• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.503-512
• /
• 2017

The perceived stress of pregnant women is a potential contributor to adverse birth outcomes. Although the importance of the psychosocial well-being of pregnant women has been emphasized, there are fewreliable and valid instruments to measure the stress level of pregnant women in Korea. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of Ahn's pregnancy related stress scale (PSS) that was originally developed in 1984. Two hundred pregnant women completed the survey questionnaire, which was comprised of the PSS, depression scale, and demographic information. Principal component analysis and confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the construct validity. The concurrent validity was evaluated using the correlation with depression scores. Based on exploratory factor analysis and a consideration of conceptual meaning, a five-factor structure was extracted, explaining 57.25% of the variance: physical discomfort, fetus, parenting, spouse relationship, and housework. The goodness-of-fit indices showed an acceptable fit overall with the full model and acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha =.89). The concurrent validity was confirmed by a comparing with the depression score (r=.48, p <.001). The shortened PSS, as a valid and reliable scale, is recommended to be used to assess pregnancy-related stress and to develop stress managing interventions for pregnant women in clinical settings.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.107-124
• /
• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to identify Yangsaeng level and pattern identification of subfertility in childbearing aged women according to the pregnancy experience. Methods : Data was collected by structured questionnaire distributed to 217 women(125 women experienced pregnancy, 92 subfertile women) in I city from Nov. to Dec. 2014. For data analysis, Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficients were performed using SPSS version 19.0. Results : Drinking rate and stress level of subfertile group were higher than pregnancy experience group. Subfertile women group have more disease related to reproductive system, irregularities of the menstrual cycle and dysmenorrhea than pregnancy experience group. Subfertile women showed lower scores for Yangsaeng level but higher scores for all types of pattern identification of subfertility more than those in the women experiencing pregnancy. Conclusions : The results of this study indicate that reproductive health program for the childbearing aged women is necessary before serviced by western or oriental medical treatment for subinfertile(infertile) women. These results can be used for a program based on oriental medicine in order to improve women's health.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.8 no.6
• /
• pp.803-813
• /
• 2003

Literature suggests that iron deficiency anemia is prevalent among pregnant women all over the world. This study was designed to evaluate the iron status of pregnant women during the fist five months, with the intention of determining ways to reduce the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia among pregnant women in Korea. We collected dietary information and measured the biochemical status of iron in 171 pregnant women over 16 weeks of gestation (=16.7$\pm$2.34 week). Dietary intakes for 3 days were collected using the 24 hour recall and food record methods. The daily Fe intake was measured using the food frequency method. The Body Mass Index (BMI), calculated by using the pre-pregnancy weight and height, indicated that 31.3% of subjects were under-weight. We divided the subjects into normal and anemic group by using the serum ferritin levels. It appeared that the mean dietary intake of iron was 52.3% of the recommended level for pregnant women. The dietary quality evaluation showed that pregnant women ate only 58% of the recommended amount in the food groups of meat, fish, eggs, beans and milk and dairy products. The hematological indices showed that the mean Hemoglobin (Hb) was 11.9 g/dl, Hematocrit (Hct) was 35.1%, ferritin was 23.9 $ng/ml$, and transferrin was 297.3 ${\mu}g/dl$. The dietary intake of iron was significantly lower and the vitamin C intake was significantly higher in the anemic group. The pre-pregnancy BMI was significantly lower in the anemic group. Variables affecting iron intake were the Fe intake frequency index and the food group score. The Fe index showed significantly positive correlation with the pre-pregnancy food intake and the food group score. Hb showed a significantly positive correlation with the pre-pregnancy food intake. We concluded that strategies to improve iron status be implemented in the pre-pregnant stage so as to reduce the prevalence of iron deficiency and that we should stress on the importance of an adequate diet as well as the maintenance of a heathy weight.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.173-195
• /
• 2023

Objectives: To investigate and analyze the assessment indicators and tools used in clinical practice to assess Korean medicine (KM) treatment for infertility, and to establish a basis for assessment tools to diagnose and assess infertility. Methods: Relevant studies published until March 2023 were extracted from Pubmed, Research Information Sharing Service, and National Digital Science Library databases. Results: Sixty-four studies comprising 4,105 patients were included. We investigated pregnancy outcomes, and assessed pregnancy- and childbirth-related factors, overall health, reproductive health, and mental health. Pregnancy result was most common primary outcome. Ongoing pregnancy, stillbirth, miscarriage, and ectopic pregnancy rates were suggested as indicators of pregnancy and childbirth-related assessment. Overall health was most commonly assessed with Likert and Visual analogue scale (VAS). Among reproductive health variables, menstrual history was most frequently assessed. Moreover, indicators such as reproductive function, sexual intercourse, and gynecological disease were assessed. The Infertility Stress Scale and the Fertility Quality of Life tool (FertiQoL) were used to assess mental health. Conclusions: Subjective scales and objective assessment tools, such as the Likert scale and blood tests/ultrasonography, respectively, are used to assess KM infertility treatment. Inconsistent assessment tools make quantitative analyses more challenging. The development of a standardized mental and physical function assessment questionnaire with confirmed reliability and validity ensure the effectiveness of KM infertility treatment, and promote future studies on infertility treatment.

