Thanks to medical research, we now have available effective surgical procedures for treating individuals with hypospadias. Despite the availability of such medical procedures, very little attention has been given towards examining psychosocial factors related to hypospadias, particularly those post-surgery that may be associated with positive follow-up and long-term patient outcomes. In the present paper, we reviewed published articles between 1966 and 2009 in order to identify relevant psychosocial functioning, psychosexual development and parent-related issues associated with hypospadias. Although few in number, research studies have shown that persons with hypospadias report lower levels of social competence, and higher social anxiety than normal controls. Accumulating psychosocial data have also shown that patient self-appraisal of genital appearance is a critical component of positive psychosocial outcomes, following a corrective procedure. Although it is difficult to make conclusive statements regarding the psychosexual adjustment among persons with hypospadias based on current research, it has been reported that persons with hypospadias tend to be less sexually active in relationships and less satisfied with their sex life and genital appearance. Their parents also show higher level of anxiety regarding their masculinity and display a tendency to discount their problem behaviors. Findings from the present review addresses the influences of psychosocial variables on hypospadias, which includes factors associated with positive psychological outcomes, as well as the benefits associated with utilizing this knowledge to increase psychological services, following medical surgical procedures for hypospadias.
The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) on symptoms, worry, and quality of life for people with functional dyspepsia. Among five hundred college students, twenty four people who met the diagnosis criteria for functional dyspepsia participated in this study. They were randomly assigned to one of two groups, the first of which received 10 weeks of MBCT (n=12), whereas the second was the control group (n=12) and received no MBCT. At pretreatment, the end of treatment, and at 4 week follow-up periods, all participants completed an Index of Dyspepsia Symptoms-Korean (IDS-K), a Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), and a Nepean Dyspepsia Index-Korean (NDI-K). MBCT was administered for 10 sessions. The results of this study were as follows: Dyspepsia symptoms and worry of the therapy group were decreased more than those of the control group, and gastrointestinal-related quality of life for the therapy group improved also more than those in the control group. The implications and the limitations of this study, and suggestions for future study will also be discussed.
The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) on symptoms, worry, and quality of life for people with functional dyspepsia. Among five hundred college students, twenty four people who met the diagnosis criteria for functional dyspepsia participated in this study. They were randomly assigned to one of two groups, the first of which received 10 weeks of MBCT (n=12), whereas the second was the control group (n=12) and received no MBCT. At pretreatment, the end of treatment, and at 4 week follow-up periods, all participants completed an Index of Dyspepsia Symptoms-Korean (IDS-K), a Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), and a Nepean Dyspepsia Index-Korean (NDI-K). MBCT was administered for 10 sessions. The results of this study were as follows: Dyspepsia symptoms and worry of the therapy group were decreased more than those of the control group, and gastrointestinal-related quality of life for the therapy group improved also more than those in the control group. The implications and the limitations of this study, and suggestions for future study will also be discussed.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy(MBCT) on suicidal thought, depression, emotion, purpose in life and well-being of the female college students with depressive symptoms. The participants were 17 female college students, who showed the BDI score of above a 10, but no other psychiatric symptoms or substance-related disorders. They were randomly assigned to either the MBCT group (n=9) or the control group (n=8). The MBCT program was carried out once per week, over 8 week period, and each session lasted for 70 minutes. The results of this study showed scores of psychological acceptance, mindfulness (total) and mindfulness (accepting without judgment) in the MBCT group to be significantly improved than those in the control group. Also, there was a significant relief in depression in the MBCT group. Besides, the improvement of purpose in life, satisfaction with life, life satisfaction expectancy, negative affect and mindfulness (acting with awareness) in the MBCT group approached the level of significance. However, no significant differences were found in the level of suicidal thought, positive affect, mindfulness (observing) and mindfulness (describing). Overall, these results indicate that the MBCT program can help depressive college students. Finally, the implications and limitations of this study were discussed.
The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of concentration meditation and mindfulness meditation on attention systems of the brain. Subjects were 9 male and female experts of meditation, who trained for the mean of 4.0 years. EEG was recorded during a 5min concentration meditation and mindfulness meditation, with a 2min baseline, individually. In sLORETA analysis, both meditations suppressed the brain activity. Mindfulness meditation was relatively activated in the anterior cingulate, inferior frontal gyrus, and orbitofrontal cortex, when compared to that of the other areas of the brain. However, concentration meditation was relatively activated only in the orbitofrontal cortex compared to the of the areas of the brain. Implication for this result was discussed in the final section.
