• 대한간호학회지
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.64-75
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was designed to construct and test structural equation modeling on healthy menopausal transition in middle-aged women in order to identify variables affecting healthy menopausal transition. Methods: Participants, 276 women, 45 to 60 years of age, with menopausal symptom score higher than 5 on the Korean version of Menopause Rating Scale, were recruited in three cities and one county of Gyeongnam Province. Research data were collected via questionnaires and analysed using SPSS version 18.0 and AMOS version 20.0. Results: After confirmatory factor analysis, one of the observed variables was excluded due to relatively low factor loading. The model fit indices for the hypothetical model were suitable for the recommended level: GFI=.93, CFI=.92, RMSEA=.05. Self-efficacy, self-differentiation, and menopausal symptoms explained 67.7% of variance in menopausal transition, and self-differentiation was the most influential factor for menopausal transition. Self efficacy and menopausal symptoms explained 9.6% of variance in menopausal management, although "menopausal symptoms" was not significant. Conclusion: These results suggest that nursing interventions to improve self-differentiation, self efficacy, menopausal management and decrease menopausal symptoms are critical for healthy menopausal transition in middle-aged women. Continued development of a variety of community-based nursing interventions to facilitate healthy menopausal transition is suggested.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.154-160
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was done to report the progress of treatment with oriental medicine on a woman who complained of irregular menstruation in menopausal transition. Methods: The patient in this case was treated with Chokyungjongoktanggamibang, acupuncture and moxibustion. And to assess the effectiveness of this treatment, we evaluated the ovarian function by using hormone assay. Results: During treatment period the patient had three times of uterine bleeding, two of the three seemed like normal menstrual bleeding. And analyzing the hormone assay, estraiol level was increased and FSH, LH levels were decreased significantly. However a month after treatment end, estradiol level was decreased and FSH, LH levels were incresead as the levels in menopausal transition or menopause state. And the patient had no more uterine bleeding since last one according to follow up by phone-call. Conclusion: In this study, the progress of ovarian function was specified with hormonal changes after treatment of oriental medicine during menopausal transition. And further studies are needed to find the more appropriate clinical approach for women in menopausal transition.

• 여성건강간호학회지
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.210-221
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to construct a hypothetical model based on Meleis and colleagues' Transition Theory and a literature review to explain women's menopausal transition, constructing a modified model considering previous studies and model fit and testing the effects between variables. Methods: With a correlational survey design, middle-aged Korean women aged 40 to 64 years who had experienced menopausal symptoms were recruited and filled out a self-administered study questionnaire. Measures included menopausal symptoms, resilience, social support, menopause management, menopause adaptation, and quality of life. The data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0 and AMOS 24.0. Results: The model fit indices were considered acceptable: 𝛘²/degree of freedom=2.93, standardized root mean residual=.07, comparative fit index=.90, and parsimonious normed fit index=.73. All eight direct-effect paths-from menopausal symptoms to support and adaptation, from support to adaptation and resilience, from resilience to adaptation and management, from management to quality of life, and from adaptation to quality of life-were significant. The explanatory power of the menopause transition model was 63.6%. Conclusion: Women who experience menopausal symptoms may be able to maintain and improve their quality of life if menopause management and menopause adaptation are successful through resilience and social support. Future research is needed to confirm whether strengthening facilitation as a nursing intervention strategy may promote healthy response patterns.

• 한국생활과학회지
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.1043-1058
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to identify how attitudes toward menopause and family-related variables (living with a first child, satisfaction with children, and marital satisfaction) were associated with the perceived menopausal symptoms of middle-aged Korean females. Data for the study were based on a community sample of 628 women whose ages ranged from 45 to 60, who were currently married and had at least one child. The respondents reported lower levels of menopausal symptoms, medium levels of marital satisfaction and slightly higher levels of satisfaction with children. Feelings of tiredness, irritability, and nervousness without apparent reason, and aches in the lumbago and joints were common menopausal symptoms reported in this study. Regression analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of monthly income, educational level, employment status, attitudes toward menopause, living with a first child, satisfaction with children, and marital satisfaction on perceived menopausal symptoms. Attitudes toward menopause, living with a first child, satisfaction with children and marital satisfaction were significantly associated with perceived menopausal symptoms. In particular, marital satisfaction had the strongest effect on perceived menopausal symptoms. The results showed that in the face of the developmental challenges experienced during the menopausal transition, family-related variables served as positive reinforcement for married middle-aged women. This finding suggests that in order to improve the menopausal transition, family education programs need to be developed and offered to middle aged females who suffer from severe menopausal symptoms.

