J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs.  2010 Jun;19(2):154-162. 10.12934/jkpmhn.2010.19.2.154.

Effects of Hand Holding on Self-esteem and Assertiveness in Women Patients with Depression

• Sung MH
• Choi MY
• Eum OB

• KMID: 2321828
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2010.19.2.154

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of hand holding on self-esteem and assertiveness in women patients with depression.
METHODS
This study was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The participants were 40 women patients who were hospitalized with depression. Twenty of the women patients with depression were assigned to the experimental group (hand holding), and twenty to the control group. For the experimental treatment group hand holding was done for 2 wks.
RESULTS
The experimental group with hand holding showed an increase in self-esteem (t=3.99, p<.001), and assertiveness (t=5.37, p<.001) compared to the control group.
CONCLUSION
Hand holding is effective for increasing self-esteem and assertiveness in women patients with depression. The simple contact of hand holding can also be regarded as an effective and accessible nursing intervention in the neuropsychiatry ward.

Keyword

Therapeutic touch; Depression; Self-esteem; Assertiveness

MeSH Terms

Assertiveness*
Depression*
Female
Hand*
Humans
Neuropsychiatry
Nursing
Therapeutic Touch