The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating effects of decentering and acceptance on relations between adult attachment and psychological distress. For that purpose, a survey was taken with 389 middle-aged women and it measured adult attachment, psychological distress, decentering and acceptance. The collected data was analyzed with the structural equation model. As a result, the measuring model turned out to fit the data. The research model that set a path among all the variables showed better fitness than the comparative model. The major research findings were as follows. First, in regards to the effects of adult attachment on psychological distress attachment anxiety had no direct effects on psychological distress, however, attachment avoidance had direct effects on it. Second, decentering had no significant mediating effects on relations between adult attachment and psychological distress. Third, acceptance had significant complete mediating effects on relations between attachment anxiety and psychological distress, but acceptance had no significant mediating effects on relations between attachment avoidance and psychological distress. Fourth, decentering had significant mediating effects on relations between adult attachment and acceptance. Specifically, it had partial mediating effects on relations between attachment anxiety and acceptance, as well as complete mediating effects on relations between attachment avoidance and acceptance. Fifth, acceptance had significant complete mediating effects on relations between decentering and psychological distress. Finally, decentering and acceptance had significant dual mediating effects on relations between adult attachment and psychological distress. This suggests a causal relevance of decentering and acceptance. Based on those findings, a plan for reducing distress in middle-aged women and future directions for research were discussed.
In this research, relationships between middle-aged-wife-perceived family structure and marital conflict resolution strategies in Japan and South Korea were examined, and their national differences were discussed with a socio-cultural perspective. For this purpose, intimacy and power between father, mother, and child, and wives’ conflict resolution strategies were surveyed. The results were as follow. First, t-test of intimacy and power showed that family structures in Korea and Japan were characterized by father-centered close adhesion based on Confucian family views that respect father’s power, and by mother’s strong power over children based on individualization in family and increase in wife’s socioeconomic status, respectively. Second, comparison of five conflict resolution showed difference between Koreans and Japanese, probably due to different self-construals; Subjectivity-developed Koreans preferred asserting and yielding with a self-manifesting view, while objectivity-developed Japanese did avoiding and compromising with a self-regulating view. Additionally, Koreans’ and Japanese’ correlations between marital conflict resolution strategies revealed that meaning of yielding differs in the two nations, to leave the necessity of attending to national characteristics beyond the dichotomy of individualism-collectivism. Third, two-way ANOVA of conflict resolution strategies with nations and four family structures as independent variables showed that family’s high intimacy and father’s weak power were found effective in deriving wife’s compromising and cooperation. Overall, it was concluded that both nations’ socio-cultural backgrounds affected marital conflict resolution strategies, and that friendly equalitarian relationships are needed to induce wife’s constructive strategies.
The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of women who work in male-dominated occupations. The participants consisted of four women from the following male-dominated careers: an engineering researcher, a steel engineer, a police officer, and a fire fighter. A narrative inquiry was used to deeply understand and analyze the participants’ experiences. Based on analyses, two main narratives were derived; the negative experiences of women in male-dominated occupations and the needs for living as women in male-dominated occupations. Regarding adaptation to the workplace, the narratives reveal experiences of gender discrimination, a male-centered organizational culture, and subsequent psychological difficulties. The participants expressed frustration over the lack of adequate alternative measures or policies to resolve these problems that ultimately lead to a passive response. In spite of their frustrations as women working in male-dominated careers, the participants emphasized the need to engage in workplace competition and make an special effort to improve their personal position at work. The participants also provide recommendations and suggestions to women who wish to choose the male-dominated careers. They emphasize the need to work hard in order to succeed, coupled with aggressiveness, an enterprising spirit, and a willingness to take risks. These findings reveal a need to further strengthen policies to support women entering into male-dominated careers and the further effort required to achieve gender equality in the workplace. Implications of the findings, suggestions for female career counseling, limitations, and directions for future research were discussed.
Sexual fantasy is a comprehensive concept that includes all forms of sexual thoughts and images, which change our sensory, emotional or physiological states. The purpose of this study is to analyze thoughts and experiences with the adult women's sexual fantasy. For this purpose we conducted 4 focus group interviews with 12 women living in the central region of Korea. This study used a semi-structured interview questions to explore the experiences and thoughts about their sexual fantasy. The interviews were recorded with the consent of the participants and analyzed through the constant comparative analysis process. In order to increase the reliability and validity of the all the research and decision-making processes and results were recorded. We obtained 7 main themes and 17 sub-themes out of 3 categories of sexual fantasy (cognition, its form, outcome). Cognition of sexual fantasy was categorized as imagination what applying social cognitions and self-experiences, exclusive imagines which are based on the sexual curiosity. forms of sexual fantasy were categorized as fantasy about foggy targets and situations, fantasy about specific target and intercourse. outcome of sexual fantasy was categorized as emerging follows two conditions, which are the gratification of sexual deficiency, the inner conflicts. This study established an empirical basis for the recognition, form, and outcome of the adult women's sexual fantasy. And this study overcame the bias of sexual fantasy research flow which was far biased on those of men. Also, we suggested the implications and limitations of this study and the direction of future research.
