• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1389-1399
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• 2000

Massage therapy is a traditional, alternative and nonphamacological means of promoting rest and relaxation. However, nursing intervention by massage for middle-aged women is rarely practiced by nurses. The purpose of this research was to examine the effects of the hand and arm massage as an independent nursing intervention tool for middle- aged women. The data used in this research were collected from forty-nine subjects using a nonequivalent control group non- synchronized design. Twenty-four persons for the experimental group and Twenty-five persons for the control group were selected from D city and C city from July 1997 to September 2000. Subjects' ages were between forty and fifty-six years old with mean the age of 45.6. Hand and arm massage developed by Cayce and Reilly was applied to the experimental group for a session of 15 minutes two or three times a week for four weeks. The instruments used for the measurement of the subjects' stress, anxiety, depression and the middle-life crisis were Langners's 22-item Self-rating Depression Scale, and Kim's Middle Life Crisis Scale(1988). These psychological factors were measured before and after the implementation of hand and arm massage. The data were analyzed with mean$\pm$s.d, percent, t-test, and a paired t-test. The results were summarized as follows; 1. Before the treatment, there were no significant differences between the two groups. 2. After the treatment, there were significant differences in the stress and the occurrence of mid life crisis between the two groups. The findings suggest that the use of the life crisis. Therefore, it is recommended that hand and arm massage be used as an independent nursing intervention tool for middle-aged women. For further research, is needed replication of this concept of research with different subjects in a larger population. Also, it is recommended to investigate the effects of massage with aroma therapy for the berefit of decreasing womens' stress level further.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.70-82
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• 1995

During the middle age of a woman's life cycle. several health changes and problems occur. Therefore. middle aged women must manage their health and maintain quality life by coping with bodily changes. However. today there is not enough research and health programs for middle aged women. Data from the study will be used for health promotion program development of middle aged women. Data was collected from January 21 to 24. 1995 by telephone interview. Four hundred middle aged women between 40 and 59 years old and living in Chon Ju City were interviewed. The results of this study were as follow: 1. Frequency rate of menopausal symptoms was 38.4%. The most serious menopausal symptom was psychosomatic symptom. Mean score orders of experienced symptoms were back pain, joint pain(1.80). nervousness(1.80). general weakness(1.67). 2. The most important problems as perceived by the clients were children(45.8%), health (24.0%) and economics(7.8%). The most serious health problems were concerning the muscle-skeletal system(45%) such as arthritis. spinal disk problems and osteoporosis. Adult diseases04.S%) such .as hypertension and diabetes were also health concerns. Health management activities reported were exercise(22.5%), social activity02%) and inactivity(53%)' 33% of clients were interested in health groups and they wanted a program of health education, exercise and social activity to be provided. 3. General characteristic variables were significantly related to the level of menopausal symptoms as follows: age(t=-2.06, p=0.040), status of marriage(t=-3.56, p=0.000), educational level (F=4.35. p=0.05) and menopausal status(t=4.37, p=0.000).

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.25-39
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dietary intakes in middle-aged women(pre and postmenopausal) and relation to climacteric symptoms. We conducted the anthropometric measurements, climacteric symptoms survey, and dietary intake to assess the nutrient intakes. Also, dietary quality indices were evaluated. The subjects, over 40 years old, were 168 middle aged women(pre=74, postmenopausal=94), mean age was $48.9{\pm}3.6yr$. The anthropometric measurements showed that 59% of subjects were overweight and obese. Climacteric symptoms that were answered 'yes' in 50% plus in the subjects, were dry eyes, forgetfulness, difficult concentration, large joint pain(shoulder), fatique, backache, dry skin, joint pain(ankle and knee), dry mouth, dizziness, depression and lonesomeness, snore, morning stiffness, and hot flash. Some symptoms showed significant difference between pre and postmenopausal groups. The average energy intake was 1602.1 Kcal, which was 82% of the Korean EER. The subjects had lower vitamin A, riboflavin, folic acid, Fe, Zn and Ca intake than Korean RI. The lowest nutrient intake was Ca. The mean of food intake was 1294.2 g and MAR of diet quality indices was 0.83. In relation to dietary factors with climacteric symptoms, significant correlations have been found between total protein, animal protein, lipid, cholesterol and niacin intake and 'fatique', energy, carbohydrate, thiamin, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin C, Na, K and Fe intake and 'dry skin', Ca intake and 'difficult concentration'. Our results indicate that dietary factors(food and nutrients intake, INQ, NAR, MAR) may effect the prevention and reduction of some climacteric symptoms in middle aged women.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.601-608
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• 2003

