PURPOSE: Caring for patients with dementia is a challenging issue entailing heavy responsibility. Many interventions for caregivers have been developed, but their effectiveness is not clear. This study aimed to examine how, why, and under what circumstances interventions for dementia caregivers affected their burden of caring. METHODS: Authors used a realist review approach to explore the evidence for how different interventions reduce the burden of dementia caregivers. We completed the literature review about the burden of dementia caregivers and extracted the theoretical concepts to explain context-mechanism-outcome configuration why an intervention may be effective in some situations and not others. Six databases were searched for experimental or quasi-experimental studies conducted from 2008 to 2017. Of 1,225 screened studies, 10 studies were eligible for inclusion. RESULTS: None of the studies included all the derived contexts while explaining in detail the mechanism of the intervention effectiveness. Among contexts, the variable of other family members requiring care was not included in all studies. Among the analyzed studies, no studies have applied repeated intervention. Most studies included only some variables of context and mechanism, and these variables did not directly explain the effectiveness of intervention. The effect of outcome variables was significant for each study, and the effects of research intervention and national services could not be separately described. CONCLUSION: Authors conclude that Korean culture's emphasis on relationships with others increases the burden of care. In context, Confucian norms and traditional femininity of Korea were reflected in the core. It is necessary to check the homogeneity of participants and the design of intervention to verify the effectiveness of the outcome variable of psychological burden.
Caregivers ; Dementia ; Femininity ; Humans ; Korea ; Non-Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

PURPOSE: This study was performed to identify the relationship between PMS and sex role. METHOD: Data were collected from 417 female college students in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do area during the period from the 6th of September to the 15th of October in 2004. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS WIN 11.0. RESULT: The results of this study were as follows: 1) Perceived subjective symptoms were clustered endogenous depressive feature (2.76+/-.97), anxiety (2.76+/-1.09), and impulsivity (2.72+/-1.02). 2) PMS was significantly different according to the general characteristics of menarche age (F=5.910, p=.003), pain (F=7.886. p=.000) and family history (F=5.366, p=.005), masculinity was significantly different according to menarche age (F=3.174, p=.043), and femininity was significantly different according to menarche age (F=3.742, p=.025) and pain (F=3.256. p=.040). 3) Femininity and PMS were in a positive correlation with each other (r=.623. p=.000). CONCLUSION: This results showed that there is a significant correlation between PMS and sex role. For future research, it is recommended to identify major factors affecting PMS and the relationships between them and various subjects.
Anxiety ; Female ; Femininity ; Gender Identity* ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Impulsive Behavior ; Masculinity ; Menarche ; Premenstrual Syndrome* ; Seoul

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate sex role identity and family group characteristics among university students. METHOD: The participants of the study were 325 university students at S university in Seoul from September 1st to 30th, 2001 and from September 1st to 30th, 2003. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, sex role identity scale, and family group characteristics type scale. Data were analyzed by frequency, means, t-test, Chi-square test, and Pearson's correlation in the SPSS Win Program. RESULT: In this study, there was a high prevalence of androgyny to female(31.9%) and masculinity to male(39.4%) university students. There was a significant difference between male and female students in sex role identity(p=.000). "Family concord" indicated a high mean score of family group characteristics (4.71+/-.80). There were significant differences between family group characteristics and masculinity and femininity type. CONCLUSION: There is a high relationship between family group characteristics and sex role identities of university students. It is necessary to explore the varied aspects of the androgyny concept, and further research is needed on factors of family group characteristics.
Female ; Femininity ; Gender Identity* ; Humans ; Male ; Masculinity ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify types and characteristics of gender role identity from the perspectives of nursing students who experience challenges and maladjustments that are distinct from students in other departments because nursing students have a curriculum that includes both academic courses and clinical practice. METHODS: Q Methodology was used to examine differences in the meaning of gender role identity among individual students. Data from 40 women nursing students, using 40 Q samples representing masculinity and femininity, were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The participants' responses were classified into three types: 'Affectionate-sensitive type' represented by those who share traditional Korean feminine characteristics and are delicately sensitive. 'Affectionate-assertive type' represented by those who have strong characteristics of warm leaders, and are responsive and confident. 'Sensitive-expressive type' represented by those who are excellent in communication and have high empathic ability. CONCLUSION: Nursing professors or counselors need to provide nursing students with guidance and counseling related to adaptation to school life, career exploration, and career choice based on the their type of gender role identity.
Career Choice ; Counseling ; Curriculum ; Female ; Femininity ; Gender Identity* ; Humans ; Masculinity ; Methods* ; Nursing* ; Students, Nursing*

PURPOSE: This study was performed to develope a scale of gender role identity in Korean adults based on the Bem's theory of androgyny. Although there were several tools in Korea, they were revealed having some problems of cultural differences, translation biases, and methodological problems. METHODS: A list of 78 items were developed using the existing tools and descriptions from 5 married couples. The items were the typical personality characteristics which were manifested by gender, male or female. And the list contained several items which were the socially desirable personality characteristics. which would be simply used as contextual items. Validity of the 78 items were screened by 18 expert panels with 4 point Likert scale, and 57 items were judged as highly valid from 70% of the experts, which were selected as preliminary items for the tool. Using the preliminary tool which was developed as a 4 point Likert scale, data were collected from 1,127 subjects for item analysis and factor analysis. 53 items were remained, because 4 items whose item-total correlation were lower than 0.2 were excluded by the result of item analysis. Factor analysis was done with the 53 items, and 49 items whose factor loadings were same and higher than 0.4 were remained. 3 factors were identified with eigen value 2.0, and these factors were named as masculinity, femininity, and social desirability. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: KGRII(Korean Gender Role Identity Inventory) which contained 45 items was developed, with 15 items for 3 factors. The reliability of the tool was very high. Cronbach alpha of the tool was 0.929, and alpha of the subscales were ranged from 0.841 to 0.922.
Adult ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Femininity ; Gender Identity* ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Masculinity ; Social Desirability

