Purpose
This study aimed to clarify the relationship between andropause syndrome and health-related quality of life, as well as the mediation effect of family bond among middle-aged males in South Korea. Methods A total of 135 middle-aged males who live in B, K, and U City participated in the study, conducted from March 10 to May 31, 2021. Participants were invited to complete self-reported questionnaires measuring andropause syndrome, health-related Quality of Life (QoL), family bond, and demographic information. The data obtained were analyzed using multiple regression and a simple mediation model applying the PROCESS macro with 95% bias-corrected bootstrap confidence interval (5,000 bootstrap resampling). Results The QoL of middle-aged males in South Korea showed a significant negative correlation with andropause syndrome (r=-.32, p<.001), and a significant positive correlation with family bond (r=.59, p<.001). Futher, family bond had a mediating effect between andropause syndrome and QoL (indirect effect=-4.07, 95% Boot confidence interval=-6.53~-1.97). Conclusion Based on the results of this study, in order to improve the QoL of middle-aged males in South Korea, it is necessary to provide programs that can improve family bond along with physical and mental intervention programs to effectively alleviate andropause syndrome.

Citations

• A comprehensive analysis of research trends on andropause among middle-aged South Korean men
  Young Hwa Lee, Sun Jung Park, Hyun Ji Kim, Bock Soon Park, Hyo Yeol Jang, Ha Na Cho, Young Sook Lim
  International Journal of ADVANCED AND APPLIED SCIENCES.2023; 10(6): 129.     CrossRef

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the roles of the perception of aging symptoms in mediating and moderating the relationship between family function and stress in middle-aged adults.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional correlational study of 244 middle-aged men and women. Self-administered surveys were conducted using the Family APGAR, stress index, and symptom management beliefs questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, hierarchical multiple regression analysis, and PROCESS macro using SPSS 23.0.
Results
A significant interaction between family function and the perception of aging symptoms in predicting stress was found, indicating a moderating effect of the perception of aging symptoms on the relationship between family function and stress. An indirect effect of family function on stress through the perception of aging symptoms was not significant, indicating an insignificant mediating effect of the perception of aging symptoms.
Conclusion
The relationship between family function and stress differed depending on participants’ perceptions of aging symptoms. Individuals with negative perceptions of aging symptoms may be vulnerable to stress caused by poorer family function. It is necessary to develop programs to help modify negative perceptions of aging as well as strengthen family function to decrease the stress of middle-aged adults.

PURPOSE
The study was designed to identify influencing and mediating factors of health behaviors of stroke patients based on the hypothetical model constructed in this study.
METHODS
Non-experimental correlational research design was used. One hundred and five stroke patients were conveniently selected from one university hospital located in Incheon. Data were collected with survey and analyzed by path analysis to examine the significant influencing and mediating factors of health behaviors in stroke patients.
RESULTS
Age, diagnosis, disability in ADL, knowledge related to health behavior, and self-efficacy had significant direct causal influences on health behavior. And it was shown that knowledge and self-efficacy mediated influence of cohabitation status with family (whether or not living together with family) on health behavior. Self-efficacy also mediated influence of knowledge on health behavior.
CONCLUSION
From the results, it was proposed that providing knowledge related to health behavior and enhancing self-efficacy by educating skill necessary for health behaviors and promoting health related beliefs might increase health behavior particularly for stroke patients living together with family.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to explore conflict resolution styles, marital intimacy and family functions among breast cancer patients and their spouses.
METHODS
The subjects were total 126 participants. Breast cancer patients who completed chemotherapy and or radiation along with their spouses. Data were collected using questionnaires with questions about conflict resolution styles, marital intimacy and family functions.
RESULTS
There were no differences between breast cancer patients and their spouses in verbal aggression, avoidance of conflict resolution styles and family functions. As patients reported using positive conflict resolution styles the spouse-perceived marital intimacy and family functions were higher. Those patients who perceived marital intimacy as lower they also reported more verbal aggression and avoidance. As breast cancer patients perceived family functions increasing, their spouses perception of both intimacy and family function increased.
CONCLUSION
As these results, it should be considered as basic data to develop family intervention programs such as positive communication and effective stress management and improving of conflict resolution, intimacy and family functions among breast cancer patients and their spouses.

Citations

• Do spouse burden of care, family resilience, and coping affect family function in gynecologic cancer in Korea?: a cross-sectional study
  Minkyung Kim, Sukhee Ahn
  Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing.2022; 28(3): 197.     CrossRef
• Impact of Uncertainty on the Quality of Life of Young Breast Cancer Patients: Focusing on Mediating Effect of Marital Intimacy
  Yeong Kyong Oh, Seon Young Hwang
  Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing.2018; 48(1): 50.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of interpersonal relationships of head nurses in interacting with others in general hospital settings.
METHODS
The data were collected by individual in-depth interviews from seven head nurses and were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.
RESULTS
Five major categories emerged and they represent a major strategy according to five different groups of interacting people. 'Establishing trust' was identified as the key strategy in dealing with patients and family members. 'Embracing with sisterly love' and 'helping with self-defense' were major strategies for subordinate nurses and physicians, respectively. 'Respecting and recognizing' was the main approach for other professionals such as dietitians and 'emphasizing rules and educating' were a major one for non-professionals. Head nurses paid more attention and made efforts in dealing with their subordinate nurses than with other groups of people, because they felt the most difficulty in their relationship with subordinate nurses.
CONCLUSION
The results of the study showed that head nurses employ unique strategies in interacting with different groups of people to increase the efficiency of communication. This study would help nurse administrators establish an effective program for improving interpersonal relationships of head nurse.

