A Study on Writing Methods for Self-Care in Midlife

초록

This study examines the rising suicide rate among middle-aged adults in South Korea, a country with the highest suicide rate among OECD members. Middle age is a stage of peak productivity and social responsibility, yet it is also marked by physical decline, identity challenges, and emotional isolation. Addressing self-care in this period requires more than health management; it involves reconstructing one’s sense of self. Drawing on the physical, cognitive, and emotional characteristics of middle age, this paper proposes three self-care writing practices. First, sensory-memory writing reactivates bodily senses and recollections, enabling the recovery of forgotten emotions and reinforcing the sense of existence. Second, reflective journaling on cognitive schemas helps individuals examine repetitive thought patterns and biases, fostering flexible self-understanding. Third, copied Writing of texts internalizes others’ ideas, transforming them into personal language, which supports emotional purification and the reconstruction of self-meaning. These practices collectively function as therapeutic tools, allowing middle-aged adults to navigate existential challenges, restore self-awareness, and strengthen psychological resilience. They offer a practical, introspective approach to mitigating the heightened risks of emotional distress and suicide during this life stage.

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