• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.75-99
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• 2023

The current study aimed to explore the suicidal behaviors and risk factors of completed suicides using psychological autopsy and use them as index variables to classify suicidal types. In addition, this study looked into the influential factors that affect each suicidal type. related to suicidal behaviors and suicidal risk factors by psychological autopsy. In addiction, the distinctions among the classes were analyzed. For this, psychological autopsies were conducted on the families and the close ones of 128 completed suicides. Then, the index variables were finally chosen for classifying suicidal types. The selected index variables for suicidal risk factors were mental disorders, suicide/self-harm, significant changes in physical appearance, marital conflict, adjustment and relationship issues at work/school, unemployment/layoff, jobless status and serious financial problems. The selected index variables for suicidal behaviors were expressing their suicidal attempts, writing suicidal notes, asking for help, the time/place/method of suicidal behavior, past suicidal/self-harm experience and the first person who witnessed the suicide. The Latent Class Analysis(LCA) and the 3-step method were used for classifying suicidal types. Then external variables(financial changes, cohabitation, existence of stressors, changes in stress level or relationships and family members with mental disorder/alchohol problems/ physical disorders, and work/school stisfaction) were applied for distinguishing classes. As a result, 5 classes(financial problems, adjustment problems, complex problems, psychiatric problems, and response to event[s]) were revealed on suicidal behaviors and 3 classes(residence- suicidal attempt- found by family, nonresidence- nonsuicidal attempt- found by acquaintances, residence- nonsuicidal attempt- found by family) were presented on suicidal risk factors. External variables such as gender, marital status, cohabitation, changes in relationships significantly differentiated among the 3 classes. Especially, class 3(residence- nonsuicidal attempt- found by family) tended to cohabit with others, were married, and had a significantly high level of interpersonal conflicts. When comparing the 5 classes of suicidal risk factors, auxiliary variables such as economic changes, cohabitation, stress, relationship changes, and family-related problems, and school/work satisfaction significantly differentiated the 5 classes. Especially class 3 (complex problems) experienced comparatively less family-related problems, but showed an aggravating level of personal stress. Suicial prevention strategies should be provided considering the characteristics of each class and the influential factors.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.420-430
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• 2014

Firefighters performing disaster response activities such as Fire Suppression Rescue First Aid in fire are being exposed in various adverse factors, heat, smoke, toxic gases, emotional stress, biological toxic factors and physical overload by unnatural ergonomic posture required for firefighters. But so far, there is the study for this problem only separately. There is no study about comprehesive analysis of exposed adverse factors in fire-related disaster response activities and countermeasures. The purpose of this study is to contiribute to solving the health problems and prevention of accidents of firefighters by extracting hazardous agents in disaster such as fire and by proposing countermeasures. After analyzing circumstances such as fire-suppression, rescue first aid and life-environment, exposure factors of fire are derived and exposure status is suggested according to physical chemical biological psychological aspects. The countermeasure against the noise of the physical exposure factors are proposed. The countermeasures such as protective equipment and clean room in chemical factors, infection prevention education, vaccination and periodic check system in biological factors, PTSD alleviation booth and mentoring in psychological factors are proposed.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.361-370
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• 2017

Previous reports have suggested that physical and psychological stresses may trigger fibromyalgia (FM). Stress is an important risk factor in the development of depression and memory impairments. Antidepressants have been used to prevent stress-induced abnormal pain sensation. Among various antidepressants, tianeptine has been reported to be able to prevent neurodegeneration due to chronic stress and reverse decreases in hippocampal volume. To assess the possible effect of tianeptine on FM symptoms, we constructed a FM animal model induced by restraint stress with intermittent cold stress. All mice underwent nociceptive assays using electronic von Frey anesthesiometer and Hargreaves equipment. To assess the relationship between tianeptine and expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), and phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (p-CREB), western blotting and immunohistochemistry analyses were performed. In behavioral analysis, nociception tests showed that pain threshold was significantly decreased in the FM group compared to that in the control group. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses of medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and hippocampus showed downregulation of BDNF and p-CREB proteins in the FM group compared to the control group. However, tianeptine recovered these changes in behavioral tests and protein level. Therefore, this FM animal model might be useful for investigating mechanisms linking BDNF-CREB pathway and pain. Our results suggest that tianeptine might potentially have therapeutic efficacy for FM.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.597-602
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• 2001

