Relationship of Family Function with Life Event Stress and Depression in Healthy Adult Males.
- Author:
Young Mee LEE
;
Youn Seon CHOI
;
Myung Ho HONG
- Publication Type:Original Article
- MeSH:
Adult*;
Ambulatory Care;
Depression*;
Humans;
Male*;
Observational Study;
Physicians, Family;
Psychometrics;
Tertiary Care Centers
- From:Journal of the Korean Academy of Family Medicine
1997;18(12):1483-1499
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Many of the major life events that appear to affect biologic system and health occur within the context of the family and can have a profound psychosocial and biologic impact on family memebers. So, the present study attempted to examine the relations of family function with stressful life events, depression, and physical and psychological symptoms reported by patients. METHODS: Design : Cross sectional, observational study. Participants : 41 healthy adult males from a family medicine ambulatory care unit in a tertiary hospital located in Guro completed a series of psychometric instruments that include the Family APGAR(Adaptation, Partnership, Growth, Affection, and Resolve), FACESIII(Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale), Modified 46-item Stressful Life Events Scale, Lee's 98 items Stressful Life Event Scale, Korean version of BEPSI(Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument) and BDI(Beck's Depression Inventory Scale). RESULTS: Family APGAR was negatively correlated with stress related life events(both in total and negative events, -0.30, -0.37, respectively; p<0.05) and BEPSI(-0.56; p<0.0001). No significant correlation could be found between family function and positive life events. Family APGAR also revealed significant negative correlation with BDI(-0.61; p<0.0001). Among the three family types, severe dysfunctional family demonstrated highest level of stressful life events score, perceived stress, and depression(p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The higher the assessment of the family function(Family APGAR), the lower the level of stressful life events, perceived stress and depression. There, knowledge of the family function, stress, and coping could be useful to family physicians in the whole person approach of their patients.
