Effects of Self-acupunctural Hand Massage Using Aromatic Oil on Alleviating the Stress, Fatigue, and Vital Signs of Korean Middle-Aged Women.

The study aimed to examine the effects of self-acupunctural hand massage using aromatic oil on the stress, fatigue, and vital signs of Korean middle-aged women. A quasi-experimental study using a pretest/posttest control group, nonsynchronized design was employed. The study participants consisted of 55 middle-aged women (27 in the experiment group and 28 in the control group), who visited a community center in Seoul, South Korea. Self-acupunctural hand massage using aromatic oil as an experimental intervention was performed once per day, 6 minutes per session for the left and right hands each, for 3 weeks. A questionnaire was designed to measure the general characteristics, stress, fatigue, and vital signs (blood pressure and pulse rate). There were significant differences in the degrees of stress, fatigue, and vital signs (blood pressure) between the 2 groups. Self-acupunctural hand massage using aromatic oil decreased the stress, fatigue, and vital signs (blood pressure) of Korean middle-aged women. Self-acupunctural hand massage using aromatic oil can be utilized as an effective nursing intervention for decreasing stress, fatigue, and vital signs (blood pressure) for middle-aged women in clinical practice.

Influence of Leisure Activity Participation Between Genders Among Korean Older Adults.

The current study examined and compared the effect of male and female older adults' participation level in leisure activities on their perceived health status, psychological well-being, levels of depression, levels of loneliness, and successful aging. A cross-sectional descriptive study design was used. Study participants comprised 197 older adults (women: n = 108, men: n = 89) ages 65 and older who were living in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Measures were the perceived health status scale, Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form-Korea, psychological well-being scale, loneliness scale, and successful aging scale. Based on level of participation in leisure activities, male older adults experienced a significant difference in perceived health status and loneliness. Female older adults experienced a significant difference in psychological well-being and successful aging. Health professionals should encourage higher participation in leisure activities to improve psychological well-being and successful aging of older adults. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 44(11), 51-58.].

Predictors of Yangsaeng (Health Management) Among Korean Middle-Aged Adults.

This study aimed to examine and identify the predictors of Yangsaeng (health management) among Korean middle-aged adults. A cross-sectional descriptive design was employed. Study participants consisted of 150 middle-aged adults in S and G cities, South Korea. Measures included the Yangsaeng scale, the perceived health state scale, the self-efficacy scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the family support scale. The analyses showed that the prediction model for Yangsaeng (health management) among Korean middle-aged adults was significant. The value of the adjusted R was 0.635, which corresponded to the explanatory power of 63.5%. The predictor with the most influence on Yangsaeng (health management) among Korean middle-aged adults was family support, followed by perceived health state, leisure activity, self-efficacy, and religion, respectively. This study provided preliminary evidence that family support is a major and primary predictor of Yangsaeng (health management) among Korean middle-aged adults. Concrete interventions and strategies to improve the Yangsaeng (health management) of Korean middle-aged adults were necessary.

Comparisons of Health Promoting Behavior, Depression, and Life Satisfaction Between Older Adults in Rural Areas in South Korea Living in Group Homes and at Home.

BACKGROUND: In South Korea, population aging is advancing at a more rapid rate in rural areas than urban areas, leading to a particularly high percentage of rural-dwelling older adults. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine and compare health promoting behaviors, depression, and life satisfaction between rural-dwelling older adults who live, respectively, in group homes and at home. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was employed. Study participants included 160 older adults aged 65 years and older who were living in group homes (n = 80) and at home (n = 80) in Gyeonggi province, South Korea. The Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile-II was used to examine health promoting behaviors, the Korean Geriatric Depression Screening Scale was used to examine depression, and the Life Satisfaction Index was used to examine life satisfaction. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 21.0. RESULTS: The data showed significant differences between the two groups in terms of health promoting behaviors (t = -9.035, p < .001), depression (t = 20.861, p < .001), and life satisfaction (t = -12.153, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The mean scores for health promotion behaviors and life satisfaction were higher, and the mean score for depression was lower in the group-home group than the at-home group. The findings from this study may be employed as basic data for establishing residence-appropriate nursing intervention protocols for older adults living in rural areas.