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences Quality of Life(QOL) according to menopausal symptoms in middle aged women. Method: The subjects consisted of 578 women( 45-60 years old) residing in urban area by convenience sampling from March 15 to May 30, 2002. The data were collected by structured questionnaire that included general characteristics, menopausal symptoms and QOL scale. the collected data were analyzed by the SPSS 11.0 program that included descriptive statistics, t-test and ANOV A. Result: The averaged age of menopause of subjects was 48.29:1:4.66 years and 74.8% in the subjects complained menopausal symptoms. As for the orders of complained menopausal symptom, it was fatigue, hot flashes, benumbed hands and feet, and irritability. The mean score of the QOL scale was showing above average level of quality of life. Religion was significantly different to the score for activity of QOL, monthly income was different to the score for activity and physical well-being of QOL. Menopausal status was significantly different to the QOL. Conclusion: This study suggests that a replicate study is needed. The results are also useful in developing various programs for health promotion of middle aged women.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.363-375
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to analyse the effects of obesity management program in food attitude and food habit, body composition(body fat ratio, body fat weight, lean body mass, total body water), abdominal girth(waist, hip, thigh), and serum lipid level(cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, triglyceride, phospholipid, NE fatty acid, high density lipoprotein) of middle aged women. Data for the study were collected from July 4 to August 25, 2000. The study objects were 20 middle aged women(10 controls and 10 experimental objects) from 40 to 50 years old who had body fat ratio more than $30\%$ and waist girth more than 80cm. The results were as follows: 1. Similarity test between experimental group and control group processed by serum HDL level showed the significant difference(t=3.25, p=0.004), but that processed by age, body weight, body fat ratio, body fat weight, lean body mass, total body water, waist girth, hip girth, thigh girth, cholesterol level, LDL level, triglyceride level, NE fatty acid level, food attitude and food habit score showed no significant difference(p>0.05). These findings imply that the two groups are similar in the sample distribution. 2. The effects of the abdominal obesity management program The obtained results indicate that the abdominal obesity management program in middle aged women changes the food attitude & the food habit. decreases the body fat ratio & the body fat weight and increases the lean body mass, and decreases the girth of waist & hip and the serum level of cholesterol & LDL. Therefore, it is concluded that the abdominal obesity management program can be applied for nursing intervention to decrease the body fat weight and abdominal obesity.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.141-149
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• 2002

In order to promote well-being during old age, it is important to start preparing early on for the later life. Based on this thesis, this study examined attitudes of the middle-aged women residing in rural towns on their preparation for old age as well as related variables. For this purpose, survey data from 200 individuals were analyzed using a SAS program. The overall degree of preparation for old age was quantified as about 67 points out of a 100 possible points. The variables that affected the level of preparedness include attitude toward using a paid nursing home ($\beta$=.23), type of agricultural work they engage in ($\beta$=-.21), who do you think is a supporter during your old age($\beta$=.20)］, type of decision-making in the household ($\beta$=.17). The explanatory power of such variables as standards of living ($\beta$=.18), family type ($\beta$=-.18), recognition of the entrance of old age ($\beta$=.17), and preparation behavior for old age ($\beta$=.15) were partially proved in three sub-areas (economical, emotional, and leisure areas) of preparation. The groundwork of this study could be used as basic materials to develop an educational program to improve the attitudes toward preparation for old age.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.47-68
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to clarify what's the middle-aged experience until now and what's the middle-aged women shed light on their life. The phenomenology study design was used and Giorgi method was used for this analysis. We selected 7 middle-aged women for this study such as 2 professor, 1 dentist, 1 own-business woman, 1 house house wife, 1 Nurse, and 1 farming woman. The result of this study were as followers; there were 7 structure factors such as 'poor family economic status', 'meaning of family-of-origin', 'dynamic social experience', 'marriage', 'heartrending', 'getting feeling of aging', and 'focus of life'. According to the results of this study, the participants who were more positive feeling of their poor family status, they were more becoming professional job in the adult age. And they shed light on their life with spirituality through the dynamic social experience, marriage, and heartrending. Therefore we suggest that right spiritual program for the better old aged time for them.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1279-1284
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• 1998

