The Impact of Gender, Culture, and Society on Korean Women's Mental Health

Abstract

I review the issue of Korean women's anger from the perspectives of gender, culture, and society, and describe the influences of those factors on the women's mental health. Hwa-byung (HB) is a Korean culture-bound syndrome that translates into English as an anger disorder. In Korea, middle-aged women are the mostly highly represented societal group with HB, the symptoms of which are connected with complex psychological, physiological, behavioral, and social disabilities. In this paper, associations among elements related to Korean women's anger and HB are examined within the frameworks of gender, culture, and society. I concluded that the issue of Korean women's anger is not limited to its own context but is part of the wider issues of gender, culture, and society. These issues produce many difficulties, amplify problems, and generate interrelated women's mental health concerns.

An Integrative Model of In-Hospital and Out-of-Hospital Nursing Care for Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: A Narrative Review

“…There are fewer NSSI-oriented studies in Eastern countries (e.g., China) than in Western countries [ 6 , 7 ]. This phenomenon was partially explained by the stigma of mental illness in the traditional culture of the East [ 8 ] and the negative attitude of Confucianism to negative emotions [ 9 ]. Nonetheless, exploring effective nursing care for patients with NSSI behaviors may help to promote the recovery of NSSI and reduce the suicidal risk.…”

Gender Differences in the Association between Workplace Bullying and Depression among Korean Employees

“…Moreover, research suggests that male employees tend to underreport workplace bullying compared to female employees [15]. These differences may be particularly pronounced in South Korea, influenced by the enduring impact of Confucian culture, which has historically emphasized clear gender roles [16,17]. In this cultural context, men have been primarily responsible for economic work throughout their careers, while women have been expected to manage household responsibilities [18].…”

Estimating anticipatory, immediate, and delayed effects of disability registration on depressive symptoms.

“…These mental health disparities result from a complex interplay of factors, including biological aspects like hormonal changes, as well as social and cultural norms. Korean society, influenced by traditional Confucian values that emphasize filial piety and social hierarchy, has historically relegated women to subordinate and domestic roles, such as those of wife, mother, and caregiver (Choi, 2015; J. Kim, 2022).…”