Sexual fantasy is a comprehensive concept that includes all forms of sexual thoughts and images, which change our sensory, emotional or physiological states. The purpose of this study is to analyze thoughts and experiences with the adult women's sexual fantasy. For this purpose we conducted 4 focus group interviews with 12 women living in the central region of Korea. This study used a semi-structured interview questions to explore the experiences and thoughts about their sexual fantasy. The interviews were recorded with the consent of the participants and analyzed through the constant comparative analysis process. In order to increase the reliability and validity of the all the research and decision-making processes and results were recorded. We obtained 7 main themes and 17 sub-themes out of 3 categories of sexual fantasy (cognition, its form, outcome). Cognition of sexual fantasy was categorized as imagination what applying social cognitions and self-experiences, exclusive imagines which are based on the sexual curiosity. forms of sexual fantasy were categorized as fantasy about foggy targets and situations, fantasy about specific target and intercourse. outcome of sexual fantasy was categorized as emerging follows two conditions, which are the gratification of sexual deficiency, the inner conflicts. This study established an empirical basis for the recognition, form, and outcome of the adult women's sexual fantasy. And this study overcame the bias of sexual fantasy research flow which was far biased on those of men. Also, we suggested the implications and limitations of this study and the direction of future research.
The purpose of this study was to verify the moderating effects of marital satisfaction in the relation of everyday stressors and the mental well-being among married middle-aged adults. A survey was conducted on 295 middle-aged married men and women who are internet users ranging from 40-59 years old. Hierarchical regression was used to analyze both men and women respectively. As a result, everyday stressors were negatively related to both the marital satisfaction and the overall mental well-being in middle-aged men and women. For men, the marital satisfaction was found to have the substantial moderating effects on the relationship between everyday stressors and mental well-being, and its sub-factors such as emotional, psychological, and social well-being. For women, the marital satisfaction was found to have the substantial moderating effects on the relationship in mental well-being and its sub-factors of mental well-being except psychological well-being. Stress was the main factor threatening mental well-being of both married middle-aged men and women. However, it was found that the quality of marital satisfaction reduced negative impact of stress on mental wellbeing. Consequently, this study implied that the quality of marital relationship plays a significant role in mental health of both married middle-aged men and women.
The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a vicarious trauma scale(VTS). This study examined the psychometric properties and preliminary items of the VTS based on the analysis of interview data from trauma counselors and reviewing of existing literature. The experts-contents-validity was confirmed and the final preliminary scale was developed. The confirmatory factor analysis showed a reasonable fit index for this six factor structure of the vicarious trauma scale. The results from a convergent and discriminant validity indicated that there is a correlation between the vicarious trauma scale and Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale, Trauma and Attachment Belief Scale, Counselor Burnout Inventory, and Inventory of Counter-transference Behavior. A predictive validity analysis indicated that the scale is negatively correlated with subjective wellness and life satisfaction. In addition, relationships between this scale and work experience variable was analyzed. The result indicated that expert group in comparison with novice group experiences significantly higher level of ‘positive effect’. Finally implications and limitations of this study as well as suggestions for further research were discussed.
The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a vicarious trauma scale(VTS). This study examined the psychometric properties and preliminary items of the VTS based on the analysis of interview data from trauma counselors and reviewing of existing literature. The experts-contents-validity was confirmed and the final preliminary scale was developed. The confirmatory factor analysis showed a reasonable fit index for this six factor structure of the vicarious trauma scale. The results from a convergent and discriminant validity indicated that there is a correlation between the vicarious trauma scale and Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale, Trauma and Attachment Belief Scale, Counselor Burnout Inventory, and Inventory of Counter-transference Behavior. A predictive validity analysis indicated that the scale is negatively correlated with subjective wellness and life satisfaction. In addition, relationships between this scale and work experience variable was analyzed. The result indicated that expert group in comparison with novice group experiences significantly higher level of 'positive effect'. Finally implications and limitations of this study as well as suggestions for further research were discussed.
The purpose of the present study was to examine whether daughters’ negative body image would mediate the relationship between maternal negative body image and daughters’ abnormal eating behaviors, and if such mediating effect would differ depending on the daughters’ perceived level of maternal negative feedback on appearance among female undergraduate students. A total sample of 202 mother-daughter pairs participated in the survey, and data was analyzed using SPSS Macro. The main results are as follows. First, daughters’ negative body image had a full mediating effect on the relationship between maternal negative body image and daughters’ abnormal eating behaviors. Second, daughters’ perception of their mothers’ negative feedback on appearance moderated the association between daughters’ negative body image and abnormal eating behaviors. That is, as the frequency of maternal negative feedback on appearance increased, the relationship between daughters’ negative body image and abnormal eating behaviors increased. Third, the moderated mediating model was supported in that the mediating effect of daughters’ negative body image on the relationship between maternal negative body image and daughters’ abnormal eating behaviors increased as maternal negative feedback increased.
The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effect of career self-efficacy on the relationship between spouse support and the career resilience and career preparation behavior for career-interrupted women, and to examine the differences according to the causes of career interruption. One hundred sixty six women, who had taken courses or had come for advice at the Woman Vocation Organizations of Kyongsang province, participated in this study. The results of this study are as follows: First, the relationship between spouse support and career preparation behavior mediated by career self-efficacy. Second, the relationship between career resilience and career preparation behavior mediated by career self-efficacy. Third, career-interrupted women for child-birth and nurture had higher scores in all the variables and higher correlation between career resilience and career preparation behavior than career-interrupted women for marriage. The implications and limitations for research and practice about career-interrupted women are discussed.