• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2000

The growing population of the elderly who have diverse health needs is receiving more attention from the health promotion field. This paper describes some of the findings of quantitative study into the health function of Korean immigrant elderly living in Washington State of Northwest America. One hundred-two community-dwelling Korean immigrant elderly, aged from 65 to 93 with a mean 77.97 years, were interviewed with a structured questionnaire to report their health function defined in three domains; perceived health status, physical functioning, and psychosocial functioning. The main results of the study were identified: (a) Overall, Korean immigrant elderly's perceived health status and physical functioning were good, but psychosocial functioning was poor; (b) Elderly with higher health functioning scores perceived better health status. Data indicates that health functioning measures are good indicators of the degree of perceived need for immigrant elderly. The paper argues that the understanding of physical and psychosocial functioning of elderly is vitally important in the provision of health care.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.227-243
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of EBD (Emotional and Behaviour Difficulties) and to examine relationships of EBD to family and classroom psychosocial functioning. Two studies were carried out. The subjects were 840 children aged 7 to 12 for the first study and 448 children aged 12 for the second study. CBQ for children's behaviour, FACES III for family functioning and a short version of CES for classroom functioning were used. The prevalence of EBD was 9.4% by parents, 10.6% by teachers and 2.1% by both on the basis of Korean cut-off points. It was 13.7%, 20.8% and 4.3%, respectively, based on England points. More children were identified as EBD in boys, in one-child families and in lower academic group. EBD tended to be higher with lower levels of psychosocial functioning but classroom-control. The relationships were more consistent and high with children's rather than adults' perception, and with teachers' rather than mothers' ratings. The findings were discussed in terms of the scale validity, the concept of 'open systems' and differences in the validity of ratings.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.317-343
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to explore further understanding of variables, besides father's alcoholism, which relates to psychosocial adjustment among ADAF(adult daughters of alcoholic fathers). This study examines the relationship between father's alcoholism, family functioning, parental attachment and the psychosocial adjustment among the ADAF. From a larger sample of 463 female college students, 160 ADAF and a matched group of non-ADAF were identified to participate in the study. This survey was conducted in Seoul and Gyungi-do area. Participants completed self-report questionnaires, "The Korean Version of Children of Alcoholics Screening Test", "Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment", "Satisfaction With Life Scale", "Self-esteem", "Beck Depression Inventory" and "Family Environment Scale". Path analyses was used to test the research question. Findings indicated that father's alcoholism had no direct effect on both the psychosocial adjustment of the ADAF and the family functioning. But father's alcoholism was significantly related to parental attachment. Family functioning was significant predictor of attachment to parents as well as psychosocial adjustment. Finally family functioning is important cause for parental attachment and psychosocial adjustment, specifically self-esteem and life satisfaction outcomes only. Therefore parental attachment was function as a mediator in the relationship between family functioning and psychosocial adjustment. In conclusion, this study showed that father's alcoholism did not predict outcome. We need to reconsider the assumption that direct link exists between adult adjustment difficulties and the presence of father's alcoholism. Implications for clinical and theoretical work with ADAF are discussed.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 2009

Objectives : We examined quality of life, psychosocial adjustments to illness, changes in sexual functioning, and prevalence of psychiatric disorders in AIDS patients compared to patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection (CHB). Methods : Thirty-one men with AIDS and 50 men with CHB were enrolled. The Short-Form 12-Item Health Survey (SF-12), the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS), and the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire short form (CSFQ-14) were administered. Results on these assessments were compared between the 31 AIDS patients and 50 CHB patients. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSMIV (SCID) was administered to determine the psychiatric diagnosis only for the AIDS patients. Results : The Physical Component Summary score (PCS) was lower in AIDS patients than in CHB patients (p<0.001). In the section examining sexual relationships, AIDS patients exhibited a lower level of adjustment (p<0.05) and had more changes in sexual function (p<0.05) than did CHB patients. Administration of the SCID to AIDS patients indicated that the lifetime prevalence of any psychiatric disorder was 56.7% ; 43.3% for mood disorders, 33.3% for alcohol use disorders, 26.7% for anxiety disorders, and 20% for adjustment disorder. Patients who had experienced any psychiatric disorder had more severe psychosocial distress (p=0.004) and evidenced a lower level of overall psychosocial adjustment (p=0.030) than patients who had not. Conclusion : We showed that AIDS patients have a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders, and that AIDS patients with psychiatric disorders were particularly low in levels of psychosocial adjustment. Thus, careful attention should be given to psychiatric aspects of AIDS patients emphasizing the early diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.31-48
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• 2005

