PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to identify the types of widow's bereavement experience and understand the nature of it's bereavement by using Q-methodological approach. METHODS: Contents Q sample included 46 statements obtained from literatures and interviews with 5 widows. P sample consisted of 13 widows who bereaved within 2 years. The data were collected from October 2004 to December 2006 and analyzed using Quanal program. RESULTS: Two types of widow's experience were found. Type 1 was characterized by loss suffering, and type 2 was characterized by acceptance and adaptation CONCLUSION: Widows were found to experience different types of bereavement. Therefore, bereavement care team should assess the types of suffering pain and provide appropriate care to the widows. Also, need to be developed programs to relieve or prevent suffering of bereavement.
Bereavement ; Hospice Care ; Stress, Psychological ; Widowhood

The author studied somatization using 7-symptoms screening test in 12 females, who lived in the Taegu and compared the results with those of 99 males who lived in the Taegu, during the period from the beginning of August 1993 to end of January 1994. The results were follows : The number of females screened for somatization disorder were ten (5.8%). Its rate was higher than males (3.1%). Ten screened women most frequently complained of pain in extremities, painful menstruation, shortness of breath, and amnesia. There was a strong tendency toward higher levels of somatization in the females who were dissatified with their home atmosphere, present well being, and divorced or widowed, lower educated and those who had pessimistic views of self image in the past, present, or future.
Amnesia ; Atmosphere ; Daegu ; Divorce ; Dysmenorrhea ; Dyspnea ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Somatoform Disorders ; Widowhood

For the purpose of promotion of mental health in the rural elderly, the author surveyed 558 elderlies aged 60 years or more, and assessed the prevalence rates of depression and cognitive impairment by using self-rating depression scale of Zung(SDS) and the Korean version of mini-mental state examination(MMSEK). Also the association between depression or cognitive function and socio-environmental factors were investigated. The major findings were as follows; 1. The prevalence rates of severe depression and cognitive impairment were 20.9% and 14.9% in all the elderly of both sexes, respectively. 2. The rates of depression and cognitive impairment increased with increasing age in both sex groups. The mean scores of SDS increased and the mean scores of MMSEK decreased significantly among them(P<0.01). 3. Those being female, widows or widowers, and those having low levels of physical activity, showed significantly high the mean scores of depression and had significantly low the mean scores of cognitive impairment(P<0.01). 4. The depression scores relating to decreased libido, confusion, psychomotor retardation, hopelessness and indecisiveness were relatively high in both sexes. 5. All the items of mini-mental state examination were significantly correlated with depression. 6. In stepwise multiple regression analysis on depression, MMSEK, level of physical activity, chronic disease, marital status and family income were selected as highly correlated variables, and the R2-value for these variables was 33.7%. 7. In stepwise multiple regression analysis on cognitive function, level of physical activity, age, depression, sex and marital status were selected as highly correlated variables, and the R2-value for these variables was 62.6%. The depression and cognitive impairment of the elderly were positively correlated with nearly all sociodemographic variables.
Aged* ; Chronic Disease ; Depression* ; Female ; Humans ; Libido ; Marital Status ; Mental Health ; Motor Activity ; Prevalence ; Widowhood

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the association between marital status and metabolic syndrome, and observed how their lifestyle may influence within their relationship. METHODS: We analyzed the data from 12,288 Korean men over 20 years old taking a health checkup in a university hospital in Ulsan from March 2008 to February 2009. The subjects were classified as married, unmarried, separated, widowed, and divorced. The odds ratios for metabolic syndrome in each marital status were calculated after adjusting for age, educational level, and family income. In only married men and divorced men, odds ratios were calculated again after adjusting for alcohol intake, smoking, or exercise added to age, educational level, and family income. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, educational level, and family income, the odds ratio for metabolic syndrome in divorced men was 1.48 (95% confidence internal [CI], 1.03 to 2.12; P = 0.03) compared to married men. However, the odds ratios in divorced men decreased to 1.47 (95% CI, 0.97 to 2.24; P = 0.07) after adjusting for alcohol intake added to age, educational level, and family income, 1.42 (95% CI, 0.99 to 2.04; P = 0.06) after adjusting for smoking added, 1.35 (95% CI, 0.93 to 1.96; P = 0.12) after adjusting for exercise added, and 1.37 (95% CI, 0.89 to 2.12; P = 0.15) after adjusting for alcohol intake, smoking, and exercise added. CONCLUSION: Divorced men were likely to have metabolic syndrome compared to married men and this finding may be mediated by their bad lifestyle.
Divorce ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Marital Status ; Odds Ratio ; Single Person ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Widowhood

