A Study on Concepts of Health in Older Korean Women: Q Methodological Approach.
- Author:
Hyung Wha SHIM
1
Author Information
1. Department of Nursing, Pusan-Catholic University, Korea. hwshim@cup.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Health;
Aged;
Women
- MeSH:
Aged;
Child;
Female;
Humans;
Medicine, East Asian Traditional
- From:Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamental Nursing
2010;17(1):6-15
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: This paper is a basic study done to establish a theory of health according to Korean culture. The focus is on identifying perceived concepts of health in older Korean women. METHOD: The Q-method, which is effective in measuring individual subjectivity, was used in this study. RESULTS: Perception of the concept of health was found to have 4 independent types, as follows. 1. Type I: natural & couple-oriented type. Women with this type not only have a naturalistic view of health but also put weight on being couple-centered. 2. Type II: oriental & children-oriented type. These women have traditional oriental views of the world, and are strongly dependent on their children. 3. Type III: western & altruistic type. These women do not agree with oriental concepts of health. They are positive altruists, pursuing the meaning of life. 4. Type IV: modern & self-oriented type. Women with this type not only interpret the concepts of health within western medicine, but also positively accept oriental views of the world. CONCLUSIONS: Health concepts of older Korean women are complicated, not only with western-medical concepts of health, but also more strongly complicated with concepts from oriental medicine.