The purpose of this study were to investigate 1) the effects of K-MBSR on levels of mindfulness, psychological symptoms, and quality of life, 2) the relationships between home practice and the amounts of changes in mindfulness, psychological symptoms, and quality of life, before and after K-MBSR, and 3) the moderating role of the motivation for participating in the program. Korean versions of FFMQ, BSI, and EORTC QLQ‐C30 were used to measure mindfulness, psychological symptoms, and quality of life before and after K-MBSR in a sample of 57 adults in a clinical K-MBSR program. The amount of practice at home was calculated based on participants' self-report, and motivations for of participating in K-MBSR were categorized into one of two categories either for reducing personal suffering or for career development based on pre-program interview data. Results showed significant increase in mindfulness ability, especially in subscales such as observation, describing, non-judgment, and non-reactivity. The GSI score and obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, and anxiety subscale scores of BSI were significantly decreased, suggesting that participating in K-MBSR leads to reductions in psychological symptoms. The overall quality of life index (Core-30), and psychological function, evaluation of one's health, and evaluation of one's quality of life were all significantly increased as well. The amount of home practice didn't show significant correlations with changes of mindfulness levels, psychological symptoms, or quality of life during 6 weeks of the K-MBSR program. Finally, it was revealed that the self-healing group whose main purpose was to reduce personal suffering, showed greater salutary effects in most dependent variables than the career-development group, whose main purpose was developing careers as mindfulness professionals.
This study inspected the effect of eclectic filial therapy on children with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus(IDDM), and showed that the improved psychosocial adjustment affects treatment adherence and metabolic control of the children with IDDM in this study. Seventeen elementary school students ranging from first-grade to fourth-grade, and their mothers participated in this study. Five pairs of experimental groups, five pairs of comparative groups, and seven pairs of control groups were implemented. The results obtained were as follows: First, eclectic filial therapy was an effective intervention for children diagnosed with IDDM in strengthening the parent-child relationship, and the children's total behavioral problems, externalizing problems, and depression/anxiety were significantly decreased. Second, then children's internal loci of control, preference for task difficulty, and self-control (which is a subscale of self-efficacy) were significantly increased. Third, treatment adherence reported by mothers was significantly increased, but treatment adherence reported by children did not show any noteworthy change. Last, the HbA1C level of the children in the experimental group was significantly decreased, which indicates that metabolic control was improved. In conclusion, this study confirmed that eclectic filial therapy is an effective psychotherapeutic intervention program for improving psychosocial adjustment in children with IDDM and also found out that this therapy can affect treatment adherence and metabolic control.
The present study was conducted to develop and validate the Forgiveness Process Scale, which is based on the process of forgiveness experienced by people who were hurt in interpersonal relationships. There was an attempt to find differences in psychological coping methods in each phase of the Forgiveness Process. For this purpose, three interrelated studies have been performed. Study 1 was conducted to develop the Forgiveness Process Scale based on the Process of Forgiveness Model by Lee, Kyoung-Soon. From exploratory factor analysis, six factors have been derived: ‘Hatred,’ ‘Struggle,’ ‘Stabilization,’ ‘Redefinition,’ ‘Forgiveness’ and ‘Maturing.’ Five items for each of these factors, thirty in total, have been formulated. In Study 2, confirmatory factor analysis showed a reasonable fit index for 6 factors of the Forgiveness Process Scale. Convergent validity with the Rye Forgiveness Scale (FS) and the Korean Forgiveness Scale (KFS) was verified showing a significant correlation coefficient. The Forgiveness Process Scale reliably differentiated upper forgiveness level group from lower forgiveness level group. As a result of concurrent criterion-related validity analysis, sub-factors of the Forgiveness Process Scale were significantly correlated to anger, anxiety, and depression. Limitations of this study and suggestions for further research and practice are discussed.
Abnormally high anxiety sensitivity, the fear of anxiety-related sensations, has been used to explain the main mechanism of anxiety disorder, such as phobia or panic disorders. The aim of the current study is to examine the extent of genetic contributions to anxiety sensitivity by comparing healthy adult (>30 ys. old) monozygotic (MZ) twins (N = 278 pairs) with that of dizygotic (DZ) twins (N = 80 pairs). Data were obtained from several scales, including the ASI-R(The Revised Anxiety Sensitivity Index), CES-D (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale), AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test), and FTND (Fagerstrom Test of Nicotine Dependence) scales. Heritability of anxiety sensitivity was computed using MERLINE. Using multiple regressions, the relationships of four subscales of anxiety sensitivity and the other psychological maladjustments (depression, alcohol dependence, and nicotine dependence) were examined, separately, for individuals in the MA and DZ groups. There was a significant correlation of anxiety sensitivity scores between twins for the MZ group but not for that of the DZ group. The total heritability estimate of anxiety sensitivity was about 20% the heritability estimate of sub-scales of anxiety sensitivity measure was 21% for cardiovascular concerns, 19% for social concerns, 16% for respiratory sensation concerns, and 13% for psychological concerns. Two of the four subscales anxiety sensitivity(psychological concerns and respiratory sensation concerns) were correlated with depression, but only for the MZ group. These findings for genetic contributions to anxiety sensitivity indicate that anxiety sensitivity is a risk factor of many psychological disorders. Therefore, family-based therapy should be considered in approaching anxiety sensitivity which is related to psychological disorders.
