• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.127-134
• /
• 2012

Objectives : Perceived stress scale is a self-report inventory to estimate the degree of individual perceived stress in daily life. The aim of this study was to introduce this scale and test the reliability and validity of the Korean version of PSS. Methods : The total of 154 female hospital workers were included in this study. The survey questionnaires were conducted for demographic information. All participants were required to complete PSS, Hamilton Anxiety scale and Beck Depression Inventory. Reliability and validity studies were conducted and internal consistency was examined. Results : The mean score of the PSS reported in this sample was $20.69{\pm}4.56$. The overall Cronbach's alpha was 0.819, and the test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.66. PSS had a significant positive correlation with the HAM-A(r=0.49, p<0.01), and the BDI(r=0.55, p<0.01). Factor analysis yielded 2 factors with eigenvalues of 3.924 and 2.608, accounting for 65 percent of variance. Factor 1 represented "stress" and factor 2 represented "control of stress". Conclusions : This study indicates that the PSS is appropriate for estimating the perceived stress levels. These results support the use of PSS in large sections of the population in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.37-43
• /
• 2017

Objectives : This study was aimed to investigate the associations of childhood trauma with psychopathology and clinical characteristics in patients with schizophrenia. Methods : This study enrolled 66 inpatients with schizophrenia. Korean Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (K-CTQ) and Life Event Questionnaire (LEQ) were administered to assess childhood trauma. Psychopatholgy and clinical characteristics were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Korean Version of Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (K-ISMI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and visual analogue scale of EuroQoL-5 Dimension Index (EQ-5D). Results : Total scores on K-CTQ were positively associated with scores on the BDI, K-ISMI, PSS, and PANSS and negatively associated with the score on the EQ-5D. Among subscales of K-CTQ, emotional abuse was significantly associated with all measures for psychopathology and clinical characteristics. Patients with physical abuse (36.5%), emotional abuse (30.2%), or bullying (30.6%) according to the LEQ showed sighificanlty higher the ISMI score and lower EQ-5D score. Emotional abuse and bullying were also significantly associated with higher scores on BDI and/or PSS. Conclusion : Our results suggest that childhood trauma negatively influences on internalized stigma, depression, perceived stress and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia. Clinicians should carefully evalute and manage childhood traumatic experience of patients with schizophrenia.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.33-45
• /
• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Onion, particularly onion peel, is a quercetin-rich food with, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. However, the effect of onion peel extract (OPE) in humans is unclear. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate whether OPE improves natural killer (NK) cell activity and cytokine concentration in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Eighty participants aged 19-64 yrs old with a white blood cell count of 4,000-10,000 cells/µL, symptoms of upper respiratory infection at least once within the previous 12 mon, and perceived stress scale (PSS) over 14 were included. Participants were randomly assigned to take either 1,000 mg/day OPE or a placebo for 8 weeks. RESULTS: Compliance were 87.4 ± 8.6% and 86.9 ± 79.0% in OPE and placebo groups. Compared to the placebo, OPE supplementation improved "Hoarseness" (P = 0.038) of the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey (WURSS)-21 symptom, and stress scores (P = 0.001; 0.021) of PSS. Supplementation of OPE had no significant effect on NK cell activity and concentrations of cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-12, IL-1β, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α. At baseline, the WURSS-21 symptom and PSS score (P = 0.024; 0.026) were higher in the OPE group than the placebo group. Among participants with higher than median WURSS-21 symptom score, OPE supplementation increased NK cell activity (P = 0.038). Supplementation of OPE had no significant effects on safety measurements and adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggested that OPE supplementation improves NK cell activity in participants with moderate upper respiratory symptoms without any significant adverse effects.

