Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health

The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine (대한예방의학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

A Study of Predictive Factors Affecting Health: Promoting Behaviors of North Korean Adolescent Refugees

  • Noh, Jin-Won (Department of Healthcare Management and Institute of Global Healthcare Research, Eulji University) ;
  • Yun, Hyo-Young (Department of Korean Unification Studies, Yonsei University) ;
  • Park, Hyunchun (Department of Healthcare Management, Eulji University) ;
  • Yu, Shi-Eun (Department of North Korea Studies, Korea University)
  • Received : 2014.10.21
  • Accepted : 2015.07.22
  • Published : 2015.09.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Objectives: The present study aimed to analyze the factors that could affect the health-promoting behaviors of North Korean adolescent refugees residing in South Korea. Methods: Questions about their sociodemographic variables, subjective health status, healthy living habits, and health-promoting behaviors were asked. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in religion (t=2.30, p<0.05), having family members in South Korea (t=2.02, p<0.05), and subjective health status (t=4.96, p<0.01). Scores on health-responsible behaviors were higher with higher age (t=2.90, p<0.01) and for subjects without family or friends (t=2.43, p<0.05). Higher physical-activity behaviors were observed in males (t=3.32, p<0.01), in those with better subjective health status (t=3.46, p<0.05) and lower body mas index (t=3.48, p<0.05), and in smokers (t=3.17, p<0.01). Nutritional behaviors were higher in those who followed a religion (t=2.17, p<0.05). Spiritual growth behaviors were higher in those who followed a religion (t=4.21, p<0.001), had no family in South Korea (t=2.04, p<0.05), and had higher subjective health status (t=5.74, p<0.01). Scores on interpersonal relationships and stress-management behaviors were higher for those with higher subjective health status. A multiple regression analysis showed greater effects on health-promoting behaviors when subjective health status was better. Older people and non-smokers exhibited more health-responsible behaviors, while more physical-activity behaviors and spiritual growth activities were observed when subjective health status was better. Interpersonal relationship behaviors had positive effects on those with good subjective heath status and on non-smokers. Conclusions: Based on the results of the current study, an alternative was suggested for promoting health in North Korean adolescent refugees.

