Myung-Sun Hyun

Randomized Controlled Trial of a Cognitive–Behavioral Therapy for At-risk Korean Male Adolescents

This study examined the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) aimed at enhancing the resilience of high-risk adolescents with alcohol-dependent parents in Suwon, South Korea. The study used a randomized control group pretest and posttest design. The experimental group participated in 10 sessions of CBT, and the scores on resilience increased significantly after the intervention, whereas the scores of self-concept and depression did not change. In the control group, none of the scores of outcome variables changed significantly after the intervention period. The results indicate that the developed CBT program might be effective for improving the resilience of adolescents with alcohol-dependent parents.

Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale – Second Edition: initial validation of the Korean version

AIM This paper is a report of a study conducted to test the validity and reliability of the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale - Second Edition in Korean culture. BACKGROUND Depression is a significant mental health problem in adolescents. The Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale - Second Edition has been shown to be a useful tool to assess depression in adolescents, with extensive research on this measure having been conducted in western cultures. Measures developed in western cultures need to be tested and validated before being used in Asian cultures. METHOD The participants were a convenience sample of 440 Korean adolescents with a mean age of 13.78 years (sd = 0.95) from grades 7 to 9 in three public middle schools in South Korea. A cross-sectional design was used. Back-translation was used to create the Korean version, with additional testing for cultural meaning and comprehension. The data were collected at the end of 2004. RESULTS Internal consistency reliability for the Korean version of the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale - Second Edition was 0.89, with subscale reliability ranging from 0.66 to 0.81. Evidence for criterion-related, convergent and discriminant validity for the Korean version of the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale - Second Edition was found. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the 4-factor structure of Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale - Second Edition. CONCLUSION Our results support the validity and reliability for the Korean version of the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale - Second Edition as a measure of depression and suggest that it can be used to screen students and to evaluate the effectiveness of preventive interventions in school settings.

Stages of Change: Korean Women's Attitudes and Barriers Toward Mammography Screening

The positive and negative aspects of breast cancer screening were measured to gain insight into the barriers that prevent Korean women from participating in mammography screening. Breast cancer screening behaviors, attitudes, and barriers were identified from a convenience sample of 328 Korean women recruited in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Jeju, South Korea. Pros, cons, and decisional balance constructs of the transtheoretical model of behavior change were used to identify stages of change in attitude related to mammography screening. There were significant differences in pros (F = 5.175, p = .001) and cons (F = 3.357, p = .012) across the five stages of change for mammography. Participants indicated that the major barriers to mammography screening were, in order of frequency, the belief that an absence of symptoms meant there was no need for a breast examination, the high cost of breast cancer screening, lack of time, lack of information, embarrassment, fear about x-rays and test results, reliance on breast self-examination (BSE), and discomfort or pain. The benefits of breast cancer screening should be emphasized among Korean women.

The mediating effects of perceived parental teasing on relations of body mass index to depression and self‐perception of physical appearance and global self‐worth in children

AIM To report a correlational study of the relation of body mass index to childrens perceptions of physical appearance and global self-worth and depression, as mediated by their perceptions of parental teasing. BACKGROUND The relation between depression and self-perception in children with obesity has been reported. Recently, parental factors were found to be related to childhood obesity. Little is known about the effects of perceived parental teasing on depression and self-perception in children. DESIGN A descriptive correlational research design was used. METHODS Data were collected from 455 children in the fifth and sixth grades in four provinces of South Korea using self-report questionnaires for measuring self-perception of physical appearance and global self-worth, depression and perceived parental teasing between October-December in 2009. The childrens weight and height information from school health records was used. Multiple regression analysis and the Sobel test were used to identify the mediating effect of perceived parental teasing. RESULTS Among the children, 20% were overweight or obese. Although children with obesity did not differ in the level of depression from their normal weight counterparts, they demonstrated lower perceived physical appearance and higher perceived parental teasing. The mediating effects of perceived parental teasing were found for the relations between body mass index and self-perception of physical appearance and global self-worth, and body mass index and depression, respectively. CONCLUSION Obese children at risk of parental teasing should be identified to prevent their psychological problems. A well-designed intervention study is necessary to examine the effects of psycho-emotional interventions for obese children.

