• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.188-195
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• 2022

Purpose: With the first generation of marriage-based immigrant women in East Asia now reaching their middle or old age, the need to focus investigations on their health-related quality of life has arisen. This study aimed to examine the extent to which physical and mental health, and psychosocial variables can predict health-related quality of life among Japanese middle-aged immigrant women. Methods: This study has a descriptive cross-sectional design. A convenience sample of 197 Japanese middle-aged marriage-based immigrant women from two regions of South Korea were recruited between December 2017 and March 2018. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires on health-related quality of life, menopausal symptoms, depression, perceived health status, disease morbidity, social support, and acculturation. The data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression. Results: Depression was the strongest predictor of health-related quality of life, followed by perceived health status, social support, and household income. Menopausal symptoms, presence of disease, and acculturation appeared to have no additional impact on participant's health-related quality of life. Conclusion: In times of rapid growth of global migration and the aging of immigrants in new destination countries, nursing interventions and public health policies for aging marriage-based immigrant women should be prioritized to improve their mental health by facilitating social support and disease management. In addition, social and employment policies that can help immigrant women transition to a healthy midlife are needed.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.290-301
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• 2012

This survey of 836 midlife women ($51.0{\pm}4.0$ yrs) was undertaken by exclusively a face to face interview by well-trained interviewers guarantying data collection of higher quality. This survey data was analyzed using the SPSS program. The main purpose of this study was to describe the factors affecting self-rated health status, including dietary habits and physical mental social factors. In the self-rated health status of a 'good' group, age was lower (p < 0.05), monthly income was higher (p < 0.01), dietary habits score (p < 0.001) and appetite (p < 0.001) and the degree of movement (p < 0.001) and life satisfaction (p < 0.001), marital intimacy (p < 0.001) and relationship satisfaction with their children (p < 0.001) were significantly higher than the 'bad' group. The level of depression (p < 0.001) and severe feeling of menopausal symptoms (p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the 'poor' group. The results of correlation analysis demonstrated that educational level (r = 0.069, p < 0.05), income (r = 0.157, p < 0.001), eating habits (r = 0.235, p < 0.001), appetite (r = 0.263, p < 0.001), life satisfaction (r = 0.197, p < 0.001), marital intimacy (r = 0.167, p < 0.001), child relationship satisfaction (r = 0.149, p < 0.001), positive attitude toward menopause (r = 0.070, p < 0.05) showed a positive correlation, but depression (r = -0.122, p < 0.001) and menopausal symptoms (r = -0.292, p < 0.001) showed a negative association with self-rated health status. The predictable factors affecting the self-rated health status of middle-aged women were examined by multiple regression analysis. The 'menopausal symptoms - physical discomfort' was the most important variables followed by the 'appetite', 'eating habits', 'menopause symptoms - sensory problems', 'BMI', 'positive attitude toward menopause' and 'high marital intimacy'. These results showed that the 'appetite' and 'eating habits' are important factors affecting the self-rated health status. Therefore, a program of dietary education must be considered for the effective health education and counseling of middle-aged women.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.204-221
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• 1999

Due to the ever increasing life-span of human beings, the average woman is living well into her 70's. Henceforth, they spend at least one-third of their life after menopause. Climacteric encompasses the time preceding, during, and proceeding menopause : a transitional period of shifting from the period of being fertile to the period of senescence. In other words, this is the time at which they lose the ability to reproduce. Menopause can influence a woman's sexual life immensely due to the physiological, social, and psychological changes that occur during that period. In korea, where some women still live according to Confucian Culture in terms of sexology, nurses can play a vital role in the dissemination of sexual facts to women. This study was designed to clarity the characteristic and satisfaction of sexual life. This was done according to the classification of three types of climacteric women : pre-meno-pausal, menopausal, and post-menopausal. I studied 159 climacteric women between the ages of 45 & 59, living in or around the vicinity of Taegu City. This study utilized the investigative tools for sexual life patterns which were constructed with field experts' consultation and reference review by the author. The sexual satisfaction was translated from DSFI. The climacteric symptoms were invented by Kupperman, This research is descriptive. The data was collected between July 15, 1998 and October 14, 1998. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and Pearson Correlations, and was computed with the SPSS program. The results obtained are summarized as follows; The frequency of sexual activity was highest in pre-menopause and declined after menopause. The frequency of genital caressing declined after menopause. The difference between the frequency of masturbation and coital pain was not significant according to the classification set forth in this experiment. Congruently, the frequency of orgasms declined after menopause. The mean satisfaction of sexual life is 27.1 years. The range of expected score is 9-45 years of age. Satisfaction was highest in the pre-menopausal group and proved to be statistically significant. Some of the general characteristics that affected the satisfaction a woman's sexual life in the climacteric stage during this project were ; age, income, satisfaction in younger pre-menopausal and the large income group than the other experimental groups. The climacteric symptoms were conversely correlated with the satisfaction in one's sexual life.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.309-318
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• 2024