This study was carried out to investigate the effectiveness of active biotelemetry to monitor stress response, and the effects of acute stressor (raising a hind foot of a standing animal) on body temperature (BT) and heart rate (HR) in comparison heifer group (n=4) with cow group (n=3). Both parameters were recorded by active telemetry. Cortisol assay was used to compare the result of active biotelemetry. The stressor consisted in restraining the cows for hoof treatments. Body temperature and heart rate were measured at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 90, 120, 180 and 360 minutes during the experiments, and also cortisol assay at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 12 and 24 hours. Base line for these animals was set in there accustomed environment at -24hrs and -30 mins before the beginning of experiments. The results obtained in this study were as follows: 1. In the BT, heifer group showed no significant difference from cow group, but were observed slightly higher BT than cow group during restraint stress for 30 minutes. 2. The both groups showed directly significant increase of HR immediately after the beginning of the restraint stress (P<0.01), but in the required time for the recovery of HR after finishing the stress, heifer group was 40 minutes and cow group 60 minutes. 3. In the cortisol assay, the both groups increased from 30 to 120 minutes after the beginning of experiment (i.e, from 0 to 90 minutes after finishing the restraint stress), showing significant difference from before the beginning of the stress (P<0.01), but heifer group showed great increase of the cortisol level from 30 to 60 minutes after the beginning of the stress, while cow group was observed at 60 minutes. In conclusion, we suppose that care is required to decrease psychological stress in cattle when they suffer from a series of procedures for diagnosis and treatment, especially in heifers rather than in cows. Also BT and HR obtained by active biotelemetry are reliable indicators of stress in cattle.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.507-528
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• 2009

Coping and defense are similar psychological mechanisms to reduce stress response, but they are regarded as distinct from each other. Defense involved distortions of reality, but coping was used for strategies associated with accepting the true nature of the situation. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the coping and defense features of the North Korean Defectors in the Rorschach test. The subjects were then categorized into four groups based on their birth place and gender: Male North Korean defectors( N=16), female North Korean defectors(N=28), male South Koreans(N=17), and female South Koreans(N=25). All subjects were individually administered the Rorschach test, and protocols were scored according to the Exner(2003)'s Rorschach Comprehensive systems. Coping or defense-related Rorschach variables were selected for analysis: EA, CDI, Adj D, EB style, Lamda, Zd, X-%, Xu%, W:Dd:D, P, reaction time, and other behavior characteristics during the testing. Compared with other groups, female North Korean defectors were more likely to show poor coping resources(low EA), adjustment difficulties(Adj D), and distortions of reality(high X-%). They also demonstrated more 'don't know' responses and more delayed responses than other groups. These findings suggest that poor coping resources make female North Korean defectors more vulnerable to stress, and psychological intervention such as social skills training may help them settle successfully in south Korea. Limitations of the current study and implications for future research were discussed.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.488-499
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• 2010