Purpose: Studies focus on cancer control, prevention, or assessment of psychosocial problems and intervention methods. However, few studies exist concerning psychosocial problems, measuring tools for those problems, and interventions for cancer patients in Korea. One of the purposes of this study was to review studies in this area, to examine various psychosocial problems experienced by cancer patients. This is a crucial area to investigate, since psychosocial problems in turn negatively influence the patients' immune function, which speeds the progress of the disease. Another goal was to identify instruments used to measure psychosocial functioning and problems in cancer patients, to analyze their validity and reliability, with the aim to discover the best instruments. A final goal was to explore and compare the effects of psychosocial interventions, to determine the most effective practices. Method: Journal articles published since 1995 were searched from PubMed Data base, Google search engine, and published cancer-related studies, using search keywords "psychosocial function and intervention for the cancer patients"; whole articles of selected references were reviewed and analyzed. Result: Most common psychosocial problems were depression, fatigue, nausea, pain, distress, resulting in a low quality of life. The seven scales found in the literature to assess the psychosocial functioning were Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Symptom Checklist 90-R, Profile of Mood States, Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale, Brief Symptom Inventory, and SF-36 HRQOL(Health Related Quality of Life). Social support interventions for cancer patients were effective in improving quality of life scores. Conclusion: It is necessary to apply support intervention strategies to help cancer patients in Korea. These strategies can help to reduce the effects of psychosocial symptoms, which in turn affect the development and control of cancer. Strategies developed in Western countries may need to be modified for use within Korea. Further studies are warranted to review the support intervention strategies that were being used to for cancer patients

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.66-80
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• 2001

Most people experience stress during his or her life. The types of psychosocial stressors are variable. Also, the stress appraisal, coping, and responses in stress process are variable. These varieties reflect individual differences due to ongoing social situation, personal dispositions such as personal resources and vulnerability factors, etc. The stress process results in psychosocial growth or no substantial change in functioning or health, or adverse change in functioning(illness) or health to person. Therefore, the preventive management and treatment of stress need to be tailored to individual characteristics. All physicians managing the stress-related patients have to understand the multidimensional aspects of stress. To understand stress better in psychosocial aspect, I comprehensively reviewed the literature on stress.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.92-104
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of spinal mobilization with leg movement (SMWLM) and neural mobilization (NM) in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) accompanied by radiating pain. Design: Three-group pre-test-post-test control group design. Methods: We enrolled 48 participants, whom we randomly assigned to three groups. The SMWLM group (n=16) underwent 20 min of conventional physical therapy (CT) and 20 min of SMWLM. The NM group (n=16) underwent 20 min of CT and 20 min of NM. The control group (n=16) underwent 20 min of CT. These interventions in all the groups were performed three times a week for 4 weeks. Numeric pain rating score (NPRS), body grid chart score (BGCS), passive straight leg raise (PSLR), active lumbar flexion range of motion (ALFROM), korean version oswestry disability index (KODI), and korean version fear avoidance beliefs questionnaire (KFABQ) were measured pre- and post-intervention. Results: In all three groups, the NPRS, PSLR, KODI, and KFABQ scores were significantly different pre- and post-intervention (p<0.05). Significant differences were observed in BGCS and ALFROM in the SMWLM and NM groups pre- and post-intervention (p<0.05). The SMWLM group showed more improvement in the NPRS of leg pain, ALFROM, and KFABQ score than that exhibited by the NM and control groups (p<0.05). Conclusions: Both SMWLM and NM were effective for improving back and leg pain, centralization of symptoms, mechanical sensitivity, lumbar mobility, lumbar functional disability, and psychosocial functioning in patients with LDH with radiating pain.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.46
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• pp.118-144
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• 2001

