Life's Experiences of Middle-aged Divorced Women with Higher Education and Profession

PURPOSE: Today, an increasing number of divorce is shifting family forms and gender role practices. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand life's experiences of middle-aged divorced women with higher education and profession lives in Korea. METHODS: For this study, 6 middle-aged divorced women with similar backgrounds were recruited from December 2013 to June 2014, using in-depth individual interviews. Data analysis was performed using Giorgi's phenomenological methodology. RESULTS: Individual interviews revealed the following 15 meaning of themes and 5 themes. 1) A woman considering herself to be ashamed that she has not lived an ordinary life. 2) The destiny of a woman not having a fortune. 3) An exhilarated mood like a teenage girl's 4) Suppressing an instinctive desire of sex. 5) Being a mother as a woman head of household. CONCLUSION: This study provides deep understanding of middle-aged divorced women with higher levels of education and professional lives of women who experienced difficult times and overcame their problems. Based on the results of this study, nursing strategies for enhancing quality of life need to be created and implemented for all professional women by Korean community networking gradually.

Self Care Activity, Metabolic Control, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in accordance with the Levels of Depression of Clients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the levels of depression experienced by clients (N=152) with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus(DM), and to compare the levels of self care activity, metabolic control and cardiovascular risk factors between depressed and non-depressed clients. METHOD: Participants aged 50 and above were conveniently recruited in B city. The levels of depression, self-care activity, metabolic control of glucose and lipids, and cardiovascular risk factors of the participants were measured by using questionnaires and blood tests from November, 2003 to June, 2004. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, Spearman rho and t-test using the SPSS WIN 10.0 program. RESULT: The prevalence of depression(CES-D=16) among the participants was 44.1%. The levels of self-care activities(p=.012), glucose(p=.019), total cholesterol(p=.022), LDL(.007) and cardiovascular risk factors(p=.012) were significantly higher in the depressed group than those in the non-depressed group. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings, we concluded that many DM patients experience depression and the depression of type 2 DM clients is significantly related with self care activities, diabetic control, and cardiovascular complications. However, this study did not address causality among these variables. Therefore, further research, such as a longitudinal cohort study, is needed to identify causality among these variables.

The Effects of Problem Solving Nursing Counseling and Intensified Walking Exercise on Diabetic Self-care, Coping Strategies, and Glycemic Control among Clients with DM Type II / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to identify the effects of problem solving nursing counseling and intensified walking exercise on diabetic self-care, coping strategies, and glycemic control among older adults with DM type II. METHOD: Ninety nine DM patients who were older than 50 were recruited from DM clinics or public health centers and conveniently assigned into three groups: the Polar(n=41), counseling(n=30) and control groups (n=28). Participants in both Polar and counseling groups attended weekly problem solving nursing counseling for 12 weeks. Polar heart rate monitors were used in the Polar group to intensify walking exercise. Data was collected from November 2003 to August 2004 and analyzed by ANOVA or ANCOVA using the SPSS WIN program. RESULT: After a 12 week intervention, participants in both the Polar and counseling groups reported increased diabetic self care behaviors and decreased blood glucose levels, which is significantly different from those in the control group. There were no distinctively different program effects between the Polar and counseling groups. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings, we concluded that problem solving counseling alone could have positive effects on diabetic self care and glycemic controls for older adults with DM. Future research is needed to identify long-term effects of the program.