J Korean Community Nurs.  2001 Dec;12(3):680-695.

The Study on the Family Functionality and Spousal Relationship of Middle-aged Women to Develop Health Promoting Program

• Yang KH
• Kim YH

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to provide basic data for developing nursing intervention for middle-aged women. This study identified health status, family functionality and spousal relationship and analyzed relationship between individual characteristics and family functionality/spousal relationship. The subjects of this study were 1,723 women from 45 to 55 years of age, who lived in J city. Data were analyzed using percentages, means, t-tests, ANOVA and Pearson's correlation coefficients with the SPSS statistical program. The results of the study were as follow: 1. The rate of women who perceived themselves to be healthy was 36.6%, those who did not was 30.8%. The most frequent health problem was a disease of the skeletal system (13.2%). 2. The mean score of family functionality was 3.25+/-.60, with cohesion score of 3.58+/-.66 and adaptability score of 2.99+/-.63. 3. The mean score of total spousal relationship was 3.22+/-.42; the relationship with in-laws was 3.78; sexual relationship, 3.74; life style, 3.44; and recreational activity, 3.39. 4. The women who experienced menopause perceived themselves to be unhealthier than those who did not. 5. Healthy women had a high score at total spousal relationship, personality of spouse, life style, recreational activity, and children's influence. 6. The women from 40 to 50 years of age, and women who graduated from middle or high school and had medium economic status showed a high score in family functionality. There was no correlation between family functionality and experience of the menopause. 7. Lower aged women were not good in personality of spouse (p<.05), sexual relationship (p<.05), and relationship with relatives (p<.05). Inexperienced women's menopause was influenced by their children (p<.05). Women who graduated from middle or high school (p<.001) and had medium economic status (p<.05) showed a high score in spousal relationship. 8. The higher the family functionality score, the higher spousal relationship score (p<.001); love and communication (p<.001), personality of husband (p<.05), and religion (p<.001), relationship with relatives (p<.05), but the lower the score of recreational activity (p<.05), and share of role (p<.001) in the spousal relationship. 8. The higher the family functionality score, the higher spousal relationship score (p<.001); love and communication (p<.001), personality of husband (p<.05), and religion (p<.001), relationship with relatives (p<.05), but the lower the score of recreational activity (p<.05), and share of role (p<.001) in the spousal relationship . 9. In the family functionality, the higher the cohesion score, the higher was the adaptability score (p<.001). 1) The higher the cohesion score, the higher were love and communication, personality of husband, life style, sexual relationship, and children's influence, but the lower were share of role in spousal relationship(p<.001). 2) The higher the adaptability score, the higher were love and communication, religion, but the lower were the personality of husband, life style, sexual relationship, recreational activity, relationship with relatives, share of role(p<.001), and children's influence in spousal relationship (p<.05). 10. Variables within the spousal relationship have relationships with other variables. 1) The higher the love and communication score, the higher personality of husband religion, life style, communication, relationship with relatives, and children's influence (p<.001). 2) The higher personality of husband life style sexual relationship, recreational activity, relationship with relatives, share of role, and children's influence (p<.001). 3) The higher the religion score, the lower the recreational activity score (p<.05). 4) The higher the life style, the higher were the sexual relationship, recreational activity, relationship with relatives, share of role, and children's influence (p<.001). 5) The higher the sexual relationship score, the higher were recreational activity, relationship with relatives, share of role, and children's influence (p<.001). 6) The higher the recreational activity, the relationship with relatives, share of role, and children's influence (p<.001). 7) The higher the relationship with relatives, the higher were the share of role, the higher children's influence (p<.001)). In conclusion, the spousal relationship was not good in unhealthy women, and the family functionality was related with the age of women and educational level. Also the spousal relationship was related with the age of women, personality of husband, sexual relationship, relationship with relatives by marriage and influence of sons and daughters. Menopause was related with spousal relationship, not related with family functionality. And the family functionality not related with perceived health status, but was correlated with spousal relationship. Therefore, the health management program for middle-aged woman should take place before menopause and must be based on promoting the family functionality and spousal relationship as well as physical health.

MeSH Terms

Child
Female
Humans
Life Style
Love
Marriage
Menopause
Nuclear Family
Nursing
Spouses