Recently there has been increasing interest in and researches on personal positive changing after undergoing traumatic stresses. In this article, previous studies on that phenomenon which was referred as posttraumatic growth(PTG) were reviewed and the direction to further study was schemed. The concept of PTG, theories and models concerning PTG were introduced. After reviewing studies on the relation between PTG and adjustment, the implication of PTG on psychotherapy was discussed. Some suggestion for further study on PTG was also discussed.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships of traumatic experiences, emotional intelligence and PTSD symptoms of firefighter. The Post-traumatic stress Scale(PDS), Wong & Law Emotional Intelligence Scale(WLEIS) and Traumatic experiences scale were administered to 297 firefighters working in Seoul. As a result, it was revealed that impact mobilization frequency and impact of event predicted PTSD symptoms significantly. Emotional intelligence did not predict PTSD symptoms. However, emotion regulation and emotion application was significant moderator between impact mobilization frequency and PTSD symptoms. In other words, even though firefighter frequently mobilize traumatic situation, they who have emotion regulation and emotion application prevent PTSD symptoms. Finally, we discussed the implication and limitation of this study and the direction of future research.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of multidimensional perfectionism and emotion regulation style on abnormal eating behaviors. A total of 241 women who are in their 20s were surveyed of multidimensional perfectionism scale(MPS), Emotion Regulation Style Check List, Korean version of Eating Attitude Test-26(KEAT-26). The data were analyzed through hierarchical regression. The results showed that multidimensional perfectionism and emotion regulation style significantly influenced binge eating behavior. Their interaction was also significant. Other-oriented perfectionism and socially-prescribed perfectionism among 3 subtypes of perfectionism were significantly predictive of binge eating behavior. Avoidance/distraction style and support-seeking style among 3 subtypes of emotion regulation style predicted binge eating behavior above and beyond perfectionism. Furthermore, It showed that the interaction between self-oriented perfectionism and avoidance/distraction style influenced binge eating behavior. However, the main effect of self-oriented perfectionism and socially prescribed perfectionism on anorexic behavior was significant. Being different from binge eating behavior, the main effect of emotion regulation styles on anorexic behavior was not significant. The interaction effect between self-oriented perfectionism and active emotion regulation style on anorexic behavior was significant. The present study suggests that not only perfectionism but also emotion regulation style should be considered as an important factor in binge eating behavior.
The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of individual difference in sensitivity of behavioral activation system(BAS)/behavioral inhibition system(BIS) on college women’s bulimic behavior, problematic alcohol use and their comorbidity. For this study, the BIS/BAS scale, the Bulimic behavior scale from EDI-2, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test(AUDIT) and Satisfaction with Life Scale(SWLS) were administered to 207 college women. According to the results, problematic alcohol use had positive correlation with BAS score and bulimic behavior had positive correlation with both BAS and BIS score. The participants were grouped into four different problematic behavior group(bulimic, problematic alcohol use, comorbid, control) and the comorbid group showed the highest level of BAS score, same level of BIS score with bulimic group and the lowest level of adaptation. These findings suggest that women who have bulimic problem and problematic drinking issue simultaneously are sensitive to both reward and punishment and this feature may have influence on being more vulnerable to impulsive and addictive behavior. Implications and limitations of this study were discussed and directions of future research were suggested.
The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effect of marital satisfaction on relationship that retirement stress have an effect on depression among the retree. The subjects were composed of 220 retired older men. For the study, the survey was carried out using retirement stress scale, the Korean Marital Satisfaction Inventory scale, Geriatric Depression scale. The mediating effect was investigated based on the result of Higginbottom, Barling, & Kelloway(1993)'s structural equation model that the partial mediating effect of depression in relation to retirement satisfaction and marital satisfaction. The results of the study are as follows. First, according to the results of the effects of demographical variables, retirement variables, retirement stress, marital satisfaction on depression, hierarchical regression revealed that retirement stress and marital satisfaction explained 27% of total variables in the retired older men. Second, The partial mediational model of marital satisfaction showed better fit indices than alternative models. Third, the paths of partial mediational model indicated that career dissatisfaction of pre-retirement, plan of retirement preparation, living expenses' sufficiency of post-retirement were significant variables among retirement variables that explained retirement stress. And retirement stress was significant which explained depression. Moreover, marital satisfaction mediated the relationship between retirement stress and depression. Therefore, the partial mediating effect of marital satisfaction was examined on relationship that retirement stress have an effect on depression. The suggestions and the limitations of this study and the directions of future study were discussed.