• Human Ecology Research
• /
• v.55 no.4
• /
• pp.363-384
• /
• 2017

The Korean government implemented better support for adolescent single-parent families by expanding the coverage of the Single-parent Family Support Act in 2010. In order to understand the effect, this study verified the moderating effect of the single-parent family policy's support for child rearing in the context of adolescent female single-parent's stress levels and education sustainability. This study utilized part of the National Youth Policy Institute's 'Research on the Actual Condition of the Adolescent Pregnancy, Birth and Rearing Children'. Participants of the study were 248 adolescent single-parents aged 24 and below. The findings and discussion of this study are as follows. First, the stress level of adolescent female single-parent in continuing studies was lower than those for discontinued studies. Students who discontinued their education in the middle of studies showed an increase in life stress level relative to age because they had a low level of education and had discontinued studies before pregnancy. Second, the public nanny service has been verified as an element to increase the continuation of education by controlling the level of stress. It is advisable to fortify and expand the scope of support for childcare services in the form of a study assistant or child education assistant. Last, adolescent single-parent childcare subsidies have been verified as a direct factor that raised the meaningful level of education continuity potential to a meaningful standard that can be seen as a more effective method than general policy support for single-parent families.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
• /
• v.39 no.8
• /
• pp.53-66
• /
• 2001

The primary objectives of this research is to identify the unmarried mother's (1) socio-demographic characteristics and (2) factors that correlates their stress and (3) factors that predicts their stress. This study uses the data based on interviews with 136 unmarried mothers selected purposive sampling from the 5 unmarried mothers protective institutions in Seoul, Pyungtak, Chunchon, Taegu, and Gwanju. The major findings were as follows. First of all, the age of the first sexual activity of the late-teens among the unmarried mothers are over the half. The portions over the one time abortion are 33.3%. Second, the social support part in the coping sub-category had positive correlation with the stress of unmarried mothers. And the age of the first sexual activity and my thought on the adolescent sex had negative correlation with the stress of unmarried mothers. Third, the age of the first sexual activity predicted the stress of unmarried mothers. Therefore, the comprehensive and systematic intervention programs should be required to ensure that they intervene the stress of unmarried mothers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.79-86
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study is to compare life stress between primigravida and multigravida in advanced maternal age. A cross-sectional study was performed for 133 pregnancy women (primigravida group 53, multigravida group 80). The all women were old age (${\geq}35years$) and pregnant. We used the questionnaire to self-report general characteristics, obstetric characteristics and life stress. The average of participants age was 36.15 years old, primigravida was 36.08 and multigravida was 36.19. The mean of total life stress score was 2.68 and the total life score for pregnant women of lower education level was higher. The marital relationship of primigravida was lower than multigravida(mean, .06 vs. .26; p=.021). As our study shows that stress of marital relationship is higher in the multigravida than primigravida, the life stress care for advanced maternal age is important.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.57-71
• /
• 2008

This study examined the influences on maternal acceptance-rejection and mediating effects of parenting stress. Participants were 150 mothers of children aged 3 to 6 in Seoul and Jeju. Research questions were analyzed by structural equation modeling. Results showed that children's age, congenital diseases or anomalies, planned pregnancy, and father's occupation influenced maternal acceptance-rejection directly. Mothers' perceived treatment in childhood and fathers' age influenced parenting stress; parenting stress, in turn, influenced maternal acceptance-rejection. Fathers' age influenced parenting stress negatively; parenting stress, in turn, influenced maternal acceptance-rejection positively.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.75-85
• /
• 1983

This study was done to research the relationship between general characteristics and stressor, stress situation, Nursing Intervention of pregnant woman. The subjects for this study were 70 pregnant woman from 3 clinics of Obstetrics and Gynecology located in J city. The data was collected through questionaires which was developed by Norman J. Chestnut. The content of the questionaire consist of following 3 categories; (1) stressor (2) stress situation (3) Mental and Physical support of husband. Analysis of data was done by use percentage, x²-test. (through EDPS) The findings of this study are as follows; 1, Stressors of pregnant woman are stresses associated with fetus, socioeconomic problem, herself, delivery, abortion and prematureity, husband, change of appearances, management of home, a woman's parents-in-law. Stress situations of pregnant woman are when she is doing on the heavy management of home, limit of life, socioeconomic discomfort, taking medicine, difficult relationship with a woman's parents-in-law, being sign of abortion and prematurity, her physical discomfort, family desire of delivery of son baby. 2. Husband's mental support that pregnant woman desired are careful husband's role, More love and interest about pregnant, cooperation of child reaing, maintenance of healthy life, understaning of diffical pregnancy, early return home, giving up drinking, positive feeling about changed appearance, unconcern about sex of fetus. And husband's mental supports that pregnant woman desired are cooperating of homework and childrearing, limit of intercouse, release behavior of pregnant woman's physical discern-fort, a walk, behavior with pregnancy together, socioeconomic stability. 3. Stressor of pregnant woman was significant with education, number of son, economic status, personality of husband, dowelling. (P<.05) And stress situation of pregnant woman was significant with personality of husband, dwelling, husband's desired sex .of baby. (P<.05) 4. Husband's mental and physical supports that pregnant woman desired was significant with number of daughter. (P<.05).

• Women's Health Nursing
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.109-116
• /
• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test effects of music therapy on stress due to preterm labor and uterine contraction in pregnant women with preterm labor. Methods: An experimental research design was used. Participants were 35 pregnant women with preterm labor who were between 20 to 37 weeks of pregnancy: control group (n=18) received only tocolytic drugs, while experimental group (n=17) received additional music therapy. In the experimental group, Traumerei was applied before Non-Stress Test (NST) from the second day to fifth day after admission as music therapy. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in stress due to preterm labor (z=-3.368, p<.001) between the two groups. Conclusion: The music therapy is an effective method for reducing the stress of pregnant women with preterm labor.