This study aimed to identify types of quality of life (QoL) based on the 5 dimensions of EQ-5D and predict factors affecting types of QoL.

This study was a secondary analysis using data from the Korean Health Panel Survey- II(2012). Participants were 2,071 middle-aged men who had completed the additional survey in 2012 and the data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 and Mplus 5.21 for latent analysis.

Three latent classes of QoL were identified: serious (2.4% of the sample), threatened (15.5%), and stable types (82.0%). The types and characteristics of QoL among the latent classes differed. On comparing latent type 1 with latent type 2, the socioeconomic status (p<.05), employment status (p<.05), and subjective health status (p<.001) were found to be significant. On comparing latent type 1 with latent type 3, the socioeconomic status (p<.05), current smoking status (p<.001), and subjective health status (p<.001) were found to be significant. On comparing latent type 2 with latent type 3, the socioeconomic status (p<.05), subjective health status (p<.001), stress (p<.001) were found to be significant.

The results showed significant heterogeneity in types of QoL and the predictors of QoL by types were different. These findings provide basic information for developing nursing interventions to improve QoL. Specific characteristics depending on the subtypes should be considered during the development of interventions.

This study was to examine the effects of an exercise program for middle-aged obese women.

The exercise program combined folk dance and resistance training. The subjects group consisted of 85 middle-aged obese women between 40 and 60 years of age. Three 8 week sessions consisted of a 55-80% maximum heart rate (MHR) exercise for 60-90 minutes a day and 3 times a week from March to November, 2004. Data was collected through a pre- and post-exercise test before and after each session. Data was collected with Inbody, dynamometer and blood. This data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, and a paired t-test with an SPSS/PC(10.0 version) program.

There were significant positive changes in body weight, body fat mass, body mass index, percent body fat, muscle strength, muscle endurance, flexibility, and balance quality, but no significant positive changes in skeletal mass, fat free mass, percent abdominal fat(waist-hip ratio), visceral fat area, agility, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, or triglycerides.

This study showed that an exercise program has partially positive effects for middle-aged obese women. The results of this study show that exercise at community health centers should continue for middle-aged obese women's health.

This cross-sectional survey was conducted to described the compliance of Breast Self-Examination of middle-aged women using a convenient sample, and to examine relationships between the compliance of BSE and Health Beliefs, and the influencing factors on the compliance of BSE.

The subjects were 373 literate volunteers who were from 41 to 60 years of age who visited 6 public health centers. From June 7, 2004 to August 20, 2004, data were collected by 5 research assistants using a self-report questionnaire. The questionnaire was used to obtain information on the general characteristics, knowledge, health beliefs, and compliance of BSE.

The findings of this study suggested that there were significant differences in the scores of the perceived susceptibility and severity between compliers and non-compliers of the BSE. BSE compliance was significantly correlated with knowledge, perceived susceptibility, and perceived severity. The most powerful predictor of BSE compliance was the perceived susceptibility. The perceived susceptibility, the perceived severity, the knowledge and educational level accounted for 41.8% of the variance in middle aged women's BSE compliance.

Increase in knowledge about breast cancer, with a concomitant increase in both perceived susceptibility and perceived severity could produce a subtle cue or motivating force sufficient to affect a behavior change. Further research is needed to examine the qualitative difference between BSE and other early detection behaviors.

This one group experimentation was designed to develop a program for relieving ‘ Hwa-Byung’(HB) symptoms and examine its effects on HB symptoms, pain threshold emotions like anger, anxiety and depression.

The program consisted of three components the change of the cognitive thoughts, the formation of a supportive network, and induction of mind-body relaxation. Sixteen middle-aged women with HB were divided into three groups for group dynamics according to the time of the recruitment. Data was collected for nine months at three time points, before, immediately after, and one month later of its application.

There were statistically significant differences in the severity level of state anger, state anxiety, depression, and HB symptoms according to the time interval. The means of state anger and state anxiety were reduced after the intervention, but it was slightly increased one month later. The means of depression and HB symptoms were continuously reduced after the intervention and one month later.