As becoming an ageing society, researchers examined the main effect and the interaction effect of the job stress and hardiness on physical and mental health of nursing home employees in Korea. The participants were 361 nursing home employees (64 males and 297 females) from 17 nursing homes located in Seoul and the suburbs, whose ages ranged from 17 to 65. The psychological tests used in this research included the following: Karasek's Job Content Questionnaire, Bartone's Hardiness Scale: Short-Form, Chon's Physical Symptom Scale, Han & Jang's Scale for Perceived Health, Negative Affect Self-Statement Questionnaire, and the Korean Version of Cambell's Subjective Well-being Scale. Results indicated that care-assistants experienced more job stress than Registered Nurses and other employees. Most of sub-variables of job stress and hardiness significantly related to sub-variables of physical and mental health of nursing home employees. Step-wise regression analyses indicated that job stress accounted for the most variance of physical symptoms, while only hardiness was significant predictor for perceived health and depression and it accounted for the 34% of the variances for subjective well-being. There were 2-way interactions in subjective well-being by job stress and hardiness. It means that hardiness plays the role of moderating effect on the relation of job stress to subjective well-being. Suggesting the effect of job stress and hardiness on health, the possible reasons for inconsistent results of various effects of hardiness on health or diseases were discussed.
As becoming an ageing society, researchers examined the main effect and the interaction effect of the job stress and hardiness on physical and mental health of nursing home employees in Korea. The participants were 361 nursing home employees (64 males and 297 females) from 17 nursing homes located in Seoul and the suburbs, whose ages ranged from 17 to 65. The psychological tests used in this research included the following: Karasek's Job Content Questionnaire, Bartone's Hardiness Scale: Short-Form, Chon's Physical Symptom Scale, Han & Jang's Scale for Perceived Health, Negative Affect Self-Statement Questionnaire, and the Korean Version of Cambell's Subjective Well-being Scale. Results indicated that care-assistants experienced more job stress than Registered Nurses and other employees. Most of sub-variables of job stress and hardiness significantly related to sub-variables of physical and mental health of nursing home employees. Step-wise regression analyses indicated that job stress accounted for the most variance of physical symptoms, while only hardiness was significant predictor for perceived health and depression and it accounted for the 34% of the variances for subjective well-being. There were 2-way interactions in subjective well-being by job stress and hardiness. It means that hardiness plays the role of moderating effect on the relation of job stress to subjective well-being. Suggesting the effect of job stress and hardiness on health, the possible reasons for inconsistent results of various effects of hardiness on health or diseases were discussed.
The purpose of this study was to propose and test a psycho-social predicting factors model of postpartum depression. This model posits that postpartum stress, postpartum support and self-esteem are predicting factors of postpartum depression and the predicting factors are correlated each other. Participants were 121 women who lives in Seoul and Gyounggi Provance and have gave birth to baby recently. Postpartum depression, postpartum stress, postpartum support and self-esteem were assessed with the 'Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale', 'Korean CES-D(Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale)', 'Perceived Stress Scale', 'Childcare Stress Inventory', 'Postpartum Social Support Questionnaire', 'Postpartum Social Questionnaire' and 'Self-esteem Inventory'. Postpartum stress, postpartum support, self-esteem were all significantly correlated each other. Postpartum stress was a significant predicting factor of postpartum depress but postpartum support and self-esteem. Result of this study informed perinatal women to plan and solicit effective support from their social network and reduce possible stress. Result of this study can be applied to make group therapy programming as well. The peer group of which members have a similar experiences or the group of which women's husband are participating will be helpful for postpartum women to overcome the stress. The group programme to increase self-esteem would be helpful as well.
The present study investigated the influences of superior-subordinate similarity in self-construals on the subordinates’ psychological burnouts. With two hundred and eighty employees working in service industry, the level of psychological burnouts, subordinates’ self-construals, and the superior’s self-construals perceived by subordinates were measured. Data were analyzed using the Polynomial Regression Analysis and the Response Surface Methodology. As a result, it was found that both the superiors’ and the subordinates’ levels of interdependent self accounted for the level of psychological burnout indicators (depersonalization, burnout caused by colleague workers, and psychological burnout caused by superiors) although the influence of superior-subordinate similarity in self-construals on burnouts was not as large as the hypothesis predicted. The implications on organizational management are discussed.
This study attempted to examine the influence of parents' marital conflicts on children's behavioral problems with a particular emphasis on the moderating effect of coping efficacy. The subjects for this study were 391 students (210 boys and 181 girls) in the fifth and sixth grades. The results were as follows. First, there were positive correlations among the internalizing and externalizing problems, marital conflict and negative correlations with coping efficacy. The children who experienced more of their parents' marital conflicts also utilized less efficient coping skills. Second, in the case of girls, the coping efficacy functioned as a buffering variable for children who experienced their parents' marital conflicts. It reduced the internalizing and externalizing problems. However, the moderating effects of internalizing and externalizing problems were demonstrated only by the girls, not boys. The aims of this study were to predict children's behavioral problem by perception of parents' marital conflicts and to examine the moderating effect of coping efficacy. Partly, the moderating effect of coping efficacy were showed, improvement of coping efficacy will be effective intervention strategy for children to reduce behavioral problem and to grow to the fitness.
