• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.317-324
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• 2023

Background: COVID-19 pandemic represented a unique stressful event that affected the physical health and psychological well-being (PWB) of individuals and communities. Monitoring PWB is essential not only to clarify the burden on mental health effects but also to define targeted psychological-supporting measures. This cross-sectional study evaluated the PWB of Italian firefighters during the pandemic. Methods: Firefighters recruited during the pandemic period filled out a self-administered questionnaire, the Psychological General Well-Being Index, during the health surveillance medical examination. This tool is usually used to assess the global PWB and explores six subdomains: anxiety, depressed mood, positive well-being, self-control, general health, and vitality. The influencing roles of age, gender, working activities, COVID-19, and pandemic restrictive measures were also explored. Results: A total of 742 firefighters completed the survey. The aggregate median PWB global score was in the 'no distress"" range (94.3 ± 10.3), which was higher than that observed in studies conducted using the same tool in the Italian general population during the same pandemic period. Similar findings were observed in the specific subdomains, thus suggesting that the investigated population was in good PWB condition. Interestingly, significantly better outcomes were detected in the younger firefighters. Conclusion: Our data showed a satisfactory PWB situation in firefighters that could be related to different professional factors such as work organization and mental and physical training. In particular, our results would suggest the hypothesis that in firefighters, maintaining a minimum/moderate level of physical activity (consisting of even just going to work) might have a profoundly positive impact on psychological health and well-being.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.200-209
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• 2004

Purpose: This study was to investigate the types and seriousness of pregnancy-related physical and psychological symptoms among pregnant couples. Method: Subjects consisted of 77 pregnant couples at one hospital in Seoul, Korea. The pregnant couples had not been diagnosed with any medical complications. Data were analyzed by the SPSS WIN program. Result: In the degree of physical and psychological symptoms of pregnancy experienced by subjects, the mean score of perceived physical symptoms (2.40, 1.86) was higher than the mean score of psychological symptoms(2.13, 1.83) for both pregnant women and their spouses. In the couple's difference of physical and psychological symptoms of pregnancy experienced by subjects, there were not statistically significant differences in the physical symptoms: "I have hemorrhoids"(t=1.91, p=.06), "My body weight decreased"(t=1.78, p=.08), "I have colds more often"(t=1.77, p=.08), and "I became more active than ordinary times"(t=1.99, p=.05) or in the psychological symptoms: "I am more elated than ordinary times"(t=.83, p=.41), and "I feel inferior"(t=1.62, p=.11). Therefore, these symptoms are coincidental between couples. In the difference of physical and psychological symptoms of pregnancy experienced by subjects according to general characteristics, there were not significant differences. In the relationship between physical and psychological symptoms experienced by subjects, there were statistically significant correlations between subject's physical symptoms and psychological symptoms(r=.54, p<.001; r=.78, p<.001). Conclusion: Physical and psychological symptoms of pregnancy experienced by pregnant couples are an issue for nurses who perform an important role in the care of pregnant women and their spouses.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.52-62
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• 2013

Objectives: To investigate the association between psychological distress and obesity among law enforcement officers (LEOs) in the United States. Methods: Self-reported data on psychological distress based on six key questions were obtained from LEOs who participated in the National Health Interview Survey (2004-2010). We used Prochaska's cut-point of a Kessler 6 score ${\geq}5$ for moderate/high mental distress in our analysis. Mean levels of body mass index (BMI) were compared across three levels of psychological distress. Results: The average age of LEOs (n = 929) was 39.3 years; 25% were female. Overall, 8.1% of LEOs had moderate or high psychological distress; 37.5% were obese (BMI ${\geq}30$). Mean BMI increased with increasing psychological distress (no distress, BMI = $27.2kg/m^2$; mild distress, $27.6kg/m^2$; and moderate/high distress, $33.1kg/m^2$; p = 0.016) after adjustment for age, race, income, and education level among female officers only. Physical activity modified the association between psychological distress and BMI but only among male LEOs (interaction p = 0.002). Among male LEOs reporting low physical activity, psychological distress was positively associated with BMI ($30.3kg/m^2$ for no distress, 30.7 for mild distress, 31.8 for moderate/high distress; p = 0.179) after adjustment, but not significantly. This association was not significant among males reporting high physical activity. Conclusion: Mean BMI significantly increased as psychological distress increased among female LEOs. A longitudinal study design may reveal the directionality of this association as well as the potential role that physical activity might play in this association.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1117-1128
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• 1995