• 근관절건강학회지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.158-168
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare musculoskeletal pain, menopausal symptoms and depression by women's menopausal stage. Method: With a survey design, a convenience sample of 203 women between age of 40 to 64 was recruited through a community. Data were collected via a structured study questionnaire from May to July, 2008. Measures included with symptom severity list for menopausal symptoms, Aches and Pains scale, and Beck's Depression Inventory. Results: Thirty-seven percent of women belong to early peri-menopausal stage, 31% to late peri-menopausal stage, and 32% to postmenopausal stage. By group comparison, late peri-menopausal and post menopausal women reported higher scores of depression than early peri-menopausal women. Postmenopausal women had greater scores in two pain subscales (bodily pain and pain that interferes with normal work) and two menopausal symptoms subscales (sleep pattern and sexual behaviors) than early peri-menopausal women. There were moderate levels of positive relationships among study variables at each menopausal stage. Conclusion: Postmenopausal women seem to have greater musculoskeletal pain and menopausal symptoms, and have depression more than did early peri-menopausal women. Tailored nursing strategies are required to reduce these kinds of common symptoms for women with menopausal transition to improve their physical and psychological wellbeing.

• 여성건강간호학회지
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.104-114
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to comprehensively understand and describe the meaning of physical activity for managing menopausal symptoms in middle-aged women. Methods: This study targeted middle-aged women with menopausal symptoms who participated in regular exercise at least three times a week for more than 12 weeks. Nine participants were individually interviewed via in-depth face-to-face interviews, and participatory observation was also employed. Colaizzi's phenomenological qualitative research method was applied for analysis. Results: Participants were asked, "What does it means to participate in physical activity at this time of your life?" Fourteen codes, six themes, and three theme clusters were derived for the meaning of physical activity for managing menopausal symptoms these middle-aged women. The six themes were "reviving the exhausted body and mind," "being free from the yoke of pain," "being settled in life," "finding oneself and becoming altruistic," "striving while anticipating change," and "equipping the body and mind." The three theme clusters were "overcoming my past pain," "taking the initiative for today's life," and "moving towards new change." Conclusion: The narratives revealed that physical activity allowed women to overcome menopausal symptoms, the burden of relationships, and stress, thereby enabling them to make positive changes in their lives and have expectations for the future. Thus, physical activity was a positive force in a healthy menopausal transition for women with menopausal symptoms. The findings of this study can be used to encourage physical activity in peri-menopausal women and to develop physical activity programs for managing menopausal symptoms.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제27권12호
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• pp.2228-2236
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• 2017

During menopausal transition, the imbalance of estrogen causes body weight gain. Although gut microbiome dysbiosis has been reported in postmenopausal obesity, it is not clear whether there is any difference in the microbiome profile between dietary-induced obesity and postmenopausal obesity. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed intestinal samples from ovariectomized mice and compared them with those of mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity. To further evaluate the presence of menopause-specific bacteria-gene interactions, we also analyzed the liver transcriptome. Investigation of the 16S rRNA V3-V4 region amplicon sequence profile revealed that menopausal obesity and dietary obesity resulted in similar gut microbiome structures. However, Bifidobacterium animalis was exclusively observed in the ovariectomized mice, which indicated that menopausal obesity resulted in a different intestinal microbiome than dietary obesity. Additionally, several bacterial taxa (Dorea species, Akkermansia muciniphila, and Desulfovibrio species) were found when the ovariectomized mice were treated with a high-fat diet. A significant correlation between the above-mentioned menopause-specific bacteria and the genes for female hormone metabolism was also observed, suggesting the possibility of bacteria-gene interactions in menopausal obesity. Our findings revealed the characteristics of the intestinal microbiome in menopausal obesity in the mouse model, which is very similar to the dietary obesity microbiome but having its own diagnostic bacteria.

