Affiliation:
1. Kongju National University
2. Chung-Ang University
Abstract
Abstract
Background
This study aimed to provide primary data for developing an intervention program to improve the health-related quality of life of middle-aged females. This study examined the effects of psychological distress, depression, and emotional eating behaviors on the health-related quality of life of middle-aged Korean females.
Methods
Middle-aged females between 35 and 64 years old, from July 22 to August 10, 2021, were included in this study. The mediating effect of depression and emotional eating behaviors on the relationship between psychological distress and health-related quality of life was investigated. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 325 subjects. Researchers conducted questionnaires measuring general health, depression, emotional eating behavior, and health-related quality of life.
Results
The findings of this study demonstrated a correlation between the severity of a person’s depression and the degree of their psychological distress, indicating that severe depression was associated with negative emotions, which increased emotional eating behavior. Additionally, more severe depression indicated a lower health-related quality of life. Higher psychological distress was associated with increased levels of emotional eating behaviors and lower health-related quality of life. The total and direct effects of psychological distress on the health-related quality of life were statistically significant.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that evidence-based intervention programs that alleviate emotional health problems, such as psychological distress and depression in middle-aged females, are crucial. Moreover, nurses help implement evidence-based intervention programs that could assess potential symptoms of psychological distress, depression, and emotional eating behaviors and develop effective treatment strategies to improve the health-related quality of life. Based on the results of this study, when developing a health promotion program that improves the health-related quality of life of middle-aged females, a nursing intervention plan that alleviates emotional health problems, such as psychological distress and depression in middle-aged women, should be prepared.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC
Reference50 articles.
1. The Effects of Family Health and Stress Coping Behavior on Psychological Well-being According to Family Health Levels of Middle-aged Women;Noh EY;JOEC,2019
2. Menopause Symptoms and Perceived Cognitive Decline in Menopausal Women: The Mediating Effect of Health Promotion Behavior;Kim JH;Korean J Adult Nurs,2017
3. The Mediating Effect of Cognitive Function on Climacteric Symptoms and Quality of Life in the Middle-aged Women;Lee JH;J Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Soc,2014
4. National Statistical Office. 2020 Statistics on Women's Life. Korea Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. 2021. http://kostat.go.kr/portal/korea/kor_nw/1/1/index.board?bmode=read&aSeq=384858. Accessed 28 March 2021.
5. National Statistical Office. A woman’s life in 2019 statistics: Statistics Korea. Korea Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. 2019. http://kostat.go.kr/portal/korea/kor_nw/1/1/index.board?bmode=read&aSeq=375629. Accessed 20 October 2020.