Life's Experiences of Middle-aged Divorced Women with Higher Education and Profession

Park, Hyeong Sook; Bae, Young Sil; Lee, Sung Hwa; Yu, Su Jeong; Jeon, So Young

doi:2016.22.1.11

Korean J Women Health Nurs > Volume 22(1); 2016 > Article

Original Article

Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing 2016;22(1):11-20.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4069/kjwhn.2016.22.1.11 Published online March 26, 2016.

Life's Experiences of Middle-aged Divorced Women with Higher Education and Profession

Hyeong Sook Park, Young Sil Bae, Sung Hwa Lee, Su Jeong Yu, So Young Jeon

¹College of Nursing, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea.
²Graduate School of Nursing, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea. youngsilb@hotmail.com

Abstract

PURPOSE
Today, an increasing number of divorce is shifting family forms and gender role practices. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand life's experiences of middle-aged divorced women with higher education and profession lives in Korea.
METHODS
For this study, 6 middle-aged divorced women with similar backgrounds were recruited from December 2013 to June 2014, using in-depth individual interviews. Data analysis was performed using Giorgi's phenomenological methodology.
RESULTS
Individual interviews revealed the following 15 meaning of themes and 5 themes. 1) A woman considering herself to be ashamed that she has not lived an ordinary life. 2) The destiny of a woman not having a fortune. 3) An exhilarated mood like a teenage girl's 4) Suppressing an instinctive desire of sex. 5) Being a mother as a woman head of household.
CONCLUSION
This study provides deep understanding of middle-aged divorced women with higher levels of education and professional lives of women who experienced difficult times and overcame their problems. Based on the results of this study, nursing strategies for enhancing quality of life need to be created and implemented for all professional women by Korean community networking gradually.

Key Words: Divorce; Middle aged; Women; Life