• Anxiety and mood
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.135-141
• /
• 2018

Objective : This study evaluated the role of smartphone application in the self-assessment of three psychiatric symptoms: stress, depression, and suicidal ideation. Methods : A total of 5,646 respondents were evaluated with three scales (Perceived Stress Scale, PSS, Center for Epidemiologic Study for Depression, CES-D, Scale for Suicidal Ideation, SSI) via smartphone application 'mindscan'. We analyzed the sociodemographic variables, the levels of three symptoms, and the association between the scores on all three scales. Results : The mean total scores of PSS, CES-D, and SSI were 24.86, 35.15, and 18.03, respectively. Women showed significantly higher scores on PSS, CES-D, and SSI when compared with men. Younger users showed a significantly higher score on all three scales when compared with older users. The scores on all three scales were higher than in other studies with off-line surveys. The PSS was positively correlated with CES-D (r=0.690), and with SSI (r=0.367). The CES-D was positively correlated with SSI (r=0.540). Conclusions : A smartphone application for mental health based on three scales (PSS, CES-D, and SSI) is a relatively useful screening tool compared with off-line general population surveys. The association between the three scales reflects the relationship between the three psychiatric symptoms observed in clinical practice.

• Child Health Nursing Research
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.297-307
• /
• 2021

Purpose: This descriptive study compared the perceived parental stress levels between parents with very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) and nurses in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: In total, 83 parents of VLBWIs and 78 NICU nurses were enrolled. Data were collected with the Parental Stress Scale (PSS) and analyzed using the t-test and analysis of variance in SAS version 9.4. Results: The average PSS score was 3.31 among parents and 3.45 among nurses. The stress score was significantly higher among nurses with children (t=2.46, p=.016) and senior nurses (t=2.12, p=.037). There was a significant difference in the stress score according to parents' education (t=3.29, p=.002) and occupation (F=3.14, p=.049) in the sights and sounds subscale. Mothers had significantly higher stress scores than fathers in the parental role alterations subscale (t=2.32, p=.023). Parental stress scores were higher than those perceived by nurses in the infant's appearance and behaviors subscale for breathing patterns (t=2.95, p=.004), followed by jerky/ restless behavior (t=2.70, p=.008). Conclusion: Nurses should provide explanations to parents of VLBWIs in order to reduce parental stress about the appearances and behavior of VLBWIs. This is more important than aspect of the NICU environment and education about parental roles.

• Anxiety and mood
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.153-160
• /
• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to develop an employee's stress response scale (ESRS) and examine its validity and reliability. Methods : The study was conducted as follows : item generation, and test of validity and reliability. Items were developed via literature review, review of instruments, and data acquired from email-survey of counselors in the field of Employee Assistance Program (EAP). In order to test validity and reliability, data were collected from 400 employees. Results : The result of exploratory factor analysis of ESRS suggested 4 factor structures (work-related, anger, somatization, depression & anxiety) with a total of 25 items. ESRS showed a relatively strong positive correlation with Hospital Anxiety-Depression scale (HAD), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Psychological Wellbeing Index (PWI), which showed ESRS had high convergent validity. Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ and test-retest reliability was .95 and .610 respectively. Conclusion : The ESRS is reliable and valid brief scale for measuring stress responses of employees. This scale would be useful in quantitatively evaluating job stress in workplace.

• Child Health Nursing Research
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.251-261
• /
• 2004