To examine association between psychological characteristics of Adult-Children of Alcoholics and psychosocial Problems was a purpose of this study. The data were collected on a written questionaire completed 765 adolescents who were consisted of children of alcoholic and nonalcoholic parents. Parental alcoholism was established using CAST and psychosocial problems were assessed by Youth Self Report. Psychological characteristics of ACOA were identified by Adult Children of Alcoholics Screening Test. This study showed that children of alcoholics possess distinct psychological characteristics and they have experienced a variety of psychosocial problems. Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted in order to determine the extent to which characteristics of ACOA affected on psychosocial problems. As a results, psychological characteristics of ACOA were significantly associated with them after controlling for the correlates of family structure, level of family functioning, and parental alcoholism. In addition, two group of ACOA were created on the basis of scores of ACAST. High-risk group had significantly higher YSR scores than low-risk group and it revealed that clinical intervention was needed for many adolescents in high-risk group. The results underscored the importance of ACOA syndrome in adaptation of children with alcoholic parents and suggested the need of future research focusing on development process of subtypes of ACOA.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.257-263
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• 2014

The incidence of people living with congenital heart disease (CHD) has been increasing every year owing to remarkable advances in surgical and catheter intervention techniques and devices, and improved knowledge of critical care for patients with CHD. However, these patients continue to face physical, psychosocial, and environmental challenges, and a number of studies have shown higher rates of depression and anxiety disorders than the general population. To improve psychosocial functioning and quality of life for adults with CHD, health care providers are recommended to inform CHD patients of an accurate diagnosis, and overall treatment process, beginning in adolescence to facilitate a smooth transition from adolescence to adulthood. Active cooperation with psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, chaplains, and family members is highly recommended to help CHD patients feel normal and optimistic and to promote good social interactions, close family relationships, and a strong sense of coherence.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2014

Objectives : Breast cancer has been the most prevalent female cancer in South Korea since 2001. Early detection of this disease is the most effective strategy for reducing mortality. The objective of this study was to identify factors which could predict advanced stage at diagnosis of breast cancer. Methods : Participants who were initially diagnosed with breast cancer and referred to the Stress Clinic of the Breast Cancer Center at Kyungpook National University Hospital were included. Through a semi-structured interview, the authors investigated psychosocial variables such as the extent of marital and family functioning and emotional-economic family burden as well as sociodemographic and health behavior-, health characteristic- and cancer-related variables. Results : Data were collected from 219 participants. One hundred and twenty(54.8%) subjects were diagnosed with advanced-stage breast cancer. Variables that were significantly different between the advanced-stage and early-stage groups included : monthly breast self examination(p<0.000), annual mammographic screening(p<0.000), mode of tumor detection(p<0.000), nature of the first symptoms(p<0.000), time to treatment after diagnosis(p<0.000), overloaded economic and family burden(p=0.018), marital functioning(p<0.000) and family functioning(p<0.00). Logistic regression analysis indicated that irregular annual mammography screening(OR=7.431 ; 95% CI 2.407-22.944) or a lack of screening(OR=25.299 ; 95% CI 7.855-81.482) and a dysfunctional marital relationship(OR=4.772 ; 95% CI 2.244-10.145) were significantly associated with advanced stage at diagnosis of breast cancer. Conclusions : We reconfirmed screening behavior to be a risk factor for delayed diagnosis of breast cancer. Our findings also emphasized the importance of psychosocial factors such as marital functioning in early detection of breast cancer. Psychiatric consultation in the area of martial functioning could be beneficial for increasing early detection in breast cancer.