• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.21-30
• /
• 2000

The growing population of the elderly who have diverse health needs is receiving more attention from the health promotion field. This paper describes some of the findings of quantitative study into the health function of Korean immigrant elderly living in Washington State of Northwest America. One hundred-two community-dwelling Korean immigrant elderly, aged from 65 to 93 with a mean 77.97 years, were interviewed with a structured questionnaire to report their health function defined in three domains; perceived health status, physical functioning, and psychosocial functioning. The main results of the study were identified: (a) Overall, Korean immigrant elderly's perceived health status and physical functioning were good, but psychosocial functioning was poor; (b) Elderly with higher health functioning scores perceived better health status. Data indicates that health functioning measures are good indicators of the degree of perceived need for immigrant elderly. The paper argues that the understanding of physical and psychosocial functioning of elderly is vitally important in the provision of health care.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.19-36
• /
• 1996

The purpose of this study was to provide basic information for developing family-focused nursing interventions for families with chronic illness. The subjects were 68 families of chronically ill patients in hospitalization and 68 families, as a comparison group, who didn't have chronically ill family members. The results of this study were as follows. 1. families with chronic illness showed higher anxiety scores (t=2.28, P=.024) and lower family functioning scores than normal families(the performance of family functioning : t=2.83, P=.005, the satisfaction of family functioning : t=5.76, P=.000) 2. In family caregiver systems, spouses of chronically ill patients showed higher anxiety scores (t=2.72, P=.008) and lower family functioning scores than those of normal families(the performance of family functioning : t=2.28, P=.026, the satisfaction of family functioning : t=4.41, P=.000) : however, the anxiety scores between children of chronically ill patients and those of normal families were no statistically significant differences. with regard to satisfaction of family functioning, children of chronically ill patients showed lower scores than those of normal family(t=3.85, P=.000). 3. In families with chronic illness, there were significantly positive correlations between the perceived importance of family functioning and anxiety(r=.415, P=.001) and between the performance and satisfaction of family functioning(r=.727, P=.001) ; however, there was a negative correlation between satisfaction of family functioning and anxiety(r=-.334, P=.01). In normal families, there was no significant correlation between family functioning and anxiety. Findings of this study suggest that families with chronic illness need family-focused nursing interventions for relieving their anxiety and for improving family functioning. in conclusion, the investigation of family functioning and anxiety provides useful information in family-focused nursing care, especially for spouses of chronically ill patients. This information will contribute to developing the support systems for family caregivers and education programs for managing chronically ill patients.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.359-364
• /
• 2021

Aim: We aimed to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between sleep and work-related impaired cognitive and emotional functioning in police employees. Methods: This study included 410 participants (52% men) employed in a police district in Norway at baseline, of which 50% also participated in the study at 6 months later follow-up. The questionnaires included items measuring work schedule, sleep length, insomnia, as well as impaired cognitive and emotional functioning at work. Results: The results showed that insomnia was related to impaired work-related emotional functioning measured at baseline, and to impaired cognitive functioning measured at both baseline and follow-up. Sleep length and rotating shift work were not associated with future decline in cognitive or emotional functioning. Conclusion: Our study indicates that the relationship between insomnia and emotional functioning at work may be transient, whereas insomnia can be related to both immediate and future impaired cognitive functioning. Replication of the findings in larger samples is advised. The findings call for an emphasis on the prevention and treatment of sleep problems among police employees as a mean of maintaining and improving cognitive and emotional functioning at work, and thereby reducing the risk for impaired performance and negative health and safety outcomes.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.122-136
• /
• 2006

The purpose of this study is to explore the features and features of causes of communicative deficits in high-functioning autistic children in order to intervene educational programs. When communicating with others, high-functioning autistic children have difficulties in the aspects of syntax and semantics, especially pragmatics. These causes of communicative deficits of high-functioning autistic children can be explained respectively by theory of mind, executive function, and central coherence theory. According to theory of mind, qualitative impairment of interaction and communication accounts for communicative deficits. Executive function argues that communicative deficits of high-functioning autistic children be caused by limited concern. Central coherence theory suggests that communicative deficits be caused by the inappropriate integration of cues. Considering these causes of communicative deficits in high-functioning autistic children, we proposed educational strategies order to intervene educational programs.