Purpose: To investigate the degree and sources of stress which fathers of infants in NICU experience. Method: Eighty-five fathers of NICU infants at 5 university hospitals in Seoul volunteered to complete the Parental Stressor Scale for NICU (PSS: NICU) from September 1, to October 15, 2002. Result: Total perceived stress was 3.50±0.76. The highest score were in Parental Role Alteration (3.76±0.83) and Appearance and Behavior (3.65±1.04). The total perceived stress score (PSS), correlated significantly with method (t=3.50, p=.01), and route (F=5.30, p=.00) of feeding. Light & Sound correlated significantly with birth weight (F=3.39, p=.02), medical diagnosis(F=2.30, p=.03), plan of operation(t=2.50, p=.01), operation (t=3.80, p=.02), method (F=4.90, p=.003), and route (F=4.70, p=.00) of feeding. Infant Appearance and Behavior correlated significantly with birth weight (F=5.12, p=.01), plan of operation (t=2.50, p=.01), method (F=3.50, p=.01), and route (F=7.80, p=.00) of feeding. Parental Role Alteration correlated significantly with care of incubator (t=-.68, p=.03), method of feeding (F=2.80, p=.04) and education level of father (F=3.00, p=.05). Conclusion: Father with NICU infants were concerned mostly with parental role alteration and infant appearance. Nursing intervention should include fathers of NICU infants.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.419-427
• /
• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of a workbook program on percieved stress levels, maternal role confidence and breastfeeding practices of mothers of premature infants. Method: This study employed a quasi-experimental non-equivalent pre-and-post test to compare the two groups. Data was collected from 32 subjects from March 10. to September 5, 2003 at an NICU located in S. city. In the sample, fifteen mothers were in the experimental group and seventeen were in the control group. A workbook program was provided twice during a period from two-three days after the baby's admission to one week after the first intervention. The instruments used were the PSS and self confidence scale. Data was analyzed by means of frequency, SD, $x^2-test$, Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney test, and the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Result: There was a significant difference in perceived stress levels between the experimental and control group (U=2.366, p=.018). There was not a significant difference in maternal role confidence between the two groups (U=1.002, p=.316). There was a significant difference in breastfeeding practice between the two groups ($x^2=4.910$, p=.035). Conclusion: It is concluded that a program using a workbook has a positive effect on decreasing the perceived stress level and increasing breastfeeding practice.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.33-48
• /
• 2022

Objectives: Academic stress poses a significant risk for the mental health of medical students, and a feasible group intervention program for managing academic stress is required. The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical effectiveness of emotional freedom techniques (EFT) on the mental health of Korean medical students. Methods: The class of first-year medical school students (n=36) participated in an after-school EFT group intervention program comprising six sessions (15 minutes/session, three weeks) to analyze its clinical effectiveness as a single-group test-retest clinical study. The changes in the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scores were examined using a paired t-test and Cohen's D at post-EFT and two-week follow-up. Results: There were significant curtailments at post-EFT and follow-up measures in TAI-Total (t=2.704 and t=3.289), TAI-Worry (t=2.297 and t=2.454), TAI-Emotionality (t=2.763 and t=3.654), PSS-Negative Perspective (t=2.659 and t=3.877), and PANAS-Negative Affect (t=2.885 and t=3.259) subscales, however not in PSS-Positive Perspective (t=-1.279 and t=-1.101) and PANAS-Positive Affect (t=0.194 and t=-0.122) subscales. The trait anxiety (t=2.227) was significantly mitigated in the post-EFT measure and the state anxiety (t=2.30) in the follow-up measure. Conclusions: The EFT group intervention alleviated test stress, negative affect, and anxiety in the Korean medical students. This study contributes to an understanding of academic stress and EFT intervention in the competitive environment of medical education.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.290-302
• /
• 2015

The study purpose was to test the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Revised Stress Appraisal Measure (RSAM) to assess stress appraisal in undergraduate students. Internal consistency reliability, construct and criterion validity were calculated using IBM SPSS Statistics 21 and AMOS 21 program. Survey data were collected from a convenience sample of 296 undergraduate students enrolled in five universities in G city and C area, South Korea. The Korean version of RSAM categorized into 5 factors explaining 68.4% of the total variance. The model of five subscales was validated by confirmatory factor analysis (p<.001, Goodness of Fit Index, Adjusted Goodness of Fit Index, Normed Fit Index, Comparative Fit Index >.08, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation=.056). In criterion validity, the scores for the scale were significantly correlated with the Perceived Stress Scale-Korean. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the 19 items was .73~.89. The Korean RSAM showed satisfactory construct and criterion validity and reliability. Thus it may be an appropriate instrument for measuring stress appraisal in Korean university students.