J Nurs Acad Soc.  1977 Jun;7(1):73-79.

Evaluation of the Mental and Physical Health Status of Women in the Involutional period using the Cornell Medical Index

• Choi MS

Abstract

This study was carried on between June first and July thirty-first 1976 using as subjects women living in the areas of Pusan, Kyoung Sang Buk Do and Kyoung Sang Nam Do. The subjects were divided into 3 groups according to different environments and styles of life, namely married life, widowhood and religious life and according to ages ranging between 45 and 55. Each of these 3 groups of women of -menopausal age consisted of 50 persons and totalling a group of 150. The subjects were chosen according to random sampling and the Cornell Medical Index was applied to discover physical and mental health status with the following results: 1. The total mean scores for complaints in the group of widows was 46.00, in the group of Married women was 37.10 and in the Sisters was 34.30 showing highest scores for the Widows and lowest for the Sisters. 2. The mean score percentages for physical and mental complaints 28.80 and 16.50 respectively for the Widows:27.00 and 10.80 for the Married and 24.30 and 10.20 for the Sisters. 3. The highest number of mean scores for physical items was for digestive system complaints which showed a score of 5. 04, 4.78 and 4.90 respectively for Widows, Married women and Sisters among the psychic status items all 3 groups showed highest scores for complaints of inadequacy: 5.52, 3.40 and 3.64 respectively. 4. In comparing the 2 groups of Married women and Widows, the highest significant differences appeared in the items of depression and sensitivity but there was also some significant difference in the items of inadequacy, anger, miscellaneous diseases and genito-urinary system complaints. 5. In comparing the Married women and Religious groups the highest significant differences according from the highest were as follows: cardiovascular system, sensitivity, tension, nervous system, frequent illnesses and anxiety.

MeSH Terms

Anger
Anxiety
Busan
Cardiovascular System
Cornell Medical Index*
Depression
Digestive System
Female
Humans
Mental Health
Nervous System
Siblings
Widowhood