PURPOSE
We analyzed climacteric symptoms, bone mineral density (BMD), serum estradiol (E2) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) to identify the health benefits of meridian massage in perimenopausal women.
METHODS
There were 16 women in the experimental group and 17 people in the control group. Meridian massage was performed for 4 weeks, 3 times a week for 20 minutes each session. The data were collected pre-treatment, posttreatment and 4 weeks after treatment. SPSS/WIN 11.5 was used for data analysis.
RESULTS
After meridian massage, there were significant differences in climacteric symptoms (U = 65.50, p = .011) and BMD (U = 65.50, p = .011) between the two groups. The E2 level showed a significant difference between the two groups pre- and posttreatment (U = 75.00, p = .028). FSH showed a significant increase when measured at 4 weeks after the treatment as compared with the amount when measured post-treatment within the control group (z = -2.249, p = .025), experimental group showed a stable change in FSH. but there was no significant difference between the groups.
CONCLUSION
In this study, we confirmed the effects of Meridian massage in decreasing climacteric symptoms, inhibiting the decrease of BMD and stabilizing serum hormone in perimenopausal women. Therefore, it can be considered for use as a nursing intervention for health management in perimenopausal women.

PURPOSE
This study was designed to identify the relationship between self reported climacteric symptoms, self concept and depression in middle aged women.
METHOD
Data were collected through self- reported questionaires which were constructed to include a climacteric symptoms, self-concept and depression of middle-aged women scale. The subjects for this study were 102 women between 40-59 years of age living in P city. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation Coefficient.
RESULTS
The results obtained from this study were as follows: 1)The relationship between self reported climacteric symptoms and self concept was statistically significant with a negative correlation (r=-0.4862, P0.001). The relationship between self reported climacteric symptoms and depression had a statistically significant positive correlation (r=0.5393, P<0.001). The Relationship between self- concept and depression had a statistically significant negative correlation (r=-0.3769, P<0.001). 2) General characteristic variables significantly related to self reported climacteric symptoms were age (F=3.13, P<0.05) and frequency of pregnancy (F=3.24, P<0.05). General characteristic variables significantly related to frequency of self-concept were age (F=3.13, P<0.05), education level (F=2.97, P<0.05) and occupation (t=1.84, P<0.05). General characteristic variables significantly related to depression were age (F=3.12, P<0.05) and number of children (t=3.59, P<0.05). 3)The obstetrical characteristic variable significantly related to self-reported climacteric symptoms was the frequency of pregnancy (t=3.24, P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
This study shows possible implications for nursing intervention for middle-aged women's health to prevent and relieve climacteric symptoms.