• Women's Health Nursing
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.308-315
• /
• 2006

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify sexual functioning in women with gynecologic cancer. Method: Sexually active women with gynecologic cancer without evidence of distant metastasis were recruited in Seoul, Korea from a university medical center. Subjects were asked to complete an anonymous mail-back survey on their sexual functioning. Result: One hundred eighty four women completed questionnaires. Their mean age was 51.0 years and 96.2% lived with their husbands. Subjects were diagnosed with cervical cancer(53.8%), ovarian cancer (27.7%), or endometrial cancer(18.5%). Sexual functioning for women with gynecologic cancer was relatively low, 15.4, in comparison to Rosen's cutoff scores of 26.6. Univariate analyses indicated that age, employment status, and their monthly income were significantly associated with sexual functioning. Tumor staging, treatment modality, and hormone replacement therapy were also significantly associated factors with women's sexual functioning. Sexual arousal, orgasm, and pain were affected by time since last treatment. Conclusion: Sexual counselling or education for women with gynecologic cancer should be considered by medical professionals in order to improve their quality of life including sexual functioning.

• Journal of Family Relations
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.3-28
• /
• 2018

Objectives: The study examined the mediated role of family functioning in the relation between fathers' and mothers' depression and drinking behaviors, and children's internalizing/externalizing problems and peer-play behavior. Methods: The study utilized data from the Panel Study on Korean Children(PSKC), namely Wave 5 data(N=1,703) for parental depression and drinking behavior, Wave 6 data(N=1,662) for family functioning, and Wave 7 data(N=1,620) for children's internalizing/externalizing problems and peer-play behavior. Results: Mothers' perceived family functioning mediated the relation between parental depression and boys' internalizing/externalizing problems. Second, fathers' perceived family functioning mediated the relation between parental depression and children's peer-play behavior. Third, only when both parents engaged in an above-average level of drinking behavior, did father perceive that their family functioning was low. Conclusions: This study showed the mediated effect of family functioning in the influence of parental depression and drinking behavior on children's developmental outcomes. The study ditermined that fathers and mothers played different roles in children's development, and found different mechanisms related to parental depression and their drinking behavior.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.384-395
• /
• 2000

This study examined burdens of primary family caregivers, and family functioning of patients with cancer. In addition, the relationship between two concepts was assessed to develop nursing intervention to reduce the burdens of caregiving, and to improve family functioning. Ninety-two primary family caregivers of patients with cancer at a general hospital in Seoul participated in this study. The patients with cancer aged from 19 to 84 years with a mean age of 51 years, and sixty-one percent were male. About 30 percent of the patients suffered liver and billiary tract cancer. Fifty-six percent of the primary family caregivers were spouses of the patients and 70.7 percent were women. Primary family caregivers' burdens were assessed by the Burden Scale originally developed by Zarit (1980) and Novak & Guest(1989) and modified by Jang (1995) for use in Korea. The instrument consists of six subscales: time-dependent burden, developmental burden, physical burden, emotional burden, social burden, and financial burden. Family functioning was assessed by the Family APGAR developed by Smilkstein(1978). The results were as follows: 1. The average burden score was 86.1, indicating a moderate level of burden. The time-dependent burden scored highest followed by developmental, physical, social, financial, and emotional burdens. The mean score of family APGAR was 9.71; among subjects 82.6% were included in dysfunctional families. 2. Of the characteristics of patients, age, gender, number of admissions, and job were found to be associated with the level of burden. There was no significant difference between patient characteristics and family functioning. Of the characteristics of primary family caregivers, caregiver's perception of patient prognosis was significantly related to the level of burden, and family functioning. Caregiver's sex and age were also related to family functioning. The quality of relationship between a patient and a caregiver was significant situational factors affecting the level of burden, and family functioning. In addition, the income of family, and help from other family members were related to the level of burden. Given the results, it is essential to develop nursing intervention to reduce burden and to improve family functioning, such as support groups.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.1-14
• /
• 1998

