The Effect of the DanJeon Breathing Exercise Program Applied to Health Promotion in Women in Midlife

Hyun, Kyung Sun

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop a DanJeon Breathing Exercise Program for health promotion and to examine the effects of a DanJeon Breathing Exercise Program on the physical and emotional health promotion of women in midlife. The design utilized for this study was quasi-experimental with a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. This study was done between February 1 and July 4, 2000 and the subjects of the study were 40 women in midlife living in Seoul. There were 20 members in experimental group who participated in the DanJeon Breathing Exercise Program and 20 members in the control group who were chosen as matched to members of the experimental group according to age, education and religion. The DanJeon Breathing Exercise Program was carried out for 80 minutes a day, 3 times a week for 12 weeks. The percent of body fat, back strength, flexibility (trunk flexion), balance and vital capacity were measured using the Health Management System developed by the Korea Physical Science Institution. Blood tests were done at D infirmary for total cholesterol, and the atherogenic index was calculated using an established formula. The scores of anxiety and depression were measured by a questionnaire with 10 questions on anxiety and 13 questions on depression. It was developed from the Korean Manual of Symptoms-Checklist-90 revision. The collected data were processed using the SPSS PC program and analyzed using X2-test and t-test. The result of this study are as follows: 1. The percent of body fat for the experimental group who participated in the DanJeon Breathing Exercise Program was lower than that of the control group. 2. The degree of back strength, flexibility (trunk flexion) and balance of the experimental group that participated in the DanJeon Breathing Exercise Program was higher than that of the control group. 3. The vital capacity of the experimental group that participated in the DanJeon Breathing Exercise Program was higher than that of the control group. 4. The total cholesterol level and atherogenic index of the experimental group that participated in the DanJeon Breathing Exercise Program were lower than those of the control group. 5. The scores for anxiety and depression in the experimental group that participated in the DanJeon Breathing Exercise Program were lower than those of the control group. In conclusion, DanJeon Breathing Exercise Program promotes the physical and emotional health of women in midlife. The DanJeon Breathing Exercise Program can be utilized as a nursing intervention for the promotion of health in women in midlife.