negative attitude toward aging. Perceived health status was the common factor influencing attitude toward one's own aging in both age groups. Middle-aged adults identified presence of chronic illness and internal health locus of control as important factors. In contrast, the elderly reported that education and others-dependent health locus of control such as powerful others had a significant impact on ATOA. Each regression model explained 31% and 55% of the total variance of ATOA among middle-aged adults and among the elderly. Conclusion: Both middle-aged adults and the elderly with low perceived health status are at risk of negative ATOA's. The type health locus of control need to be identified and utilized based on individuals' tendency to improve positive ATOA. That is, middle-aged adults might need reinforcement of their self-will whereas the elderly might need enhancement of social support and network of family and healthcare providers.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.12-23
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• 2021

Purpose: This study explored how and why young and middle-aged adults disclose depressive feelings to others. In particular, we investigated the role of social norms to see whether using mobile instant messaging (MIM) could lower the perceived barriers of emotional disclosure. Furthermore, the motivations of emotional disclosure via MIM were compared between young and middle-aged adults. Methods: A total of 255 Koreans (128 middle-aged people, 127 young adults) participated in an online survey. Pearson's correlation coefficients, paired t-tests, SPSS PROCESS macro, and exploratory factor analysis were used to examine the relationships among the key variables. Results: The perceived social norms were found to be a significant deterrent in disclosing depressive feelings to others. However, there was a significant interaction effect between generations and perceived social norms. Although young adults with low social norm awareness were more likely to disclose depressive feelings via MIM, emotional disclosure among middle-aged adults increased with higher levels of perceived social norms. Also, different motivations were observed. Conclusion: The results confirmed the significant effect of social norms as well as generational differences when using MIM as a channel of emotional disclosure.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.392-401
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• 2021

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the relationship of health status, aging anxiety, social networking, generativity, and happiness and to investigate the main factors influencing happiness of late middle-aged adults. Methods: The study collected data from a total of 153 middle-aged men and women aged 50 to 64 years old from a consumer panel of Macromill-Embrain, the biggest online survey provider in Korea. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient and a stepwise multiple regression using the SPSS 22.0 program. Results: The subjects' happiness mean score was 16.17±9.29. Statistically significant differences in happiness were found according to education (F=4.38, p=.014), economic status (t=5.13, p<.001), and religion (t=2.18, p=.031). Happiness was correlated significantly with health status (r=.41, p<.001), aging anxiety (r=-.62, p<.001), family support (r=.43, p<.001), friend support (r=.36, p<.001) and generativity (r=.63, p<.001). The factors influencing happiness of late middle-aged adults were generativity (𝛽=.37, p<.001), aging anxiety (𝛽=-.35, p<.001), family support (𝛽=.20, p<.001), and economic status (𝛽=.13, p=.033). The explanatory power of the model was 58.0%. Conclusion: This study will be used as basic data when developing a nursing intervention program for successful aging by identifying factors that affect the happiness of late middle-aged adults.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.689-703
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships among 'leisure constraints', 'leisure sufficiency' and 'life satisfaction' perceived by late middle-aged adults. The subjects of this research were 275 adults from 50 to 64. The results are as follows: 1) Among 5 categories of 'leisure constraints', the subjects perceive' financial constraints' as the most important, and in order of importance, 'social constraints', 'physical constraints', and 'familial constraints' followed. 2) Among five 'leisure activities', a factor perceived most sufficiently by middle-aged adults is 'simple relaxation' and followed by 'social activities', 'activities with family'. 'learning activities', and 'play-recreation activities'. 3) The factors influencing life satisfaction perceived by late-middle aged adults are 'religion', 'financial constraints', 'education', 'familial constraints', 'physical constraints', 'learning activities', and 'play-recreation activities'. These 7 factors explain 38.9% of total variation. Also, the 'leisure constraints' has a greater impact on their 'life satisfaction' than on their 'leisure sufficiency'.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.118-125
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• 2024

Background: Numerous studies have consistently demonstrated that depression can be associated with cognitive function decline, primarily focusing on older adults due to the neurodegenerative characteristics of dementia. With persistent depression frequently reported in patients with early-onset or young-onset dementia, this study aimed to assess the impact of depression, specifically the changes in depressive symptoms over time, on the risk of cognitive function decline in middle-aged adults in Korea. Methods: This retrospective study utilized data from the first four waves (2006-2012) of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA), focusing on middle-aged adults with normal cognitive function at baseline. Changes in depressive symptoms were categorized into four groups based on the CES-D score, and their association with cognitive function decline was evaluated using a multivariate logistic regression model. Results: Of the initial 10,254 participants, 3,400 were included in the analysis. Depressive status, particularly newly onset (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.32-2.93) and persistent depression groups (aOR 5.59; 95% CI 2.90-10.78), were significantly associated with cognitive function decline. In contrast, recovery from depressive symptoms was not significantly associated with cognitive function decline (p=0.809). Conclusions: Our study showed a significant association between changes in depressive symptoms and cognitive function decline in middle-aged Korean adults. This suggests that management of depressive symptoms could be crucial for the prevention of cognitive function decline in this population.