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the specific types and characteristics of gender role identity in view of male nursing students. METHOD: Q-methodology, a technique for extracting subjective opinions, was used. Forty participants completed the Q-sort activity, rating each statement relative to the others. The Q sample has two categories, representing masculinity and femininity, and each category has 20 statements, resulting in 40 adjectives. The collected data were analyzed by QUANL PC program. RESULTS: Three types of gender role identity of male nursing students were identified: 'Taciturn warmth type', 'assertive power type', 'empathic warmth type'. Despite the differences among the types in this research, male nursing students are likely to have the understanding and keep faith. CONCLUSION: Male nursing students were exposed to many problems because of the gendered culture of nursing education. To understand the male nursing students' gender role identity will help to promote adaptation in nursing field.
Education, Nursing ; Femininity ; Gender Identity* ; Humans ; Male ; Masculinity ; Nursing ; Q-Sort ; Students, Nursing*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe experiences of sexual life among Korean women with breast cancer. METHODS: Data were collected by focus group and individual tape-recorded interviews. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Participants were 13 women who had stage I, II, or III breast cancer. Four major categories were discovered. "Not interested in sexual life at all" in which participants described their struggle to live while avoiding sexual life during initial stages of disease. "Sexual life that could not go back to previous normal life" in which participants described how they began to recognize many problems related to their sexual life resulting from the loss of femininity and pain during intercourse. "Dangerous marriage due to no sexual life" in which participants illustrated how no or unsatisfactory sexual life threatened their entire marriage and family life. Finally, "rediscovery of sexual life as a vital element in life" in which participants described how, with support from their spouse, they came to realize that sexual life was an important and vital part of their life. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study could help in developing-educational programs to improve sexual well-being of women with breast cancer and their spouses.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Female ; Femininity ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Marriage ; Porphyrins ; Sexuality ; Spouses

In the binary of gender, women and femininity came to be associated with motherhood, nurturing, and beauty whilst men and masculinity were associated with productivity, protection, and strength. No longer are we to systematically categorize an individual's gender in terms of polar opposite of femininity and masculinity, but instead we must acknowledge all that resides in between those two poles and allow for identity terms that best express their sense of self. The term ‘transgender has become an umbrella term for a broader and more encompassing array of gender narratives outside of the binary norm of gender. Gender dysphoria is managed and treatable through psychotherapy and through the social and medical transition of gender. The support of transgender individuals' preferred gender through social acknowledgment, gender expression, hormone therapy, and surgery has been proven to alleviate symptoms of gender dysphoria in transgender people, enabling them to incorporate back into society.
Beauty ; Efficiency ; Female ; Femininity ; Gender Dysphoria ; Gender Identity ; Humans ; Male ; Masculinity ; Psychotherapy ; Transgender Persons*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore decision making experiences of Korean women with breast cancer who underwent breast reconstruction with/after a mastectomy. METHODS: Data were collected during 2015-2016 through individual in-depth interviews with 10 women who had both mastectomy and breast reconstruction, and analyzed using phenomenological method to identify essential themes on experiences of making a decision to have breast reconstruction. RESULTS: Five theme clusters emerged. First, “expected loss of sexuality and discovery of autonomy” illustrates various aims of breast reconstruction. Second, “holding tight to the reputation of doctors amid uncertainty” specifies the importance of a trust relationship with their physician despite a lack of information. Third, “family members to step back in position” describes support or opposition from family members in the decision making process. Fourth, “bewilderment due to the paradox of appearance-oriented views” illustrates paradoxical environment, resulting in confusion and anger. Lastly, “decision to be made quickly with limited time to oneself” describes the crazy whirling process of decision making. CONCLUSION: Findings highlight aims, worries, barriers, and facilitators that women with breast cancer experience when making a decision about breast reconstruction. Deciding on breast reconstruction was not only a burden for women in a state of shock with a diagnosis of breast cancer, but also an opportunity to decide to integrate their body, femininity, and self which might be wounded from a mastectomy. These findings will help oncology professionals provide effective educational counselling before the operation to promote higher satisfaction after the operation.
Anger ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Decision Making* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Femininity ; Humans ; Mammaplasty* ; Mastectomy ; Methods ; Qualitative Research ; Sexuality ; Shock ; Wounds and Injuries

Breast cancer patients who underwent mastectomy often experience stress, depression from body changes and loss of femininity. Choice of surgical method is important, because Korean women tend to be sensitive to the shape of the reconstructed breast, donor site scars and the changes in body contour. The latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap was one of the first methods of breast reconstruction. However, due to lack of volume, the latissimus dorsi flap has become a secondary choice for breast reconstruction. The authors evaluated the clinical cases who underwent breast reconstruction with the extended latissimus dorsi flaps at the authors' institution from March 2002 to February 2005. During the period, 87 cases of breast reconstruction with the extended latissimus dorsi flap were performed in 86 patients. All flaps survived completely. There occurred no partial necrosis and fat necrosis. The extended latissimus dorsi flap alone without implant could provide good to excellent autologous breast reconstruction for small to moderate sized breasts. Free TRAM flap is currently considered the "Gold standard" in autogenous breast reconstruction. But, the extended latissimus dorsi flap without implant could provide sufficient volume for breast reconstruction in selected cases and it is a reliable method for autologous breast reconstruction.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Cicatrix ; Depression ; Fat Necrosis ; Female ; Femininity ; Humans ; Mammaplasty* ; Mastectomy ; Myocutaneous Flap ; Necrosis ; Superficial Back Muscles* ; Tissue Donors