A case of hypertrophic lichen planus was reported and the literature reviewed. A 69-year-old widowed woman displayed generaIized discrete, multiple, round, various sized, flat-topped, hypertrophied papules and nodules on the abdomen, trunk and four extrimies for 42 years. An electron microscopic finding revealed widespread breakdown and thickening of the basal lamina at the dermo-epidermal junction and a degenerating change of the desmosomes. No particular intran uclear particles or bodies were discovered. We suggest that emotional factors and autoimmune mechanism might be the cause of the eruption in this case.
Abdomen ; Aged ; Basement Membrane ; Desmosomes ; Female ; Humans ; Lichen Planus* ; Lichens* ; Widowhood

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify the current status of studies of bereaved families in Korea. METHODS: We reviewed 97 studies of bereaved families, which were published between 1994 and 2013 in Korea. The studies were classified in three groups according to time, subjects, and topic. RESULTS: First, the number of bereaved family-related studies has increased since 2010. Second, most studies focused on the whole family, and middle-age widows were also popular subjects. Third, the most popular topic was a relationship between certain variables. CONCLUSION: First, variables and their relations among themselves should be approached through an integrated study. Second, a systematic review is needed to assess the effects of interventions on the bereaved. Third, a qualitative research method is needed to broaden and deepen our understanding about the middle-age widowers, parents who lost their children and children who lost their parents.
Bereavement ; Child ; Humans ; Korea ; Parents ; Qualitative Research ; Review Literature as Topic ; Widowhood

