J Korean Acad Nurs.  2006 Dec;36(8):1367-1373.

Effects of a Bereavement Intervention Program on Depression and Life Satisfaction in Middle Aged Widows in Korea

• Yoo YS
• Kang HY

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was designed to examine the effects of a bereavement intervention program on levels of depression and life satisfaction in middle aged widows in Korea. METHODS: A quasi-experimental design with non-equivalent control-group pretest-posttest was used. The subjects (control group, n = 10; intervention group, n = 17) were bereaved less than 6 months in G City and J Province, Korea. The bereavement intervention program consisted of Dan-jeon breathing, self-help group activities and a health examination. The experimental group attended 10 sessions of a bereavement intervention program. The control group had a health examination without the intervention program. For both groups, the level of depression and life satisfaction levels were measured before and after the experiment. RESULTS: The decrement of depression level in the experimental group was significantly greater than in the control group (p<.001). The increment in life satisfaction in the experimental group was significantly greater than in the control group (p<.001). CONCLUSION: The results suggested that the bereavement intervention program was effective in decreasing level of depression and in increasing the life satisfaction of widows. Accordingly, a bereavement intervention program can be applied as an intervention to help widows.

Keyword

bereavement; depression; life satisfaction

MeSH Terms

Adult
Attitude to Health
*Bereavement
Breathing Exercises
Depression/diagnosis/etiology/*prevention & control/psychology
Exercise Therapy
Female
Health Services Needs and Demand
Health Status
Humans
Korea
Life Change Events
Medicine, East Asian Traditional
Middle Aged
Nursing Evaluation Research
*Personal Satisfaction
Physical Examination
Program Evaluation
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Quality of Life/psychology
Questionnaires
Self-Help Groups/*organization & administration
Widowhood/*psychology