A Study of the Housework Hours and Fatigue Levels in Middle-aged Women

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify a relationship between housework hours and fatigue level in middle-aged women. The subjects were 204 women living in Seoul and near the city. ranging in ages of 30-59(mean = 41.6 year) and were interviewed during the month of Oct. to Dec., 1999.The following questionnaires were utilized in this study: a self reporting housework time measurement table and a fatigue symptom scale originated from Yoshitake(1978). The analysis of the data was done by SAS program, t-test, ANOVA. and Pearson correlation. The results of this study were as follows : 1. Total mean hours of housework of the subjects were shown 9.2 hours on weekdays and 8.9 hours on weekend. Mean hours according to the area of houseworks on weekdays and on weekend were preparing and providing meal 3.9 and 4.2, doing laundry and maintaining clothes 3.1 and 1.6, keeping and maintaining house 1.6 and 1.4, caring family 1.3 and 1.2, and keeping household records 0.5 both.2. With respect to the general characteristics of the subjects, there were significantly difference in age, job, religion, type of family, number of children, experience of present and previous illness, and perceived body size.3. Average fatigue scores of the subjects were 16.6 of total score 60. Fatigue scores by the area were neuroperceptive fatigue 6.5. mental fatigue 5.2, and physical fatigue 4.9 in order. There were significantly differences in the score of fatigue by religion, number of family, present illness. and perception of body size.4. There were significantly positive relationships in the scores of fatigue with the total hours of housework, preparing and providing meal. doing laundry and maintaining clothes, keeping and maintaing house, and caring family.5. The physical fatigue scores were positively related with the areas of preparing and providing meal. doing laundry and maintaining clothes. While the mental fatigue scores were positively related the areas of preparing and providing meal. caring family, and keeping and maintaining house, and neuroperceptive fatigue scores were positively related with the areas of keeping and maintaining house and caring family. The recommendations from this study were further studies to investigate how middle-aged women manage their fatigue level. Increase public awareness of middle aged women's fatigue level. and develop programs for middle-aged women to help with high fatigue.