Background: Sleep disorders in menopausal women can act as a factor that lowers the quality of life. This study aims to understand the effects of mental health, such as depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and stress, on sleep duration in menopausal women to contribute to the management of their mental health. Methods: Using data from the 2021 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we conducted a study on 549 naturally menopausal women aged 50-64 years. We applied frequency and weighted percentages, Rao-Scott chi-square tests, and logistic regression. Results: It was found that women with a university degree or higher had appropriate sleep duration (odds ratio [OR], 0.33; p=0.004). Women with mild depression were less likely to have appropriate sleep compared to those without depression (OR, 2.13; p=0.025). Additionally, women who experienced high levels of stress were less likely to have appropriate sleep compared to those with minimal stress (OR, 2.73; p=0.041). Conclusion: Depression and stress are related to sleep duration, and these mental health issues can lead to physiological problems due to their complex experiences. Therefore, individual attention and management of mental health are crucial, and it seems necessary to develop community-based treatment and prevention strategies.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.150-166
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• 2020

Based on the theory of cognitive reserve, we undertook this study to develop a cognitive function training program for woman in menopausal transition with complaints of declining in cognitive function. The program was established by applying the analysis, design, and development stages of the network-based instructional system designed by Jung. The cognitive function training program developed by us is an was an 8-week program composed of cognitive and video training using a mobile application. The program consists of 24 sessions, each with 20-30 minutes of duration, to be completed 3 sessions per week. The contents of the cognitive function training comprise of memory, attention, language function, and scenario-based problem-solving for executive functions, all of which are cognitive areas found to be the most vulnerable for menopausal women. The educational contents were developed for eight subject areas, one subject area per week, including the definition of menopause, its causes and symptoms, menopause and brain function, etc. During the pilot test, the cognitive function training program was applied to 10 menopausal women who complained of cognitive function decline. The results indicated that, after eight weeks of training, the overall cognitive function of participants increased, revealing statistically significant differences (t=-3.04, p=.014) after the program was completed. The mobile app-based cognitive function training program might not only improve patients' memory functions but also potentially reduce the incidence of dementia.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.224-237
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• 2011

For establishing the efficacy against breast cancer occurrence, women's mammographic breast density and hot flush remission related to pre and post-menopausal symptoms were selected as biomarkers. Meta analysis applied the final selection of 40 papers from Medline to assess the efficacy of isoflavone-rich soy or supplements versus placebo under randomized controlled trials. Interestingly, the exposure to the purified isoflavones was more effective than the exposure to the crude extract of soy isoflavones for hot flush suppression. The length and the amount of dosage dependency is the most appropriately suggested to be one year long with 50~100 mg/day of isoflavone-rich soy or supplements. Funnel plots was used to interpret the results, overall effect of isoflavones on breast density in post-menopausal women was revealed to be less effect [effect size: 0.062, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.005 to 0.12], than that of pre-menopausal women (effect size: 0.101, CI: -0.003 to 0.205). The reason why breast density was found higher among the pre-menopausal than the post-menopausal women is that the phytoestrogens of dietary isoflavones were antagonized against estrogen by the basis of estrogen receptor binding affinity. Overall, the Meta analysis reported that isoflavone had limited influence on breast density by suppressing the expansion by only 2%, while it was more effective to suppressing the hot flush, showing a dramatic decrease of 23%.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.165-175
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• 2001

We performed case-control study to evaluate relationship between food intake and risk of breast cancer. We interviewed breast cancer cases(n=108) who were newly histologically identified and selected from Hanyang and Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Seoul. We used hospital-based control subjects(n=121), who were selected from the patients in the department of plastic surgery, general surgery and opthalmology of the same hospital by frequency matching. Matching variables were age($\pm$4 age) and menopausal status. We collected information on general characteristics of subjects, history of disease, family history of breast cancer, vitamin supplementation, alcohol intake, and food intake through individual interview. Dietary information was ascertained via a food frequency questionnaire method(total item=98). All analyses was conducted according to menopausal status. Especially, pepper and grape intake in premenopausal women, showed protective effect in breast cancer. Otherwise consumption of meat, pork, and fish was not associated with breast cancer risk in this study. At milk and dairy products, milk intake was associated with lower risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women and overall intake of soy products was associated with breast cancer risk, but not significant. These findings suggested that consumption of some fruit and vegetable intake was a protective factor on breast cancer and further study with more number of subjects should be need to evaluate the breast cancer risk. (Korean J Nutrition 34(2): 165~175, 2001)

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.159-165
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• 1990