Objective : This study was designed to investigate the correlation between Qi movement stagnation condition, stress level and xerostomia in halitosis patients. Methods : Ninety-nine halitosis patients visiting the Halitosis Clinic in the hospital of Oriental medicine, Kyung Hee University from January, 2010 to May, 2010 were recruited. The subjects were assessed on their stress levels(based on the Stress Response Inventory), xerostomia symptoms(based on the 8-item Visual Analogue Scale xerostomia questionnaire), and Qi movement stagnation(氣鬱) condition(one of the subcategories in the Qi, blood and water pattern identification(氣血水辨證)). Salivary functions were evaluated using the unstimulated whole salivary flow rate measurements. Results : Compared to the non-Qi movement stagnation group(Qi movement stagnation pattern identification score < 30), the confirmed Qi movement stagnation group(Qi movement stagnation pattern identification score $\geqq$ 30) showed higher levels of xerostomia and stress. In the regression analysis, the Qi movement stagnation condition and stress levels showed a significant correlation. Furthermore, the Qi movement stagnation condition and stress levels each displayed significant correlations with xerostomia. Conclusions : The results of this study suggest that stress and Qi movement stagnation condition contribute to xerostomia symptoms in halitosis patients. Considering the correlation found between the Qi movement stagnation and stress, this study suggests a novel methodology in treating xerostomia, halitosis, and other stress-related disorders through the Qi movement stagnation-related approach.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.137-153
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• 2015

Technostress- a term coined by Craig Brod- refers to a modern disease of adaptation caused by an inability to cope with new technologies. Stress is a person's adaptive response to a stimulus that places excessive psychological or physical demands on that person. In a similar vein, technostress can affect a variety of side effect such as low work productivity and resistance against new technology. The purpose of this study is thus to investigate of differences of technostressors using demographic informations such as gender, age, computer use skill, and industrial types. To do this, we conducted independence t-test and analysis of variance. We found that demographic characteristics can affect the differences of technostressors. Conclusions and implications are discussed in the last section of this paper.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.865-878
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• 1999

With advances in neonatal medicine, smaller and sicker infants are surviving premature birth. As these tiny patients battle for their lives, their parents also struggle with psychological consequences of an unexpected role. The birth of a sick infants has long been documented as stressful events for the parents. High stress levels may alter parents' interaction with their baby and impair their communication with health professionals, which can in turn affect parents' participation in care planning and decision making. Nursing interventions aimed at reducing the parental stress and anxiety levels during this crisis may have a positive impact on their ability to form an attatchment to their baby and make prudent decisions about his care. The planning of such interventions would be inhanced if the contributions of various factors to increased parental stress levels were identified. This descriptive study was conducted to understand the contents and degree of parental stress in the NICU during their premature's hospitalization, and to give a baseline data in developing nursing intervention program. Subjects were the 60 mother of hospitalized newborn in NICU of 2 University Hospital in Taejon City from April 1st, 1999 to June 30th, 1999, who agreed to take part in this study. The instrument used in this study were Parental Stressor Scales:NICU(PSS:NICU) developed by Miles et al.. and validated by 3 NICU practitioners and 3 child health nursing faculties. The questionnaire has 4 dimensions and 45 items; sight and sounds of NICU(5 items), babies' appearance and behavior nursing intervention(19 items), parental role alteration and relationship with their baby(10 items), health team communication(11 items). The questionnaire asks parents to rate each item on a five-point Likert type scale that ranges from "not stressful" (1) to "extremely stressfu1"(5). Total scores representing overall stress from the NICU environment are calculated by summing response to each item. A high score indicates high stress. A subscale score is calculated by summing the responses to each item in the subscale. Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ coefficients were .93. The data was analyzed as average, Frequency, Standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient by use of SPSS/PC+. The results of this study is summarized as follows ; 1. The total perceived stress level score of mothers of premature baby was slightly high($3.66{\pm}1.1$). The highest scored dimension was 'relationship with their baby and parental role change'($4.21{\pm}0.9$), and next were 'appearance and behavior of the baby'($3.92{\pm}1.1$), 'communication with health team'($3.32{\pm}1.3$), 'sight and sounds of NICU'($3.30{\pm}1.1$). 2. There were statistically significant correlation noted ; mother's perceived severity of the baby's condition(F=8.0012, P= .0125) and baby's gestational age(r = -.4724, P = .0500). In summary, information about physical environment of NICU, the mother's perceived severity of premature baby's state, maternal role change related variables and the knowledge of characteristics of premature baby must be included in nursing intervention program of mother's of premature baby in reducing the parental stress and anxiety level. It is suggested that each NICU needs to develop a nurse managed supportive care program for parents of premature baby. Also, it is suggested that there need to investigate the coping mechanism of mother of premature baby.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.403-413
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• 1998