This study investigated whether social and psychological factors were related to nutritional status of the elderly. Food habits, social contacts and psychological the test score were collected from 86 institutionalized elderly women aged 65-96 in Chon-buk area. Social health status was measured by score of social contacts with others. Depression, self-esteem and locus of control were measured to evaluate psychological health status by using Zung DSI(Depression Status Intentory), Rosenberg SES(Self-esteem scale) and Rotter's vs external control, respectively. Social contacts of the total subjects were lowered, and in the group of over 85, contacts with relatives were significantly decreased compare to under 85 years of age groups. Psychological health status such as depression and self-esteem were also lowered, but locus of control showed internal control that indicates positive attitude to eating behavior. Most of the nutrients intake were positively correlated to self-esteem scores(p<0.05), but not to nutritional risk index score. Intake of vitamin C was related to social health status as well as psychological health status. Increasing the number of contact with relatives, intakes of carbohydrates, fiber, vit B1, vit C, Ca and P were elevated(p<0.05). As the score of self-esteem increased, intakes of fiber, Fe, vit B1, niacin, vit C, and vit A were increased. It is suggested that social activity and health education programs will be needed to improve the nutritional status of the institutionalized elderly.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2016

Background: This study aims to: (1) examine rates of obesity and physical health complaints among 911 telecommunicators; and (2) document the role of emotion dysregulation, psychological inflexibility, duty-related distress and dissociation, and psychopathology in predicting obesity and physical health complaints in this population. Methods: The sample consisted of 911 telecommunicators from across the country (N = 758). Participants completed an online survey assessing their mental and physical health functioning. Results: A total of 82.5% of the sample reported a body mass index that fell within the overweight or obese category and an average of 17 physical health complaints within the past month. Peritraumatic reactions (distress and dissociation), emotion dysregulation, and psychological inflexibility had effects on physical health largely through psychopathology (alcohol abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression). Conclusion: Development of adapted prevention and intervention efforts with this population is needed.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.303-311
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• 2009

Purpose: The study aimed to explore the health consequences that women experienced after miscarriage and the factors related to them. Methods: A convenience sample consisting of 102 women who had miscarried within 2 years was used. Women were recruited from hospitals and enterprises in Seoul and Gyeong-Gi Province. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire containing a physical and psychological symptoms checklist developed for this study. Results: More than 40% of the miscarriages occurred after 9 weeks of pregnancy and 35% of women were found to have had a previous miscarriage prior to this study. Psychological symptoms were more prevalent and prolonged than the physical symptoms, furthermore, the frequencies of the symptoms experienced were not consistent with the duration of symptoms. Employed women and women with early miscarriages complained of more physical symptoms; however, psychological symptoms were not different according to women's characteristics. Employment was a significant factor affecting physical symptoms. Conclusion: Health care professionals need to inform and educate women and the family of the potential health changes during the recovery after the miscarriage. Health consequences due to miscarriages also need to be incorporated in women's reproductive health care. Nursing care should consider factors of maternal age, employment status, and obstetrical conditions upon the apparent social changes.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.195-211
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• 2004

Stress is a primary health promotion issue in worksite research because psychological distress is closely related not only to workers' health status but also to their job performance. This study identified the significant health behaviors affecting workers' job-related stress in Korean manufacturing industry with the national survey data conducted by the Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency in 2003. A total of 7,818 factory workers in 1,562 manufacturing companies participated in the Korean nation-wide occupational health survey and 3,390 workers answered that they had any stressors in their workplace among the 7,818 workers finally participated in the analysis. Participants were selected by the stratified proportional sampling process by manufacturing industry classification, company size, and company locations (8 metropolitan and 8 non-metropolitan regions) in Korea. Trained interviewers visited the target companies and interviewed the factory workers randomly selected in each company. Smoking, drinking, weight control, exercise, sleeping, break time at work, and perceived fatigue were included in the health behavior construct. Stress symptoms was consisted of physical and psychological stress with 8 items. All survey responses were anonymously coded into the SPSS statistical program and testified using stepwise multiple regression analysis. Male workers were 73.5% and the 30s were 40.0% among the age groups. The married and the high school graduate were majority with 52.1% and 61.8% each. Current smokers were 44.7% and More than 50% of the participants drank alcohol sometimes. No exercise group was 59.3% and the participants who dissatisfied with their daily sleeping hours were 43.5%. In t-test and analysis of variance, the significant general characteristics associated with physical and psychological job stress were young age (p<0.001), single marital status (p<0.001), and short working period at the present company (p<0.001). The health behaviors related to physical job stress were current smoking, weight change during the past one year (p<0.001), weight control effort (p<0.001), exercise (p<0.001), daily sleeping dissatisfaction (p<0.001), break time, and perceived fatigue (p<0.001). All 10 health behavior factors were significantly associated with psychological job stress (p<0.05). Weight change, weight control effort, exercise, daily sleeping dissatisfaction, little break at work, and high perceived fatigue were significant factors affecting job stress. Daily sleeping dissatisfaction, little break at work, little exercise, weight change for the past one year and young age were selected as the significant health behavior and general factors affecting physical job stress symptoms in stepwise multiple regression analysis. The five factors explained 18.9% of the physical stress score variance. Six factors were selected as the significant health behaviors affecting psychological job stress: daily sleeping dissatisfaction, little exercise, frequent drinking alcohol, high perceived fatigue, little break at work, and little weight control effort. The six factors explained 10.6% of the psychological stress score variance.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.72-79
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• 2023