The purpose of the present study was to investigate specific characteristics of memory deficits, associated with chronic alcoholism. To this end, we administered Rey-Kim memory test and K-Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale to a sample of 28 alcohol dependent patients and 26 normal controls. The alcohol dependent group showed the following characteristics in their memory deficits. First, their memory deficits involved recent memory, but not immediate or remote memory. Second, their recent-memory deficits involved both verbal and visual memory. Third, their recent-memory deficits involved problems in registration and retrieval stage, but not in retention stage. Fourth, their deficits in recent memory were more severe than their deficits in general intelligence, suggesting that the memory deficits were not part of generalized cognitive dysfunction, but a memory-specific dysfunction. Finally, about 20% of the patients evidenced severe memory decline, whereas other patients showed mild to moderate decline. These results provide useful data for the understanding of alcoholic memory deficits and their clinical managements.
This study was purposed to verify relations of self-ambivalence, thought-reality fusion, and obsessive-compulsive tendency, and the interaction of self-ambivalence and thought-reality fusion. The association was investigated between self-ambivalence, thought-reality fusion and obsessive-compulsive tendency, including intrusive thoughts, appraisal and control strategies to them. Before that, the Self-Ambivalence Measure (SAM) was translated into Korean which was validated to measure self-ambivalence. A total of 314 university students and graduates responded to the questionnaire, which contained Self-Ambivalance Measure (SAM), Thought-Reality Fusion Scale (TRFS), Revised Obsessional Intrusions Inventory (ROII), shortened form of Interpretation of Intrusions Inventory (III), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Self-Esteem Scale(SES). Relation analysis and hierarchical multiple regression were used to analyze the data. The results were as follows: (1) self-ambivalence and thought-reality fusion were related significantly to obsessive-compulsive tendency and the relations were significant, even after controlling the variables, such as self-esteem, depression, and anxiety. (2) Self-ambivalnce and thought- reality fusion had significant main effects on obsessive-compulsive tendency, which includes intrusive thoughts, appraisal and control strategies even after controlling the variables, such as self-esteem, depression, and anxiety. (3) The interaction of self-ambivalence and thought-reality fusion was not significant to the effect on the obsessive-compulsive tendency. Additionally, implications and limitations of this study were discussed.
This study is to examine the effects of emotional expression, cognitive reappraisal and expressive dissonance on negative emotional experiences. A total of 50 female undergraduate students were instructed to use different emotion regulation strategies, while viewing a disgust-inducing film. While watching, their experiential, physiological, and cognitive behavioral responses were measured. The results of the subjective emotional experiences indicated the largest decrease of positive emotions reported in the DG (expressive dissonance group), followed by the EG (emotional expression group), and then the CG (cognitive reappraisal group). However, the largest increase of negative emotions reported in the DG, and they reported in the following order, the CG, and the EG. For physiological responses, the DG showed skin conductance level (SCL) increase, while pulse volume amplitude decrease which are consistent with the emotional experience of disgust. However, the CG showed a decrease of SCL, which is associated with relief. For a cognitive behavioral response, there was no significant difference between the groups. This study suggests that cognitive reappraisal to a negative event is a more functional emotion regulation strategy, compared to that of the other strategies, which is related to experiential and physiological responses that affect emotion regulation strategies.
The aim of this study was to identify the effect of family environment on sexual addiction and to test the mediation effect of loneliness between them. The subjects of this study were 73 delinquent juveniles who committed sexual offending and sentenced probation(mean age=16.5). FACE-III(Olson et al., 1983), Sexual addiction scale(Park & Chun, 2002), UCLA loneliness scale(Russel et al. 1980) were used to measure them. The result showed that family cohesion were negatively correlated with sexual addiction(r=-.36) and Loneliness indirectly mediated the influence of family cohesion on sexual addiction. Interpretation of the results and implications such as the necessity of family intervention and to therapeutic approach to juvenile sexual offender's loneliness were discussed.