The Resilience is described as the personal capacity which brings psychosocial comeback. The role of nursing is to do its best to rehabilitate patients and to explore the individual in order to promote patients psychosocial change. However, as the current nursing is heavily physical nursing oriented, the identity of the nursing would be lost. Therefore this researcher reviewed if the concept of resilience can be applied to the nursing after examing the concept of resilience by Documents and Fieldwork. The methodology of this research is Hybrid Model developed by Schwartz-Barcott and Kim for the concept development and analysis. The process and procedure consist of The Theoretical Phase, The Fieldwork Phase and The Final Analytical Phase in accodance with the Hybrid Model. The followings the summary of the Research. 1. The Concept of Resilience Finally Analyzed by Documents and Fieldwork (1) The Redefinition of Resilience The resilience is the latent psychosocial capacity which minimize the negative emotion and promote the adaptation under adversity. Resilience appears as cognitive, emotional and behavioral response in the course of changing from negative response to positive response through the interaction of the individual and the enviroments in a given time. Resilience changes and decreases according to time and situation and it can be nurtured. Resilience is the higher concept including hardiness, sense of coherence and self-strength which maintain the health under stress. (2) The Attribute of Resilience The attribute of resilience was devided into psychological and social dimension. In psychological attributes, there are admittion of reality of situation, denial of negative emotion, desire to live, responsibility, confidence, courage, hope, pursuit of positive meaning, identification and pursuit of goal, self-esteem, reception, spontaneity, planning, positiveness, will power, flexibility and creativity. In social attributes, there are a sense of belonging, perception of social support and active social relations. (3) The Process of Resilience There are 4 resilience phases which were the process minimizing the possibility of the negative chain reactions under adversity, the process minimizing the negative emotion under adversity, the process gaining the desire to live and the process exposing the active social relations. 2. The Application Possibility of Resilience Concept to Nursing The resilience concept is the psychosocial capacity with which an individual manages adversity. As many nursing scientists have developed nursing theory based on this capacity and the identification of nursing has been established in this field, resilience is not the new conception in nursing. However, since resilience appears in the attributes related with the resilience process concretely, it would help a lot when nurses execute psychosocial nursing.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 2019

Stress is accompanied by changes in the responses of the autonomic nervous system, and the heart rate variability (HRV) index is a quantitative marker that reflects autonomic responses induced by stressors. In this study, we observed changes in the autonomic responses induced by combinations of 30% oxygen administration and color light for stress relaxation. In all, 42 participants produced stress symptoms over the preceding two weeks, as rated on the stress response scale. After stress assessment, they were exposed to three therapeutic conditions, and electrocardiogram (ECG) signals were recorded before, during, and after therapy. The three therapy conditions consisted of only 30% oxygen administration with white light, a combination of 30% oxygen and orange light, and a combination of 30% oxygen and blue light. The HRV indices extracted from ECG signals were heart rate (HR), the standard deviation of the RR interval (SDNN), the mean square root of consecutive RR interval difference values (RMSSD), the low frequency component of HRV (LF), the high frequency component (HF), and the LF/HF ratio. These indicators were used to compare mean values before and after therapy. The results showed that HR and the LF/HF ratio were significantly lower after therapy than before it. In particular, the condition with 30% oxygen and blue light yielded significantly greater RMSSD and HF increases, as well as decreases in LF/HF ratio than in other two conditions. Our results suggest that therapy with 30% oxygen and blue light is the most effective for the relaxation of stress, which implies autonomic balance by parasympathetic activation.