Objective: Despite known associations between negative body image and health declines in chronic pain patients, few studies have examined longitudinal associations between psychological stress and perceived hand deformities. This study examined whether psychological distress was associated with hand deformities 4 years later and if rural and urban adults differed in the association. Design: A community-based cohort study. Methods: Community dwelling adults (mean age=51.97, 52.3% women) in a rural (n=2968) and urban area (n=2784) provided demographic data at baseline and, in the 4-year follow-up, responded to questionnaires about psychological distress. Perceived hand deformities were assessed at the 8-year follow-up. Linear regression was conducted to examine the effects of psychological distress on hand deformities and moderation by residential areas. Results: The perceived hand deformities were more likely among those with severe psychological stress, hand osteoarthritis, or any chronic disease condition (p<0.01) but less likely among those with younger age, higher education, or income (p<0.01). The regression results showed that psychological distress predicted more perceived hand deformities 4 years later even after adjusting for demographic and health covariates (p<0.01). The residential areas did not significantly moderate the association between distress and hand deformities. Conclusions: This study suggected that psychological distress may trigger later perception of hand deformities in both urband and rural adults. The findings indicate that stress management interventions that are customizable to regional contexts may be effective at preventing negative body image related health problems of community-dewelling adults.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.7-20
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• 2023

Purpose: The main purpose of this paper is to assess a body of research evidence that articulates the impact of physical and environmental factors on behavioral·psychological health and quality of life for the elderly people with dementia who reside in long-term care facilities. This follow-up study of the previous literature review aims to further identify physical and environmental factors, that improve health and quality of life for the elderly people with dementia, published in recent five years and to expand the understanding of clinical outcomes as mechanism that mediate the effect of physical environmental factors on improving behavioral·psychological health and quality of life for the elderly people with dementia. Methods: Comprehensive literature review has been conducted to identify empirical studies that link the design of dementia care facilities to health- and quality of care(QOL)-related outcomes and this follow-up review scrutinized peer-reviewed articles published in recent five years (from January 2018 to December 2022), filling the gap between the previous literature review and the current state of research. Results: The review identified a growing body of literature that articulates environment-related factors that improve behavioral·psychological health and quality of life for the elderly people with dementia living long-term care facilities. Implications: The findings of the review can be translated to design implications and design decisions to promote psychological and behavioral health and quality of life of people with dementia in long-term care facilities.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.152-170
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to identify physical. psychological. sexual and socio-cultural problems that the adolescents have experienced and to assess the demands of counseling about the experienced problems. The design of this study was descriptive-survery study. The sample size was 601 middle and high school students. Data analysis was done by frequencies. Percent. t -test. ANOVA. Pearson correlation coefficiency, stepwise regression and Cronbach's $\alpha$ Score was produced for the reliability of the tool by using the item analysis method. The results was as follows : 1. The distribution of the each item that the adolescents experienced according to the physical, psychalogical. Sexual and Socio-cultural problem Categories was examined. In the physical problem category, the number of items that half and more than half of the adolescents experienced of often or frequently were 10 among all 19 items. In the psychological problem category. 13 item were among all 19 items. In the sexual problem category, 1 item among all 17 items and in the socio-cultural problem category, 10 items were among all 30 items. 2. The distribution of the each items that the adolescents wanted to the counseling according to the physical. psychological. sexual and socio-cultural problem categories was examined. In the physical problem category, the numbers of the items that half and more than half of the adolescents wanted counseling were 1 among all 19 items. In the psychological problem category, the numbers of the items that half and more than half of the adolescents wanted counseling were 2 items among all 19 items. In the sexual problem category, 0 item among all 17 items and in the socio-cultural problem category, 2 items were among all 30 items. 3. In the comparison of the female student and male student about the experienced problems and the demands of counseling according to the physical. psychological. sexual and socio-cultural problem categories. There was a significant difference statistically in all categories between groups(P<.001) 4. In the comparison of high school students and middle school students about the demands of counseling according to the physical. psychological. sexual and socio-cultural problem categories(P<.001). Particulary, grade II of high school students have experienced problems according to the physical. psychological. sexual and socio-cultural problem categories. There was a significant difference statistically in all categories(P<.001). 5. In the correlation between the experienced problem and the demands of counseling according to 4 categories. there was the positive correlation at P<.001 level. 6. The less the satisfaction for family and school life. the more experienced problems according to the physical. psychological. sexual and socio-cultural problem categories. There was a significant difference statistically in all categories(P<.001).