Abstract

PURPOSE
This study aimed to describe the experience of family breakdown of Hwabyung patients in a socio-cultural context.
METHODS
Data for this study came from 5 participants, 2 family members and 1 friend of participant by interviews and participant observations from January 2006 to April 2007. Sociology of everyday lives analyzing method were adopted.
RESULTS
There were two processes of family breakdown ; sudden on set and progressive processes. The sudden breakdown was unpredictable death of a husband, the significant family member. On the other hand, their family structure and function were broken down through the husband, who repeatedly destructive and malicious behaviors. The experience of family breakdown of middle-aged women with Hwabyung in a socio-cultural context was weakened or severed family-relationships, exhaustion of economic sources, and the breakdown of participant's body. Participant's experience of family breakdown were influenced by Korean culture, the patriarchal social system and the clan-centered family system.
CONCLUSION
Hwabyung is the result of a clan-centered family system and patriarchal system. The approach to Hwabyung should involve not only the person with the illness but also their family.

• Keywords: Family; Hwabyung; Middle-aged women; Sociology of everyday lives