A Study on Concepts of Health in Older Korean Women: Q Methodological Approach

Shim, Hyung Wha

Abstract

PURPOSE
This paper is a basic study done to establish a theory of health according to Korean culture. The focus is on identifying perceived concepts of health in older Korean women. METHOD: The Q-method, which is effective in measuring individual subjectivity, was used in this study.
RESULTS
Perception of the concept of health was found to have 4 independent types, as follows. 1. Type I: natural & couple-oriented type. Women with this type not only have a naturalistic view of health but also put weight on being couple-centered. 2. Type II: oriental & children-oriented type. These women have traditional oriental views of the world, and are strongly dependent on their children. 3. Type III: western & altruistic type. These women do not agree with oriental concepts of health. They are positive altruists, pursuing the meaning of life. 4. Type IV: modern & self-oriented type. Women with this type not only interpret the concepts of health within western medicine, but also positively accept oriental views of the world.
CONCLUSIONS
Health concepts of older Korean women are complicated, not only with western-medical concepts of health, but also more strongly complicated with concepts from oriental medicine.