• 한국의류학회지
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• 제36권11호
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• pp.1186-1196
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• 2012

This study investigated the garments of middle-aged women undergoing menopause and their satisfaction with them. Data were collected through a survey of 288 middle-aged women and analyzed using SPSS 17.0. As a result (in terms of degree of symptoms) backache, arthralgia, muscular pain and heat sensation were indicated as significantly more outstanding in the menopause group rather than the menopausal transition group. As a countermeasure to physiological symptoms, a change of temperature (warming or cooling) was applied for backache and arthralgia as well as taking medicine for stomachaches and muscular pain. Body parts suffering from heat sensations were the face, back neck, chest center, waist and hip. Body parts suffering from arthralgia and muscular pain were the shoulder and hip joints. The most significant purchasing factor for menopausal women was the fit of outerwear and antibiosis in underwear; however, women not undergoing menopause selected comfortableness when moving as the most important factor. In terms of body shaping and thermoregulation function, the satisfaction degree in underwear was significantly different between the two groups. Menopausal women wanted functional underwear that provided functions such as thermoregulation, absorption of secretions, and antibiosis.

• 여성건강간호학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.100-111
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• 2022

Purpose: Based on the theory of unpleasant symptoms (TOUS), this study aimed to examine the direct effect of antecedent factors on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its indirect effect via symptoms in Korean women during the late menopausal transition (MT) and early postmenopause. Methods: This cross-sectional survey employed a descriptive correlational research design. The respondents were 152 middle-aged women 40 to 60 years with an intermenstrual interval of 60 days or more (late MT) or less than 5 years from the last menstrual period (early postmenopause). The respondents were recruited through convenience sampling in Busan, Korea, from December 1, 2020, to January 31, 2021. Based on the TOUS, self-report data were collected on perceived health status, psychological distress, social support, menopausal symptoms, and HRQoL. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statics, independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and the Hayes' PROCESS macro. Results: TOUS was supported on this sample (n=152) of Korean women during the late MT and early postmenopause. Perceived health status, psychological distress, and social support had significant direct relationships with HRQoL. Menopausal symptoms had significant indirect relationships between antecedent factors (perceived health status, psychological distress, and social support) and partially mediated HRQoL. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that menopausal symptoms play an important role as an intervening factor of HRQoL in women during the late MT and early postmenopause. Therefore, women need an integrated program that manages antecedent factors and menopausal symptoms to improve HRQoL in these menopausal stages.

• 대한간호학회지
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• 제29권6호
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• pp.1263-1272
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• 1999

This study was alone to identify the meaning and the essence of the menopause experience by means of the Colaizzi’s phenomenological method. The participants were eight women, 48-60 years old, who were experiencing perimenopause or postmenopause. They were selected using a theoretical sampling technique. Data were collected through in-depth interviews from April 6 to May 20, 1999. The interviews took from 40 to 90 minutes. Interviews were tape- recorded and analyzed using the constant comparative method. Significant statements from data were extracted. From these formulated meanings, 18 themes, 8 clusters of themes and 3 catagories were constructed. Final descriptions were found to be valid through the interviewee validation process. Essential themes of the menopausal experience which emerged were “coming of change”, “inclined to deny the in mind”, and “adapted life”. Menopause, as coming of change was the turning point in the women’s life cycle acompaning changes, in body and mind and marital life changes. Especially, the unpredictable menopausal changes were an opportunity to hide the fact of menopause and not to talk with anybody. Such a phenomenon reflected on the psychological attributes of menopausal woman such as an inclination to deny in the mind. Their experiences of menopause as adapted life were generally regarded as signalling the end of fertility and were interpreted as a natural developmental process that indicates a life transition. In conclusion, participants depicted the menopause as a natural stage in the life cycle. In order to help women have a positive life change and self accomplishment, nurses need to understand the essential themes of the menopausal experience. Thus, the importance of an open approach in eliciting the phenomena of menopause cannot be overemphasized. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that exercise program is one of the effective interventions to improve the self-efficacy and also to lower the fatigue in the sample of female college students.