A Study of Self-esteem and Stress Coping Skills in Early Adolescence

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between self-esteem and coping skills among middle school students. Method: The participants were 674 students in three middle schools in GyeongGi-Do. The data were collected from June 10 to 20, 2005. The instruments used were the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale and the Ways of Coping Checklist. The data were analyzed using the SPSS-Win 12.0 program. Result: Self-esteem showed a significant positive correlation with positive coping skills (r

Human papilloma virus vaccination: perceptions of young Korean women.

AIM This paper is a report of a descriptive study of young Korean womens perceptions of use of the human papilloma virus vaccine. BACKGROUND In Korea, cervical cancer is one of the leading cancers in women, and the rate of human papilloma virus infection is increasing. A national media campaign has recently begun to promote human papilloma virus vaccination. However, research addressing the acceptability of this vaccine to women in Korea has been limited. METHOD Twenty-five Korean women, 21-30 years of age, participated in seven focus groups. The data were collected in 2007. FINDINGS Participants were concerned about the potential harmful effects of the human papilloma virus vaccine, a possible increase in unsafe sexual behaviours, and the high cost of the vaccine, which is not covered by health insurance. They suggested group vaccination at-cost or free of charge. They discussed ambivalence about the vaccination, the need for more information about the vaccine, and questions about its effectiveness. Most preferred to wait until more people have been vaccinated. CONCLUSION There is a need for more aggressive dissemination of information about the safety and efficacy of the human papilloma virus vaccine. More reasonable cost, insurance coverage, or free vaccination using a group approach might increase young Korean womens acceptance and use of the human papilloma virus vaccine.

Experiences of Family Stigma among Mothers of Adult Children with Mental Illness in South Korea

ABSTRACT People with mental illness suffer from stigma in addition to the illness itself; their families also suffer from the stigma of having a family member with a mental illness. The aim of the present study was to explore the lived experiences of the family stigma among mothers of mentally ill children in South Korea. The work was qualitative in nature; we used the phenomenological method of Colaizzi. Mothers with an adult child enrolled as mentally ill patients in the Mental Health Centre of K Province in South Korea were eligible for inclusion. Findings: Six themes emerged; these were being ashamed, feeling of being ignored, isolating oneself from social relationships, becoming a mentally sick person, living like a guilty person, and becoming a part of the socially weak. The study contributes to our understanding of stigma experienced by family members in a socio-cultural context and will aid in the development of culturally appropriate strategies for the destigmatization of families of mentally ill persons.

Effects of a Brief Empowerment Program for Families of Persons with Mental Illness in South Korea: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT Families of persons with mental illness (PMIs) are considered important resources for PMIs rather than as contributors to their mental illness. However, these families experience not only the burden of caregiving but also social stigma and discrimination in various aspects of their lives, and their psychosocial needs tend to be overlooked. This was a pilot study to explore the effects of a brief empowerment program on the empowerment and quality of life of families of PMIs in South Korea. A repeated-measures design with a control group and pre/post-follow-up testing was used. We enrolled 18 participants (experimental group = 9, control group = 9). The experimental group participated in an empowerment program consisting of four sessions over 4 weeks. Data were collected before and after the program, and again 4 weeks later. The χ2-test, Fishers exact probability test, t-test, and repeated-measures analysis of covariance were used, as appropriate, to analyze data. The program significantly increased empowerment (F = 4.66, p = .020) and quality of life (F = 5.83, p = .009) among participants in the experimental group over time. Its therapeutic features, such as sharing their experiences, discussion, and presentations, can be applied to create effective psychosocial interventions for families of PMIs.