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of physiological and behavioral factors on the bone density of 125 middle aged women who visited Saint Bundo Hospital. 16.1% of subjects had osteoporosis and 40.3% had osteopenia according to the measurement of the bone density of lumbar spine. Mean age was 56.9 in osteoporosis group and 53.7 in osteopenia group. It was significantly different from the mean age of control group, 50.7. The mean bone density of the women who had menarche after 15 years old was significantly lower than that of the women who had menarche before 15. But the age of menopause, the total year of menstruation, irregularity of the menstrual cycle and percentage of subjects who had ovariectomy were not significantly different among osteoporosis, osteopenia and control group. The use of medication such as oral contraceptive, steroid, depressant, diuretic, and Ca supplement and the preference of salty food were not significantly different among three groups. The percentage of subjects who had rheumatism, gastric ulcer, and pain in neck or shoulder was higher in osteoporosis and osteopenia group than in control group. This study shows that the age and the age of menarche affect the bone density, and that behavioral factors were not sig nificantly different in osteoporosis and osteopenia group compared to the control group. Further researches are needed to find out the effective way to minimize the effect of age and other physiological conditions on the decrease of bone density.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.258-270
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• 1999

This study was carried out to offer the basic data for more qualitative lives of the middle-aged women through their health maintenance and control. So, the researcher reviewed and analyzed the health problems of the middle-aged women, the differences of main symptoms in each subject, positive ratcs in screening tests, the difference of screening tests with age and the correlation of obesity and blood pressure with screening tests. All subjects were 218 women(40-59years) who had a check-up at a comprehensive health check-up center in K University Hospital in Seoul from July 1, 1998 to August 31. 1998. Questionaires were developed to get subjects, general characteristics. main symptoms, medical examination and diagnosed disease by the researcher referring through the questionaires of comprehensive health check-up center and the medical recorders were used as a tool of study. The researcher analyzed the data with SPSS PC+ ; the distribution of the subjects, general characteristics and main symptoms with percentage : the difference between main symptoms and screening tests with X$^2$-test, ANOVA. The results are as follows. 1) Among the age distribution, most were 40-45 years old and unemployed. 2) The most common complaints were indigestion in digestive system, cough in respiratory system, heart beat in cardiovascular system, general sweat in endocrine system. edema in urinary system, easy bruise in hematologic system, backache in musculoskeletal system, headache in psychoneurologic system, lochia in gynecology, itch in dermatology system, eye ball pain in visual system and tinnitus in auditory system. 3) In main symptoms according to age, the 40-45 age group had a higher rate of complaints in digestive system and gynecology than other age group ; the 46-49 age group in endocrine system. 4) The main symptoms according to diagnosis had no difference statistically. 5) The screening tests which showed high rates of abnormality were mammography(the highest), abdominal ultrasonography, upper gastrointestinal series/gastrofiberscopy, PFT. In all age group the highest rate of abnormality was seen in mammography. 6) In screening tests according to age. the 46-49 age group showed higher positive rates of pap smear, blood sugar test, urine test than any other age group ; the 50-55 age group showerd higher positive rates of obesity, BP, chest X-ray, abdominal ultrasonography, ESR, SGOT, CRP and urine micro. 7) In correlation of obesity with screening test, the obesity group showed higher positive rates of blood pressure, chest X-ray, abdominal ultrasonography, HCT and CRP than the normal weight group. 8) In correlation of blood pressure with screening test, the hypertension group showed higher positive rate of obesity, chest X-ray, abdominal ultrasonography, pap smear and blood sugar than the normal blood pressure group. In conculusion, the middle-aged women have various physical symptoms and affected by age. The obesity and BP have an important effect on the health of the middle aged women. Therefore, this study is considered significant as data for qualitative lives of the middle-aged women playing an important part of family health care by catching of their health problem complaints for prevention of disease and promotion of health.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.962-969
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• 2002

This study examined the effect of calcium supplementation and exercise on bone mineral density (BMD) and general characteristics, dietary intake and biochemical measurements for 45 healthy middle-aged women (40-57 years). Subjects were divided in to 4 groups; control group (G1), exercise group (G2), calcium supplementation group (G3), and calcium supplementation with exercise group (G4). The subjects were 45.8$\pm$ 0.66 years old. BMI(kg/$m^2$) was 23.31 $\pm$ 0.63 in Gl group, 22.92 $\pm$ 0.51 in G2 group, 23.64 $\pm$ 0.61 in G3 group, 23.40 $\pm$ 0.37 in G4 group, and BMI of all groups were in normal value. Energy intake was 1332.28㎉/day, 60% of RDA, so that may be unbalance of micronutrients. Especially, calcium intake was 62.8% of RDA that was very low level. Osteocalcine was not statistically significant but calcium supplementation group (G3) be showed increase. BMD was usually decreased by Aging, but in this study was increased in the all group, except control group. It showed increase of BMD for calcium supplementation and/or exercise. Overall results indicate that calcium supplementation and/or exercise increased BMD of middle-aged women, but long-term calcium supplementation and exercise will be able to more effect.(Korean J Nutrition 35(9) : 962~969, 2002)