J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs.  2022 Mar;31(1):1-15. 10.12934/jkpmhn.2022.31.1.1.

Middle-Aged Couples Educational Needs for Psychological Well-Being: A Mixed Method Study

• Gil M
• Kim D
• Kim SS

• KMID: 2528280
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2022.31.1.1

Abstract

Purpose
To explore and identify priorities of middle-aged couples’ educational needs for psychological well-being.
Methods
Exploratory sequential mixed method design was used. Qualitative data were collected from 14 couples through couple interviews and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Quantitative data were collected from 234 middle-aged adults using self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using paired t-test and Borichs’ needs assessment model. Finally, qualitative and quantitative data were integrated to describe mixed-method findings.
Results
Three major themes were identified: (1) confronting vulnerability to mental health problem, (2) navigating lifes journey together, and (3) progressing toward self-transcendence. In quantitative results, “couple communication” had the highest need, followed by “mental health”, the “emotional awareness and expression”, and “improvement of marital relationships”. Integrated results indicated that couple-communication and mental health were priority needs.
Conclusion
Results of this study provided evidence for middle-aged couples educational needs for psychological well-being. Thus, healthcare professionals need to consider development of educational interventions to enhance couple communication and mental health for middle-aged couples psychological well-being.

Keyword

Couples therapy; Middle aged; Mental health; Needs assessment; Adaptation, Psychological adaptation; 부부 교육; 중년; 정신건강; 요구 사정; 심리적 안녕감