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting family functioning of stroke patients. A descriptive survey research was conducted in which 65 stroke patients and their primary caregivers were conveniently sampled. Data were collected from July to September, 1998 through interviewing using a structured questionnare. The measuring instruments used were Barthel Index by Mahoney and Barthel(15 items), Quality of Relationship Scale by Archbold and Stewart(15 Items), Role Stress of Caregiver Scale by Yang(14 items), Situational Definition Scale by Lee(9 items), Family Hardiness Index by McCubbin, McCubbin. and Thompson(20 items), and Family Adaptability Cohesion Evaluation Scale(FACES-III) by Olson, Portner, and Lavee(20 items). The obtained data were analyzed using percentage, t-test, ANOVA, Duncan test, and Pearson coefficients correlation by SAS/PC program. The results were as follows; 1. Role Stress of Caregiver was not severe and Quality of Relationship was moderate. The level of Situational Definition of primary caregivers was not high but Family Hardiness and Family Functioning were rather high. 2. The following relationships between research variables and demographic characteristics of the primary caregivers of stroke patients were significantly different; occupation of caregiver between Quality of Relationship, occupation of caregiver between Situational Definition, family type between Role Stress, caregiving duration between Family Hardiness, caregiving duration between Family Functioning, and hospitalization days between Family Functioning. 3. The correlations between research variables were as follows; There was positively correlated between patient's ADL and Quality of Relationship. The relationship of the patient's ADL between Role Stress was negatively correlated. Quality of Relationship between Situational Definition, Family Hardiness, and Family Functioning were significantly correlated. The correlation of Situational Definition between Family Hardiness, and Situational Definition between Family Functioning were very high. As a result of these findings, Quality of Relationship, Role Stress, Situational Definition. and Family Hardiness were useful variables for identifying Family Functioning of stroke patients. It is important for the rehabilitation nurse to be knowledgeable about family functioning of stroke patients to promote rehabilitation process.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.123-135
• /
• 2004

The purpose of this study was to examine the relations between family functioning and the interpersonal relation disposition of high school students in southern Gyeonggi province. The subjects of this study were 360 high school students. The scale of family functioning was measured using the Family Adaptability Cohesion Evaluation Scale(FACES Ⅲ) developed by Olson, et al.(1985). To measure the interpersonal relation disposition, Ahn's Interpersonal Relation Disposition Scale(IRDS) was used. The data was analyzed by using t-test, ANOVA, and multiple comparison(Duncan test). The major findings were as follows: There were significant differences in student's family functioning and interpersonal relation disposition according to school department and family economy level. There were significant differences in the interpersonal relation disposition according to gender. Where family functioning was higher, the students' interpersonal relation dispositions were more sympathetic, accepting and socially friendly, while being less rebellious and distrustful. As a result of this study, it is found that family functioning has effects on high school students' interpersonal relation disposition.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.457-467
• /
• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the main factors influencing family functioning of caregivers in families with stroke. Method: A Convenient sample of 173 primary family caregivers who take care of a stroke patient at an Oriental medicine hospital in Jeonbuk. Interviews were done with a standardized questionnaire including family functioning by nurses. Results: In Pearson's correlation analysis, the influencing factors related to family functioning were ADL(p=.017), level of paralysis(p=.019) as stressors, Quality of relation(p=.000) as situational variables, and family caregivers' burden(p=.000). Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed 29.9% of the variance family functioning was significantly accounted for by the quality of relationship between stroke patient and caregiver(26.8%), and caregiver burden(3.1%). Conclusions: Findings indicate that families of stroke patients need family-focused nursing intervention as supported care to improve the relationship between patient and primary caregiver and relieve caregiver burden by culturally tailoring to Korean.