2016 Volume 82 Issue 3 Pages 126-140
Objective: This study aims to investigate the factor influencing on constipation and health, and the effect of 7-day naturopathic activities on constipation and health.
Methods: This uncontrolled intervention study evaluated the risk factors on constipation and health by multiple linear regression with five indices from 138 high school girls in Korea by a self-reporting survey conducted on November 2nd, 2008. Moreover after 7-day naturopathic activities for a week, it analyzed their effect on constipation and health by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and multiple linear regression on November 8th, 2008.
Results: Lifestyle and stress significantly influenced constipation and health. The risk factors on constipation were daily water intake (p=0.010), favorite foods (p=0.011), exercise per day (p=0.008) and school stress (p=0.011). The risk factors on health were the frequency of snack per week (p=0.005), the volume of daily water intake (p=0.017), exercise per day (p=0.021), school stress (p=0.001) and home stress (p=0.001). 7-day naturopathic activities made significant decrease in constipation assessment scale (p=0.012), of which main effector was the volume of daily water intake (p=0.034). These activities made significant increase in health index (p=0.016), of which main effector was not in lifestyle index but might be in stress index. Meanwhile, they did not make significant fluctuation in defecation frequency per week and constipation self-awareness.
Conclusion: These results propose that constipation and health were significantly influenced by lifestyle and stress, and that 7-day naturopathic activities directly had significant effect on constipation and might indirectly have effect on health through connecting with stress reduction. These findings suggest the applicability of naturopathy for constipation care and health promotion.
