• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.182-200
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• 2004

Purpose: This study is to explore the essence of those lives who have been living with their mothers- in- law for more than 10years since their marriage by applying Van Manen's hermeneutic phenomenological methodology. It consists of four steps such as concentration on the nature of lived experience, existential research, hermeneutic phenomenological reflection and hermeneutic phenomenological writing. Method: Six middle aged participants who have been living with mothers- in- law in middle size of cities were interviewed and observed with their written consent for one month from 20, April. 2000 to 20 May 2000. To expand insight by analyzing sayings, folks stories, writings, etymology of sigipsalee relevant to it were collected and reviewed. Result: Five essential themes were derived by repeated reviewing the transcription of those interview such as difficulty living with endless heart distress, feeling oppressed, feeling deeply lonely, having a stronger backing as time passes, in turn harmonizing with each other. On the basis of the five essential theme hermeneutic phenomenological writing was done as follow. Participants lived lives filled with uneasy feeling from the newly formed relationship among in laws but especially with mothers- in- law. Participants did their best to be acknowledged found that at a significant moment during family event they would be treated as strangers so that they felt isolated and alone. Mothers in laws played a dominant role in most of family decision even buying their children's clothes. Mother in laws rarely complemented them so that they felt inferior as a person. As time passes. Mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law become adjusted to this lifestyle with each other and assumed a more mature relationship which includes a mutual respect thus better harmony. Participants become to have stronger backing so that they express their opinion to mothers-inlaw. With time both of them are getting old, participants show form of pity to their mothers-in- law. Sometimes participant surprise themselves by noticing a change in their behavior to the same pattern Mothers-in-law have showed them. Conclusion: Although generalizations have limitations, findings resulting from the study will enrich family nursing knowledge and understanding the problems when living with mothers-in- law in the same house. It will give a cleared view of problems faced by middle aged korean women in the Korean patriarchal culture. Researchers have recommended to study experiences of married young adult korean women's generation and the findings compared with this study to show trends and changes.