This was the first management program for HB women in Korea. A future study must be done with the research design formethodological strength revision of the program.

The purpose of this study was to develop and test a model to explain the transition state for Korean middle-aged women focusing on the transition concept.

A hypothetical model was constructed based on the transition model of Schumacher & Meleis(1994) and tested. Thehypothetical model consisted of 5 latent variables and 11 observed variables. Exogenous variables were demographic characteristics, obstetric characteristics, and health behavior. Endogenous variables were transition state and quality of life with 6 paths. The data from 221 middle-aged women selected by convenience was analyzed using covariance structure analysis.

The final model which was modified from the hypotheticalmodel improved to GFI=0.97, AGFI=0.94, NFI=0.94, and NNFI=0.95. The transition state was influenced directly by demographic characteristics, quality of life, and also indirectly by health behaviors. However, the influence of obstetric characteristics was not significant. The transition state was accountable for 68% of the variance by these factors.

These results suggest that enhancing health behaviors of the women are necessary to increase quality of life and it consequently contributes to improving the transition state. This model could be used to explain the health related vulnerability in these ages and to diagnosis individual women.

This study was to identify the relationships of trait anger, mode of anger expression, and perceived stress to mental health status in middle aged women.

The subjects were 157 middle aged women from 40s to 60s who lived in Seoul. Data was collected by questionnaire surveys using the convenience sampling. The instruments used for this study were Spielberger's trait anger scale and anger expression scale, Cohen, Kamarck, and Mermelstein's perceived stress and Derogatis's SCL-90-R. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, and Stepwise multiple regression with SAS/PC.

The trait anger of middle aged women indicated a significantly positive correlation to perceived stress(r=.180, p=.023) and mental health status(r.=021, p=.014). Anger-in(r=.237, p<.05), and perceived stress(p=.461, p<.01) showed significantly positive correlation to mental health status. The most significant predictor influencing health status of middle aged women was perceived stress, and anger-in and the variance explained was 27%.

These results suggested that middle aged women with high degree of trait anger is likely to be high in stress perception. Perceived stress and anger-in are major factors influencing mental health status.

This study was designed to explore the association of diet with menopausal symptoms in Korean women.

For this cross-sectional survey, 276 women aged between 45-55 years visiting two branches of K-university hospital located in Seoul and Ansan of Kyunggi province were recruited from April to July, 2002. A menopause-specific quality-of-life questionnaire and a food frequency questionnaire were used to measure menopause-related symptoms and the intake of 28 types of foods.

No differences were found in the levels of bothersome total menopausal symptoms, physical symptoms, psychosocial symptoms, and sexual symptoms according to the intake of each food. Only higher intake of fishes, seaweeds, and vegetable oils were inversely associated with bothersome levels of vasomotor symptoms. Women with higher intake of yellow-green vegetables and lower intake of coffee, confectionery, and processed foods reported lower hot flush rate.

The results suggest that higher intake of yellow-green vegetables and lower intake of coffee, confectionery and processed foods may relieve hot flushes. Further study needs to be pursued to study the relationship with nutrients of these foods and hot flushes.

This study was done to investigate factors influencing successful aging in middle-aged women.

A convenience sample of 103 middle-aged women was selected from the community. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, two-sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, Kruskal Wallis test, Pearson correlations, Spearman correlations and multiple regression analysis with the SPSS/WIN 22.0 program.

Results of regression analysis showed that significant factors influencing successful aging were post-traumatic growth and social support. This regression model explained 48% of the variance in successful aging.

Findings show that the concept 'post-traumatic growth' is an important factor influencing successful aging in middle-aged women. In addition, social support from friends/co-workers had greater influence on successful aging than social support from family. Thus, we need to consider the positive impact of post-traumatic growth and increase the chances of social participation in a successful aging program for middle-aged women.

This study was done to examine how laughter therapy impacts serotonin levels, QOL and depression in middle-aged women and to perform a path analysis for verification of the effects.

A quasi-experimental study employing a nonequivalent control group and pre-post design was conducted. Participants were 64 middle-aged women (control=14 and experimental=50 in 3 groups according to level of depression). The intervention was conducted five times a week for a period of 2 weeks and the data analysis was conducted using repeated measures ANOVA, ANCOVA and LISREL.