The purpose of this study is to test the effects of group program for anger management on anger-in and somatization symptoms of the somatizationprone undergraduate students. The data were collected from 500 undergraduate students, using StateTrait Anger Expression Inventory and Physical Symptom Scale. The participants were selected in the program who are an intention to be take part in the group program for anger management out of more than the top 25% of the angerin score and the physical symptom score in the undergraduate students. The sample of this study is consisted of 18 participants whose 9 in group program for anger management and 9 in the waiting list control group. There were 6 treatment sessions in treatment. A session was more than 150 minutes each. The results of analysis data, Angerin and somatization symptoms were significantly reduced after the participation in the group program for anger management. On the other hand, Angerin and somatization symptoms weren't significantly reduced in the waiting list control group. These results suggest the effects of group program for anger management can be reduced somatization symptoms as well as angerin. That is this program can be effective to reduce somatizationprone in angerin. Finally, it was discussed the significances and limitations of this study.
Diurnal enuresis is characterized by incontinence during waking hours and can lead to some physical and psychological problems if adequate treatment does not follow. In this study, a behavior treatment was conducted to five girls presenting with diurnal enuresis due to organic and functional factors. The behavior treatment was represented by a single-subject design and used timed voiding and positive reinforcement. Time at urination, amount of urination, degree of wet pants, and fluid intakes were collected during waking time. As a result, all the patients showed a decrease in the degree of wet pants and three patients displayed an increase in the amount of urination or in fluid intakes. The results of this study support the effectiveness of the behavior treatment and the need for a wider use of behavior treatment. Limitations of this study and suggestions for future studies are discussed.
The purpose of this study is to examine whether breathing mindfulness meditation is an effective treatment for college women with premenstrual syndrome(PMS). Eighteen college women with premenstrual syndrome were divided into either a breathing mindfulness meditation group (n=9) or a control group (n=9). A participant in the treatment condition could not complete the breathing mindfulness meditation program. Pre and Post intervention data were collected by using Premenstrual Assessment Form(PAF). PAF was used for measuring the severity of PMS. The results were as follows. The breathing mindfulness meditation group showed more reduction of symptoms in total score, 2 subs-factors and 15 subs-scales of PAF. But there were no differences between the two groups on scale 9, scale 14 and scale 18 in 18 subs-scales of PAF. These results suggest that breathing mindfulness meditation program is an effective treatment for college women with premenstrual symptom.
The purpose of this study was to generate a grounded substantive theory of the process of forgiveness in healthy adults. This study used a qualitative approach, Glaser and Strauss' grounded theory methodology. Grounded data was collected through in-depth interview from 10 participants. The grounded theory methodology was used to analyze collected data. Open-ended and in-depth interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using constant comparative analysis and experts and a participant validation. According to the grounded data analysis, the process of forgiveness is inflicted hurt, hatred, struggle, expressing negative emotions, redefining the event, feel freedom, getting to live gratefully. It was named the whole process as the process of finding values and meaning in one's own life. This study will be helpful to understand forgiveness clearly as a positive concept, and promote understanding relating to wholistic person. And also forgiveness is useful to find values and meaning in one's own life. Comprehensive study will be needed using the topic of forgiveness through different religious background and ages.
The purpose of this study was to consider the visuospatial ability, memory and executive function of normal adults according to their age groups by using Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test(ROCF). 71 normal adults were divided into the five groups by 10-year age group: I.e, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 year. As a result, 60-69 year-old group acquired significantly low scores of the executive functions and memory recall, but not visuospatial function comparing to other groups. These results reflect that mild cognitive decline starts with 60 years of the elderly. Additionally, this research was to investigate for the aged in relation of cognitive function between the normal aged and patient aged group. Subjects were compose of twenty-two normal aged group and fifteen patient aged group who had mild traumatic brain injury and they all were aged over 50 years. Patient group had a significant visuospatial disability, memory deficit and executive dysfunction relative to normal group. These results indicate that qualitatively different cognitive function due to traumatic brain injury. Finally, the suggestions, limitations and further issues for future study were discussed.
We studied the navigation ability and visual functioning of patients with MCI in Virtual Environments (VEs). Forty nineparticipants consisted of elderly adults with/without MCI. Neuropsychological tests (RCFT, BVRT, TMT, and Digit Span), the Groton Maze Learning Test (12 trials), and the VE navigation learning task (6 trials) were performed. As a result, there were significant group differences for the immediate-recall RCFT, the delayed-recall RCFT, and the BVRT, but not for the GMLT. For the VE task, there was a significant difference between the MCI and normal group, and no interactions between groups and trials were found. The VE task was correlated with the RCFT, the BVRT, and the GMLT. The RCFT and the BVRT combined accounted for 45% of VE performance. Thus, we concluded that patients with MCI are inferior in VE navigation, and that visual retention/memory play a role in navigation abilities.