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Kim and Kim: A Study on the Relationship of Marital Intimacy, Depression, and Menopausal Symptoms in Middle-aged Women
Original Article

Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing 2013; 19(3): 176-187.

Published online: 17 September 2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4069/kjwhn.2013.19.3.176

A Study on the Relationship of Marital Intimacy, Depression, and Menopausal Symptoms in Middle-aged Women

Su Jin Kim1, Se Young Kim2

1Department of Nursing, Kimcheun Science College, Gimcheon, Korea.

2Department of Nursing, Mokpo National University, Muan, Korea.

Corresponding author: Kim, Se Young. Department of Nursing, Mokpo National University, Cheonggye-myeon, Muan 534-729, Korea. Tel: +82-61-450-2678, Fax: +82-61-450-2679, sarakimk@yahoo.co.kr

Received 13 June 2013       Revised 21 August 2013       Accepted 29 August 2013

© 2013 Korean Society of Women Health Nursing

(open-access):

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to identify the relationship between marital intimacy, depression, and menopausal symptoms, and to provide basic data for the health promotion of middle-aged women.

Methods

A sample of 231 middle-aged women was recruited from four cities in Korea. The survey was conducted with participants using self-reported questionnaire from July 9 to November 11, 2011. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and Correlation Analysis.

Results

There were differences of marital intimacy scores that were statistically significant in educational background (F=6.88, p=.001), religion (t=3.96, p<.001), own job (F=4.47, p=.012), own salary (F=3.01, p=.019), spouse's salary (F=6.72, p<.001), ownership of residence (t=4.00, p<.001), leisure with spouse (t=-5.05, p<.001), current treatment of disease (t=2.22, p=.027), and current disease (t=2.53, p=.012). Marital intimacy was correlated with depression (r=-0.61, p<.01) and menopausal symptoms (r=-0.39, p<.01).

Conclusion

Marital intimacy in middle-aged women is closely related to both depression and menopausal symptoms. The nursing program that improves marital intimacy will be useful to promote the health of middle-aged women.

Keywords: Middle aged, Women, Marriage, Depression, Menopause

Figures and Tables

Table 1
General Characteristics of Participants (N=231)
kjwhn-19-176-i001
Table 2
Level of Marital Intimacy, Depression, and Menopausal Symptoms of Participants (N=231)
kjwhn-19-176-i002
Table 3
Marital Intimacy, Depression, and Menopausal Symptoms by General Characteristic of Participants (N=231)
kjwhn-19-176-i003
Table 4
Correlation among Research Variables (N=231)
kjwhn-19-176-i004

*p<.05, **p<.01.

Notes

This article is based on a part of the first author's master's thesis from Eulji University.

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