The purpose of this study was to examine the moderating effect of metacognition and meta-mood on the relationship between negative emotion and internet addiction in adolescents. For this study, a sample of 396 high school students, in Seoul (296 boys, 137 girls), completed the questionnaires of the following: Internet Addiction Scale, Metacognitions Questionnaire, Trait Meta-Mood Scale, Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory. The data were analyzed by hierarchial regression analysis. The result showed significant three-way interaction effect of negative emotion, metacognition and meta-mood, on internet addiction. Thus, this study confirmed the moderating effect of metacognition and meta-mood on the relationship between negative emotion and internet addiction. Interaction effect, between each variable and internet addiction, varied depending on the level of negative emotion. It was shown that the higher the level of metacognition and the lower the level of meta-mood, the higher risk for the adolescents to have high level of negative emotiont. Likewise, the higher the level of metacongnition and the lower the level of meta-mood, the higher risk of internet addiction in adolescents who had low levels of negative emotion. However, with lower level of metacognition, meta-mood had no effect on internet addiction. Finally, the implications and limitations of this study were discussed.
This study investigated the correlation of acculturation stresses in immigrant women with depression, and examined the mediating effects of affective communication between relationships. So I distributed the questionnaires in Korean, English, Vietnamese, and Chinese to 134 immigrant women of Gyeong-nam and Chung-cheong provinces. The psychological tests used in this research included the following: acculturation stresses scale, which developed through advanced researches, CES-D, and sub items (AFC) of K-MSI. The correlational analysis results indicated that acculturation stresses and depression were negatively correlated with affective communication, and acculturation stresses were positively correlated with depression. According to Baron and Kenny's method of mediating effects test, affective communication partially mediated in relation to the immigrant women' acculturation to depression. This result suggest that husbands' intimate attitude and nonverbal communication, which are significant on immigrant women' acculturation into Korean culture, with the necessity of related organizations' activating programs, as a result for this. Finally we discussed the limits and research tasks.
This study aimed to evaluate an integrative moderating model of happiness which incorporated gratitude as well as cognitive and emotional factors. The Oxford Happiness Inventory (OHI), Gratitude Questionnaire–6 (GQ-6), Revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R), Eysenck Personality Scale (EPS), and the CERQ criteria were adapted to assess the model of happiness of adolescents. Four hundred thirty eight (438) middle and high school students who completed thee self report in Kyung-Gi-Do, Korea, were studied. Path analysis showed that there was a spurious effect on emotional adjustment relations between neuroticism and happiness; whereas gratitude and adaptive emotional adjustment had a dual mediate relation between extraversion and happiness. It was found that a narcissistic personality was a moderating predictor on the mediating variable of social support, and on personality traits and gratitude for happiness. The research outcomes proved that the gratitude and social support moderating model of happiness of adolescents were effective. These findings suggested that the tailored-treatment of gratitude on happiness might be an effective intervention. These results were discussed in the contexts of life span development, and the validity of stress severity on adolescents.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of self-disclosure on the emotion according to the level of thought suppression. The hypothesis of this study was as follows: the effect of self-disclosure on the emotion would be significant in the condition with high level of thought suppression, whereas not significant in the condition with low level of thought suppression. To test the hypotheses, a 2×2 ANOVA, with thought suppression (high/low) and self-disclosure (high/low), as between-participants factors was performed on the positive and the negative emotion. Fifty eight undergraduates were randomly assigned to one of the four experimental conditions. The main hypothesis was supported. The results were as follows. The interaction between the factors was significant, and it showed that, in the higher condition of thought suppression, negative emotion was lower in the higher condition of self-disclosure than in the lower condition. In the lower condition of thought suppression, however, negative emotion was not different between the lower and higher condition. These results suggest that the effect of self-disclosure on negative emotion is moderated by the level of thought suppression, indicating that self-disclosure affect the emotion in a positive manner, only when the level of thought suppression is high. Finally, the implications and limitations of this study and suggestion for future research were also discussed.
As a preliminary study in efforts to developing the Geriatric Caregivers' Job Stress Questionnaire, researchers investigated factors of job stress among professional geriatric caregivers, and compared its accountability for stress responses with accountability of common job stress. The participants were mainly 240 geriatric caregivers, who were employed at a geriatric hospital, whose ages ranged from 35 to 68. Researchers developed items of job stresses directly from geriatric care works, through focused group interview (FGI). In exploratory factor analysis, seven factors were finally retained. Each of 7 factors described emotional difficulties, low salary and poor benefit/working condition, sexual inconvenience, nurse's scolding and poor treatment, lack of recess, the difference between job description and reality, and 3D works. These 7 factors were accounted for 59.7% of the variance in stress responses of geriatric caregivers, while factors from Karasek's Job Content Questionnaire accounted for 7.9% only. These results suggested that job stresses of geriatric caregivers should be explored continuously.