Results showed that pre serotonin and QOL in women with severe depression were the lowest. Serotonin in the experimental groups increased after the 10th intervention (p=.006) and the rise was the highest in the group with severe depression (p=.001). Depression in all groups decreased after the 5th intervention (p=.022) and the biggest decline was observed in group with severe depression (p=.007). QOL of the moderate and severe groups increased after the 10th intervention (p=.049), and the increase rate was highest in group with severe depression (p<.006). Path analysis revealed that laughter therapy did not directly affect depression, but its effect was indirectly meditated through serotonin variation (p<.001).

Results indicate that serotonin activation through laughter therapy can help middle-aged women by lessening depression and providing important grounds for depression control.

The purpose of this study was to identify type of anger expression and mental health in middle aged women.

From August to October 2005, survey data were collected by using the State Trait Anger Expression Inventory and Symptom Check List-90-Revision (SCL). Participants (1,442) were classified into four types of anger expression by K-mean cluster analysis. For collecting interview data for content analysis, 18 participants (4-5 participants from each type of anger expression) were recruited. The interview data were collected between March and September 2006.

The average score of the state anger of middle-aged women was 11.95, and that of the trait anger was 18.75. The average anger expression scores were 12.72 for Anger-In, 13.45 for Anger-Out, and 18.51 for Anger-Control. The average SCL scores were 45.03 for somatization, 42.23 for obsessive-compulsiveness, 42.44 for interpersonal sensitivity, 42.45 for depression, 42.40 for anxiety, 42.62 for hostility, 44.44 for phobic anxiety, 43.65 for paranoid ideation, and 43.08 for psychoticism. The anger expression types identified in this study were 1) anger-out in secret, 2) anger-control with a patience, 3) anger-out with suppression, and 4) low anger expression type. The psychosomatic symptom scores were the highest in type III (anger-out with suppression), and the lowest in type IV (low anger expression type).

This study can be helpful in assisting middle aged women to control their anger effectively and may contribute to the improvement of their mental health.

The purpose of this study was to understand the adjustment process of middle-aged people in Korea with hemiplegia after a stroke.

For this study, the grounded theory method was utilized.

After constant comparative analysis, the core category emerged as ‘rebuilding the body which was ruined’. In addition, the causal conditions were ‘restriction of physical function’, and ‘loss of roles’. The adjustment process consisted of the ‘facing reality phase’, ‘overcoming depression phase’, ‘overcoming physical limits phase’ and ‘reestablishing roles phase’. The main strategies in the facing reality phase were ‘holding on to a glimmer of hope’, ‘getting away from the harsh reality’ and ‘facing up to the reality’. The main strategies in the overcoming depression phase were ‘soothing oneself’, ‘Self-introspection’ and ‘restoring self-esteem’. In addition, the main strategies in the self-initiative overcoming physical limits phase was ‘discovering personal strategies and striving to recover’. The main strategies in the reestablishing roles phase were ‘reestablishing a parents’ role’, ‘reestablishing a spouse's role’ and ‘reestablishing social roles’.

In conclusion, even though many middle aged stroke patients remained in the depression phase, most of them who overcame depression strived to conquer physical limits on their own initiative.

This study was to evaluate the casual relationship between the factors in the Pender's model and to explain health promoting behaviors among middle-aged women in order to facilitate nursing interventions for this population group.

116 women between 40~60 years old living in Incheon were asked to complete a questionnaire about their health. The data was collected between March and November, 2003. The data was analyzed by descriptive statistics and the correctional analysis SPSSWIN 11.5 program. The LISREL 8.12 program was used to find the best fit model which explained a causal relationship of the variables.

The climacteric symptoms of middle-aged women negatively correlated with health promoting behaviors. However, marital satisfaction positively correlated with health promoting behaviors.

Marital satisfaction and climacteric symptoms had an effect on health promoting behaviors. Therefore, based on this study, we plan to develop a health education program to decrease climacteric symptoms and to promote marital satisfaction for health promotion.