BACKGROUND: Many clinical measures have been used to assess fall risk in elderly adults. The purpose of this study was to assess the interrelationship of maximal step length (MSL) measurement as protective strategies and risk factors of falls. METHODS: The study population consisted of 149 community-dwelling people (> or = 60 yrs). Demographic data, depression degree (GDS-short form), fatigue degree (revised Chalder's fatigue scale) were reviewed by self-recorded questionnaire. K-MMSE, MSL, US and TUG were done when they visited our clinic. We examined whether MSL was correlated with the six leg-directions and was related to other measures to evaluate fall risk. To examine the association between MSL and other variables, we analyzed data by T-test, ANOVA and multiple regressions. RESULTS: The MSLmean correlated highly with each leg- direction MSL (correlation coefficient, r=0.771~0.941, P<0.01), US (r=0.392, P<0.01) and TUG (r=-0.608, P<0.01). The MSL(mean/L) (MSL(mean), leg length adjusted) correlated strongly with frequent fall (P=0.005). Also, the MSL(mean/L) had a tendency to be low in the elderly, females, in those with regular exercise, widowed or divorced, DM, stroke, dementia suspicion, inclination toward depression, arthritis and frequent falls, but higher score on fatigue groups. Age (P<.001), sex (P=0.001), DM (P<.001), frequent falls (P= 0.017), dementia suspicion (P=0.016), and arthritis (P= 0.024) variables were related with MSL(mean/L) when we examined these variables by multiple regression analysis. CONCLUSION: MSL was correlated highly with other functional performance test and DM, age, sex, frequent fall, dementia suspicion, and arthritis variables for fall risk.
Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis ; Dementia ; Depression ; Divorce ; Fatigue ; Female ; Humans ; Leg ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; Widowhood ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Many clinical measures have been used to assess fall risk in elderly adults. The purpose of this study was to assess the interrelationship of maximal step length (MSL) measurement as protective strategies and risk factors of falls. METHODS: The study population consisted of 149 community-dwelling people (> or = 60 yrs). Demographic data, depression degree (GDS-short form), fatigue degree (revised Chalder's fatigue scale) were reviewed by self-recorded questionnaire. K-MMSE, MSL, US and TUG were done when they visited our clinic. We examined whether MSL was correlated with the six leg-directions and was related to other measures to evaluate fall risk. To examine the association between MSL and other variables, we analyzed data by T-test, ANOVA and multiple regressions. RESULTS: The MSLmean correlated highly with each leg- direction MSL (correlation coefficient, r=0.771~0.941, P<0.01), US (r=0.392, P<0.01) and TUG (r=-0.608, P<0.01). The MSL(mean/L) (MSL(mean), leg length adjusted) correlated strongly with frequent fall (P=0.005). Also, the MSL(mean/L) had a tendency to be low in the elderly, females, in those with regular exercise, widowed or divorced, DM, stroke, dementia suspicion, inclination toward depression, arthritis and frequent falls, but higher score on fatigue groups. Age (P<.001), sex (P=0.001), DM (P<.001), frequent falls (P= 0.017), dementia suspicion (P=0.016), and arthritis (P= 0.024) variables were related with MSL(mean/L) when we examined these variables by multiple regression analysis. CONCLUSION: MSL was correlated highly with other functional performance test and DM, age, sex, frequent fall, dementia suspicion, and arthritis variables for fall risk.
Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis ; Dementia ; Depression ; Divorce ; Fatigue ; Female ; Humans ; Leg ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; Widowhood ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify the relationship of perceived health, coping strategies, dependency, suicidal ideation and depression widowed elders, and to identify predictors of depression in this population. METHOD: The research design for this study was a descriptive survey design using a convenience sampling. Data collection was done using self-questionnaire with 162 elders from welfare centers for senior citizens located in 3 cities, Seoul, Gangneung and Seosan. Pearson correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression with the SPSS Win 12.0 Program were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Depression had significant negative correlations with perceived health (r=-.525, p<.001), and coping strategies (r=-.253, p=.005) and positive correlations with dependency (r=.430, p<.001), and suicidal ideation (r=.473, p<.001). The explained variance for depression was 47.5%. Of the variables, perceived health (beta=-.237, p=.003), suicidal ideation (beta=.398, p<.001) and dependency (beta=.341, p<.001) significantly predicted the degree of depression. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study provide a comprehensive understanding of depression and related factors for widowed elders in Korea. However, further study with a larger random sample and more a detailed research design is necessary.
Aged ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Dependency (Psychology) ; Depression ; Humans ; Korea ; Research Design ; Suicidal Ideation ; Widowhood

There are many studies of the spousal bereavement as an important etiologic factor of depression in elders. But there are some differernt natures of spousal bereavement between the Korean and the western elderly. The problems of spousal bereavement in Korean would be more persistent than that in western. And the depressive symptoms of Korean elders are different with that of western elders due to the differences of sociocultural background. The authors studied the effect of the spousal bereavement to the depressive symptoms of elders by using KGDS (Korean Form of Geriatric Depression Scale), which already has been standardized in Korea. The subjects were consist of one hundred seventy-five, 60 years and older. The authors compared KGDS and its 5 factors in the spousal bereaved subjects group (SBG) with those in the spousal non-bereaved subjects group (SNG), and also investigated the differences according to sex and children living with the subject in the SBG. And the authors analysed the correlations between ages at spousal death, durations after spousal death and KGDS in the SBG. The mean KGDS scores in the SBG were significantly higher than that of the SNG, and especially Factor 1, Factor 2 and Factor 4 were significant. In the SBG, the mean KGDS scores of the female were significantly higher than that of the male, and especially Factor 2, Factor 3, and Factor 5 were significant. And in the SBG, the mean KGDS scores of the subjects living with children were slightly higher than those of the subjects living without children. And also in the SBG, there were negative correlations between KGDS scores and ages at spousal death, and positive correlations between KGDS scores and durations after spousal death. The authors found that the spousal bearevement could be an important etiologic factor of geriatric depression, and the risk factors of depression were female, younger at spousal death and longer duration after spousal death in bereaved elders, as the earlier studies in the western. However, the authors found that, in Korea, there were some different results from the western, such as the longer duration after spousal death and higher ratio of the widower to the widow than that in the western, the spousal bereaved elders living with children were rather depressive than who living without children.
Aged ; Bereavement ; Child ; Depression* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Widowhood