PURPOSE
The purpose of the study was to describe nonverbal behaviors of nurses in communication with patients with dementia in an elderly care institution in Korea.
METHODS
Conversation analysis was utilized to analyze the data which were collected using video camera to capture non-verbal as well as verbal behaviors. A total of 66 episodes of everyday conversations were analyzed using seven nonverbal categories: affirmative head nodding; illustrative gestures; patient-directed eye gaze; smiling and/or laughing; forward leaning; affective touch; and instrumental touch.
RESULTS
Among seven categories, patient-directed eye gaze(94%) was the most frequently utilized among nurses followed by affirmative head nodding(67%) and forward leaning(67%), while smiling was the least used(32%). Affective touch was identified in 39 episodes(59%). Among them, the most frequently touched area was hand or handshaking(59%) followed by shoulder or back, arm, and face. There were wide differences among nurses in terms of using affective touch, ranging from 0% to 98%. Nonverbal behaviors were more frequently identified in effective episodes than in ineffective episodes.
CONCLUSION
Actively utilizing effective nonverbal behaviors may help geriatric nurses in promoting communication and in establishing rapport with patients with dementia.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify the main factors influencing family functioning of caregivers in families with stroke.
METHOD
A Convenient sample of 173 primary family caregivers who take care of a stroke patient at an Oriental medicine hospital in Jeonbuk. Interviews were done with a standardized questionnaire including family functioning by nurses.
RESULTS
In Pearson's correlation analysis, the influencing factors related to family functioning were ADL(p=.017), level of paralysis(p=.019) as stressors, Quality of relation(p=.000) as situational variables, and family caregivers' burden(p=.000). Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed 29.9% of the variance family functioning was significantly accounted for by the quality of relationship between stroke patient and caregiver(26.8%), and caregiver burden(3.1%).
CONCLUSIONS
Findings indicate that families of stroke patients need family-focused nursing intervention as supported care to improve the relationship between patient and primary caregiver and relieve caregiver burden by culturally tailoring to Korean.

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to understand the meaning of mind control as it is understood by elderly persons in Korea.
METHOD
This study was conducted by engaging three elderly persons who are over the age of sixty five and presently residing in Seoul. Several in depth interviews were conducted with these individuals from March 2003 until November 2003. The contents of the interviews were analyzed using the Giorgi Method (1985), which places the emphasis on discovering meaning within the phenomenological context of an individual's experience.
RESULTS
The analysis of the contents revealed the following four components with regard to the meaning of mind control for elderly persons (1) Settling the mind (2) Gradual lowering of expectations and hope for the success of offspring, (3) Having good thoughts and acting accordingly, and (4) Making up one's mind to follow the 'natural flow of life'.
CONCLUSION
By allowing a wider and deeper understanding of the meaning of mind control for elderly persons the results of this study provide a basis for improving the care of elderly with a holistic perspective.

PURPOSE
High risk women with congenital heart disease decide to get pregnancy is determined by not individual autonomous intention but complex interaction with their physical status and socio-psychological environments. This study tried to the answer to the question. : "What is experience high risk women who have congenital heart disease during transition to parenthood?". METHOD: A micro-ethnographic research method and oral historic research approach were done at the Grown-Up Congenital Heart Disease Clinic in one Korean metropolitan city from July 2002 to September 2003. RESULT: It was discovered that high risk women's experience of transitional parenthood is accounted as the process of lonely and fearful self-accomplishment. Their need for self- accomplishment creates them seek more opportunities to increase enduring abilities for their parenthood. CONCLUSION: We suggest that from the time of beginning of patient's making decisions about becoming pregnant, collaborative efforts must be considered that priority level of patient's needs be reviewed and find appropriate advices for their situation. Special counseling program should be provided to all the prospective parents with understanding their meaning of parenthood.

This study was undertaken to find out the perception of marital relationship and to understand the typology. The Q-population consisted of 153 statements that were collected and 33 Q-samples were selected. The P-samples for this study were made up of 30 who were married. Each responded to a Q-set of marital relationship according to 9-point scale. The results of Q-sorting were coded and analysed using QUANL PC program. Typological observations were as follows. 1) One in body and spirit type : In type 1, couples had different backgrounds respectively but felt one in body and spirit. 2) Companionship type : 2. Couples had not so much a hierarchial as a horizontal relationship. Couples perceived themselves as interdependent and friends. 3) Adaptation type : Couples readily adapted themselves to a marital relationship. They only depended on their spouses at times and stressed the relationship. Marriage was accepted as destiny rather than choice. On the basis of these results, we suggest: When a marriage is in trouble, that we assess the type of marital relationship in advance and intervene with a proper program. In addition, practical intervention programs need to be developed tailored to the type of subjective perception about the marital relation.