• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.471-479
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in salivary cortisol content in 35 subjects before and after visiting Gotjawal Forest in Jeju. Cortisol raw samples were collected before and after visiting Gotjawal Forest and were analyzed by salivary cortisol enzyme immunoassay. The period of the study was from May 1, 2017 to June 30, 2017. There was no significant difference in cortisol content between the control and experimental groups before the visit, but the value of the experimental group significantly decreased afterwards. The mean value of cortisol in male subjects was lower than that of the control group. In the case of women, the value of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group. The post-visit cortisol content of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group. In the post-visit analyses according to gender and group, there were significant differences between genders, groups, and combined effects of gender and group. This study provides basic data to prove the effects of forest bathing.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.385-393
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of forest activities on the cortisol concentrations in the body and emotional vocabulary of kindergarteners. The participants were 36 kindergarten children aged 4-5, 17 in the control group and 19 in the experimental group. Forest activities consisted of six steps according to the level of kindergarteners, and the program was carried out at G City Environment Training Institute. Before and after the experiment, the children's emotional vocabulary was self-reported and salivary cortisol was analyzed to evaluate changes in the body's stress hormones. As a result, in the control group, positive words increased significantly from 0.14 to 1.53 (p=.003), but the decrease in negative words was not significant (p=.059). In the experimental group, positive words increased significantly from 0.47 to 2.84 after forest activities (p=.000). Negative words decreased significantly from 1.94 to 0.00 after forest activities (p=.000). In the analysis of salivary cortisol, the change in salivary cortisol concentrations was not significant (p=.667) in the control group, merely decreasing from 0.179 ㎍/dl to 0.161 ㎍/dl. However, the experimental group showed a significant decrease from 0.202 ㎍/dl to 0.161 ㎍/dl after forest activities (p=.049). These results suggest that forest play activities may be helpful in encouraging young children's emotional development by increasing positive vocabulary and decreasing negative vocabulary and reducing stress in kindergarteners.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.59-67
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• 2014

Objective : This study was to examine the effects of Doin-Angyo program, evidenced by East Asian Medicine literatures, on stress among smoking adolescents. Method : This study was a prospective community trial using a one-group, pretest-posttest design. As an intervention, Doin-Angyo program was implemented for 10 minutes per session, 3 days a week, for 6 weeks to smoking students who attend a Girl's high school. Psychological stress was measured by self-report questionnaire and physiological stress was measured by salivary cortisol. The final sample for the questionnaire included 18 participants. In addition, pre- and post-salivary cortisol levels of 24 adolescents participating in the last session were compared in order to identify the acute effects of Doin-Angyo program in reducing stress. Results : There were no significant differences in overall stress-test results from the comparisons before and after the intervention. However, we found a significant going-down of the stress level(p = .032) in the question, "About School-work" among six sub-category questions. From the salivary cortisol tests in the last session, we found, in comparison with the standard salivary cortisol density level, $0.3{\mu}g/dL$, the density level tended to go down(p = .062) when higher than the standard, and it went up(p = .001) when lower than the standard, after 10 minute session. Conclusion : The results of this pilot study supported the partial effect of Doin-Angyo program in reducing the stress levels. The study protocol and results can be used to elaborate the community trials design aiming to prove the effect of Korean Medicine based health promotion modalities.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.185-192
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to develope the negative-emotion prediction model by hormonal changes during the scientific inquiry. For this study, biological classification task was developed that are suitable for comprehensive scientific inquiry. Forty-seven 2nd grade secondary school students (boy 18, girl 29) were participated in this study. The students are healthy for measure hormonal changes. The students performed the feathers classification task individually. Before and after the task, the strength of negative emotion was measured using adjective emotion check lists and they extracted their saliva sample for salivary hormone analysis. The results of this study, student's change of negative emotion during the feathers classification process was significant positive correlation(R=0.39, P<0.001) with student's salivary cortisol concentration. According to this results, we developed the negative emotion prediction model by salivary cortisol changes.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.714-723
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to compare nutrient intakes, serum hormones (leptin, adiponectin, insulin), salivary cortisol and ${\alpha}$-amylase of middle-aged women by the percentage of body fat (% fat). Subjects were assigned to 3 groups by body fat (%) group I (27.5%), group II (32.5%), group III (37.7%). WHR of group II (0.97) was significantly higher than of group I, III (0.95) (p < 0.05). Nutrient intakes were not different among 3 groups. Serum leptin levels of group III ($16.53{\mu}g/ml$) were higher than in group I ($10.07{\mu}g/ml$), group II ($12.24{\mu}g/ml$) (p < 0.05). Salivary cortisol levels of group II ($0.39{\mu}g/dl$) were higher than in group I ($0.17{\mu}g/dl$) and group III ($0.15{\mu}g/dl$) (p < 0.05). Adiponectin concentrations were negatively correlated with TAS (r = -0.29) and positively correlated with HDL cholesterol (r = 0.27). Insulin levels were negatively correlated with total cholesterol (r = -0.33), Zn intake (r = -0.31) and positively correlated with WHR (r = 0.31). The overall anthropometric indices showed positive relations with leptin levels. Salivary cortisol levels were positively corelated with WHR (r = 0.28), total cholesterol (r = 0.31), MDA (r = 0.29) and intakes of SFA (r = 0.35) and MUFA (r = 0.3). Salivary amylase levels were positively correlated with overall nutrient intakes (energy, CHO, fat, cholesterol. Fe, SFA, MUFA, Zn, Na, vitamin $B_2$, r = 0.24-0.5) and was negatively correlated with HDL cholesterol (r = -0.34). These results suggested that 1) WHR would be a helpful index in the assessment of metabolic risk diseases. 2) Understanding of individual stress exposure should be considered in developing strategies for prevention and treatment of obesity.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.161-170
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• 2012