It has been reported that endogenous opioid peptides play a role in the control of the reproductive function. The goal of this study was to evaluate changs in the serum levels of ${\beta}$-endorphin during hyperstimulated menstrual cycle and their relationship to serum prolactin levels. Serum ${\beta}$-endorphin and prolactin levels were measured during menstrual cycles of 10 normal cylic women hyperstimulated by human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) and of 10 women by clomiphene/HMG among in vitro fertilization candidates. The results were summarized as follows. 1. In clomiphene/HMG hyperstimulated menstrual cycle the mean serum ${\beta}$-endorphin level insignificantly on 2 day before aspiration of oocyte compared to basal level and reached maximum level on 1 day after aspiration. 2. There was a significant peak of the mean serum ${\beta}$-endorphin level on 1 day before aspiration in HMG hyperstimulated menstrual cycle. 3. On the same day from aspiration, there was no significant differences in the mean serum ${\beta}$-endorphin levels between HMG and clomiphene/HMG hyperstimulated cycles. 4. No significant correlation was noted between serum ${\beta}$-endorphin levels and prolactin levels.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.89-99
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• 2008

Objectives Obesity is not only a matter of accumulation of adipose tissue but also a projection of self-cognition. This study examined the association between low self-esteem and visceral obesity; visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and visceral adipose tissue /subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio (VSR). Methods This cross-sectional study was performed in pre-menopausal obese(BMI $\geq\;25\;kg/m^2$) women in Seoul, from 2007 to 2008 (n=54). Simple anthropometry including BMI and waist circumference and Computed Tomography (CT) including VAT and VSR were done. To measure self-esteem, Rosenberg self-esteem scale (SES) questionnaire was administered. Subjects were given written consent and this study was performed under the permission of institutional review board of Kyung-Hee East-west Neo Medical Center. Results There was a significant relationship self esteem (SES score) with visceral obesity (VAT and VSR). 1. SES was correlated with VAT (r=-0.377, p<0.01) and VSR (r= -0.400, p<0.01) significantly by Pearson Correlation. 2. VAT and VSR could be predicted from SES by Simple linear regression. VAT = -1.701 ${\times}$ (SES score) +161.191 ($R^2$=0.142) VSR = -1.09${\times}$$10^{-2}$ ${\times}$ (SES score) +0.858 ($R^2$=0.160) Conclusions This study proves that low self-esteem might contribute to visceral obesity in Korean pre-menopausal obese women. Self-esteem and psychological factor should be considered in treatment of visceral obesity in adult-women.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.129-156
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• 1997

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between depression and ego identity of middle-aged women and to identify the variables that show differences in the depression and ego identity of middle-aged women. The subjects in the study were 321 mothers of high school students whose age were 40-59 years old. The instruments for this study were Beck Depression Inventory(BDI) developed Beck(1978) and translated by Lee(1981) and Ego identity Scale developed Suh(1975) and modified by Nam(1975). The reliability values of BDI range from 0.83 to 0.87 and Ego identity range from 0.81 to 0.85 using Cronbach alpha. The data were analysed by using the SAS program and included Frequency, percentage Pearson Correlation MANOVA, t-test, ANOVA. The conclusion obtained from this study were as follows ; 1) There was a negative correlation(r=-0.21, p=0.0002) between depression and ego identity of middle-aged women. Thus the lower depression the higher ego identity for middle-aged women. 2) According to the analysis of interacting effects of depression and ego identity, there were significant differences in the household income(F=0.38, p=0.0035), level of education (F=6.50, p=0.0001), satisfaction of marriage(F=10.45, p=0.0001), family pattern (F=6.18, p=0.0001), menopausal status(F=7.23, p=0.0001), present disease(F=4.85, p=0.0110) and health status(F=9.00, p=0.0001). 3) There were significant differences on the level of education(F=12.98, p=0.0001) household income(F=5.78, p=0.0007), support of spouse(F=8.58, p=0.0002), satisfaction of marriage(F=20.08, p=0.0001), menopausal status(F=11.32, p=0.0001), present disease(t=2.76, p=0.0062) and health status(F=17.23, p=0.0001) of the depression of middle-aged women. 4) There were significant differences on the patterns of household(t=-2.64, p=0.0086), support spouse(F=3.58, p=0.0291), satisfaction of marriage(F=3.90, p=0.0212), menopausal status(F=4.59, p=0.0108) and disease(t=2.11, p=0.0359) of the ego identity of middle-aged women. On the basis of the above findings the following recommendations are made ; 1) According to results of this study, middle-aged women's depression is correlated with ego identity. Thus when the nurse plans the preventive strategy of middle-aged women's depression, the nurse must be considered with level of ego identity. 2) To study for middle-aged women in depth, further research is need to study regard to middle-aged men and their children.