Hypertension is highly prevalent in Korea. Despite the high rate of treatment, the rates of awareness and control are relatively low, suggesting the nationwide demand for preventing and controlling high blood pressure in Korea in order to avert an epidemic of cardiovascular disease.

Our data suggest that the downward secular trend in age at menarche may reflect the secular change in physical growth in South Korean women during the past 67 years.

This study compared Korean senior nursing students enrolled in associate degree programs (n = 119) and baccalaureate programs (n = 115) on measures of critical thinking ability and clinical decision-making skills. Samples were drawn from three associate degree programmes and four baccalaureate programmes accredited by the Korean Ministry of Education. 'Critical thinking ability' was determined by the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal and 'clinical decision-making' in nursing was measured by the Nursing Performance Stimulation Instrument. Independent sample t-tests comparing the associate degree group (mean score 41.98) and baccalaureate group (mean score 47.22) on the critical thinking measure yielded significant mean differences favouring the baccalaureate group. The baccalaureate group (mean score 26.53) also scored significantly higher than the associate degree group (mean score 23.49) on clinical decision-making. Within the total sample (n = 234) the relationship between critical thinking and clinical decision-making was weak but significant (r = 0.19, P = < 0.003).

The purpose of this study was to identify psychosocial predictors of depressive symptoms among Korean-American immigrant women in New York. A sample of 262 women between the ages of 35 and 55 who had resided in the U.S. for 10 years or less completed a survey instrument including measures of depression, acculturative stress, utilization of social support, self-esteem, and socio-economic status. Depressive symptoms were related positively to acculturative stress and negatively to self-esteem and socio-economic status explained significant proportions of variability in depression. Findings suggest a need to implement policies aimed at mitigating the acculturative stresses associated with immigration.

The purpose of the present study was to explore the experiences of aging in adults aged from 40 to 80 years, living in Seoul, Korea, and how these experiences differ according to age. The phenomenological analysis method was used to identify major categories of experience. Five common categories were identified: bodily change; downward spiral of the perspective about aging; acceptance of limitation and boundaries with aging; feelings of nostalgia and hope and; sustaining life through harmony. Results showed that as South Korean adults grew older they began to recognize changes in their bodies. In their 60s, functional changes were explicit and individuals finally admitted that they were getting older. Disease was a part of life, which was inseparable from their daily lives, and death was accepted as a natural event. As South Korean adults grew older, they felt a strong responsibility for their children and tried to live an honest and respectable life. This was a common perception held regarding aging. Thus they pursued a traditional family-oriented life. Even though aging was something that many wished to avoid, it was accepted as part of life. As they experienced the agony of life, they began to accept the realities of living, and wished for their family's happiness and a better future. The present study aimed to increase understanding of the aging experience and to provide a foundation for future research to develop effective health promotion interventions for this population.