Purpose: Purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the Mindfulness Meditation program on perceived stress, ways of coping, salivary cortisol level, and psychological stress response in patients with breast cancer. Methods: This was a quasiexperimental study with a non-equivalent control group pre-post test design. Participants in this study were 50 patients who had completed breast cancer treatment (experimental group, 25, control group, 25). The experimental group received the Mindfulness Meditation program for 3 hours/session/ week for 8 weeks. Data were analyzed using $X^2$-test and t-test for subject homogeneity verification, and ANCOVA to examine the hypotheses. Results: The experimental group had significantly lower scores for perceived stress, emotional focused coping, salivary cortisol level, and psychological stress response compared to the control group. However, no significant differences were found between two groups for the scores on problem focused stress coping. Conclusion: According to the results, the Mindfulness Meditation program was useful for decreasing perceived stress, emotional focused coping, salivary cortisol level, and psychological stress response. Therefore, this program is an effective nursing intervention to decrease stress in patients with breast cancer.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.80-94
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the massage program stimulating the acupuncture points and meridians on the improvement of sleep quality. Methods: 16 subjects suffering from sleep disorders were recruited and the massage program was conducted 3 times a week for a month. VAS (Visual Analog Scale) and KPSQI (Korean Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) were collected through questionnaires, and salivary cortisol concentration test and HRV (Heart Rate Variability) were also used to evaluate the effect. The collected data were analyzed by independent statisticians. Results: VAS and KPSQI values decreased significantly after 4 weeks of massage chair application. There was no significant difference in salivary cortisol concentration and HRV test results. In the group with normal HRV test results and salivary cortisol concentration, the change of VAS and KPSQI values was not significant, while the group with abnormal range showed a statistically significant decrease. Conclusions: The massage chair program stimulating meridians according to Korean medicine theory was effective in improving sleep quality. Massage of acupoints and meridians through a massage chair is expected to be useful as an adjunctive therapy in addition to standard Korean medicine therapy.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.734-741
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• 2019

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between plasma and salivary cortisol concentrations in beef cattle that were subjected to handling prior to sampling. Methods: Twenty-one Nguni cows of three age categories; 5 to 7 yr (n = 7), 8 to 10 yr (n = 6), and 11 to 13 yr (n = 8) were handled for five consecutive weeks. In the pen, a human avoidance test was performed and cattle responses to restraint in the chute and crush were observed. In addition, rectal temperature readings were taken and, faecal samples were collected and analysed for glucocorticoid metabolites. Through the handling and restraint process, excretory and vocalisation behaviour, as a sign of stress were observed and recorded. Thereafter, six cows were randomly selected and subjected to an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge. Blood and saliva samples were extracted to determine cortisol concentrations. Results: Repeated handling affected (p<0.05) faecal glucocorticoid metabolites, rectal temperatures, avoidance distance, crush scores as well as urination and defaecation behaviour. Acclimation to handling was variable based on each respective parameter. Saliva cortisol concentrations increased and decreased significantly (p<0.001). A peak value of $136.78{\pm}15.869nmol/L$ was observed 30min after administration of ACTH, from a baseline value of $8.75{\pm}15.869nmol/L$. Plasma cortisol concentrations did not differ (p>0.05) across the time of sampling. A low and insignificant correlation (r = 0.0131, p>0.05) between plasma and saliva cortisol was therefore observed. Conclusion: We conclude that if beef cows are subjected to handling prior to sampling, a weak relationship exists between plasma and salivary cortisol levels.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2014

Purpose: The use of salivary biomarkers for stress research is increasing based on the convenience of collection, affordability and scientific merit. This short review provides an overview of the state of the science of salivary biomarkers utilized in research related to stress. Methods: An integrative review was conducted. Results: The trend of utilizing salivary biomarkers in stress research was reviewed, specifically, focusing on the use of endocrine and inflammatory biomarkers incorporated in previous stress research. Then, a review of sampling procedures for salivary biomarkers and the analytic methods is provided. Finally, a discussion on the strengths and areas for improvement in the use of salivary biomarkers in stress research is included. Conclusion: Salivary biomarkers as an alternative to blood biomarkers are increasingly being recognized as a legitimate source for analyzing the stress response in humans.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.92-98
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• 2013

Objective: Constraint induced aphasia therapy (CIAT) is a more intensive form of language treatment for aphasia as compared to traditional treatments. This study examined whether there are differences in cortisol stress levels between the two methods of aphasia treatment as well as effects on language skills. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: A total of 20 participants with expressive aphasia were randomly placed into one of the two treatment groups. The CIAT group received 10 days of intensive treatment over two weeks. The traditional therapy group received 6 days of treatment over 2 weeks. All participants in each group provided salivary cortisol samples before treatment, at the mid-point of treatment, and at the conclusion of treatment. Language skills were assessed before treatment and at the conclusion of treatment. Results: A significantly higher proportion of individuals in the CIAT treatment group had increased salivary cortisol stress levels when compared to the traditional treatment group at the mid-point of the program (80% versus 30% respectively, p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the proportion of individuals with increased cortisol stress by the end of the treatment. Language scores for word repetition and overall aphasia quotient significantly improved for the CIAT group when compared to the traditional group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The CIAT treatment appears to initially create increased psychophysiological stress as compared to the traditional treatment. In spite of the initial increases in psychophysiological stress, participants appear to become conditioned to the challenge and ultimately have enhanced benefit from CIAT treatment.