Keywords

References

  1. Ministry of Unification. Number of North Korean refugees entered the South Korea [cited 2015 Sep 5]. Available from: http://www.unikorea.go.kr/content.do?cmsid=1440 (Korean).
  2. Ministry of Education. The press on the plan for North Korean students' education support 2015; 2015 Mar 5 [cited 2015 Mar 5]. Available from: http://www.moe.go.kr/web/100026/ko/board/view.do?bbsId=294&pageSize=10¤tPage=0&encodeYn=N&boardSeq=58634&mode=view (Korean).
  3. Yoon IJ. Relationships between health and economic adaptation of North Korean migrants. Health Soc Sci 2007;21(1):65-96 (Korean).
  4. Kim HJ. Stress coping strategies of North Korean refugee adolescents in South Korea according to attribution style and defense style [dissertation]. Seoul: Seoul National University; 2013 (Korean).
  5. Kang HS, Lee H, Kim MW. The correlates of influenza vaccination among Korean elderly men and women. J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs 2011;22(1):45-55 (Korean). https://doi.org/10.12799/jkachn.2011.22.1.45
  6. Moon CJ. Sociology of health and medicine. Seoul: Shinkwang; 1990, p. 36-52 (Korean).
  7. Lee KJ, Park HS. A study on the perceived health status, depression, and activities of daily living for the elderly in urban areas. Korean J Women Health Nurs 2006;12(3):221-230 (Korean).
  8. National Youth Policy Institute. Korean survey on the health of youth and children in 2010. Sejong: National Youth Policy Institute; 2011, p. 23-36 (Korean).
  9. So SS, Kim HK, Kim CS. Comparative study of gender and school grade differences in adolescent health. Korean J Youth Stud 2011;18(10):317-340 (Korean).
  10. Yoon IJ. North Korean defector. Seoul: Jipmoondang; 2009, p. 227-241 (Korean).
  11. Jeon JH, Park Y. The effects of individual characteristics and health beliefs on North Korean refugees’ health behavior. J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs 2012;23(1):82-90 (Korean). https://doi.org/10.12799/jkachn.2012.23.1.82
  12. Kim BC, Yu SE. North Korean defectors panel study: economic adaptation mental health physical health. Seoul: North Korean Refugees Foundation; 2010, p. 68-94 (Korean).
  13. Kang Y, Ha Y, Eun Y. Health status and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II of North Korean immigrants. J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs 2012;23(3):231-243 (Korean). https://doi.org/10.12799/jkachn.2012.23.3.231
  14. Black C, Ford-Gilboe M. Adolescent mothers: resilience, family health work and health-promoting practices. J Adv Nurs 2004;48(4):351-360. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2004.03204.x
  15. Tajik M, Galvao HM, Eduardo Siqueira C. Health survey instrument development through a community-based participatory research approach: Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP-II) and Brazilian immigrants in Greater Boston. J Immigr Minor Health 2010;12(3):390-397. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-008-9209-4
  16. Walker SN, Sechrist KR, Pender NJ. The Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile: development and psychometric characteristics. Nurs Res 1987;36(2):76-81. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006199-198703000-00002
  17. Yun SN, Kim JH. Health-promoting behaviors of the women workers at the manufacturing industry: based on the Pender's health promotion model. Korean J Occup Health Nurs 1999;8(2):130-140 (Korean).
  18. Choe MA, Yi M, Choi JA, Shin G. Health Knowledge, Health promoting behavior and factors influencing health promoting behavior of North Korean defectors in South Korea. J Korean Acad Nurs 2012;42(5):622-631 (Korean). https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2012.42.5.622
  19. Kim MS, Kang HS, Cho KJ. Factors Influencing health-promotion behavior in adolescents. Korean J Child Health Nurs 2004;10(4):496-503 (Korean).
  20. Korea Hana Foundation. The survey of North Korean youth refugees. Seoul: Korea Hana Foundation; 2015, p. 252-308 (Korean).
  21. Kim HK. A qualitative study on the changing expectation of orphans coming from North Korea in South Korea. J Future Oriented Youth Soc 2013;10(2):69-101 (Korean).
  22. Kim HA, Bang KY. The experiences of workers at group homes for North Korean youth defectors. Stud Korean Youth 2012;23(3):137-170 (Korean).
  23. Kim DG. Religion psychology. Seoul: Hakgisa; 2003, p. 155-218 (Korean).
  24. Jeon WT, Cho YA. Religious experiences of North Korean defectors in South Korea and the role of churches for the Korean unification. Korean Unification Stud 2003;7(2):105-128 (Korean).
  25. Lee BS, Kim JS, Kim KS. Factors that affect the subjective health status of adolescents in multicultural families. J Korean Public Health Nurs 2013;27(1):64-75 (Korean). https://doi.org/10.5932/JKPHN.2013.27.1.64
  26. Kwon HJ, Cho KO, Oh JW, Lee O, Kim YS. Association between levels of physical activity and self-rated health in Korean adolescents: the 2009 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. Korean J Phys Educ 2012;51(5):253-261 (Korean).
  27. Mun YH. The state and factors associated with the level of physical activity and exercise in adolescents. J Korean Public Health Nurs 2007; 21(1):75-84 (Korean).
  28. Hwang JY, Chang NS. Dietary patterns and nutrient intake in North Koreans by utilizing literature search and survey. Korean J Community Nutr 2001;6(3):371-379 (Korean).
  29. Kim MJ, Jeong HS. Study on dietary habits of North Korean refugees. J East Asian Soc Diet Life 2011;21(1):1-13 (Korean).

Cited by

  1. The Role of Stress Management in the Relationship between Purpose in Life and Self-Rated Health in Teachers: A Mediation Analysis vol.13, pp.7, 2015, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13070719
  2. 여대생의 생활습관과 우울, 불안 및 생식건강과의 관계 vol.24, pp.1, 2015, https://doi.org/10.4069/kjwhn.2018.24.1.80
  3. Effects of Multidisciplinary Lifestyle Modification Program on Health-promoting Behavior, Psychological Distress, Body Composition and Reproductive Symptoms among Overweight and Obese Middle-aged Wome vol.31, pp.6, 2015, https://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2019.31.6.663
  4. 성별에 따른 대학생의 생활습관과 생식건강과의 관계 vol.25, pp.4, 2015, https://doi.org/10.4069/kjwhn.2019.25.4.446
  5. 유방암 생존자의 생활습관, 우울, 부부친밀도가 삶의 질에 미치는 영향 vol.26, pp.1, 2015, https://doi.org/10.4069/kjwhn.2020.03.05
  6. Influence of Type D personality on quality of life in university students: The mediating effect of health‐promoting behavior and subjective health status vol.57, pp.5, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.22357
  7. Effects of a Lifestyle Intervention Based on Type D Personality in Overweight and Obese Middle‐Aged Women: A Feasibility Study vol.17, pp.5, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1111/wvn.12457
  8. Health Promotion Behaviors, Subjective Health Status, and Job Satisfaction in Shift Work Nurses based on Type D Personality Pattern vol.27, pp.1, 2015, https://doi.org/10.11111/jkana.2021.27.1.12
  9. Reciprocal Prediction between Impulsivity and Problematic Internet Use among North Korean Refugee Youths in South Korea by Gender and Adverse Childhood Experience vol.18, pp.3, 2015, https://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2020.0231
  10. Effects of a Lifestyle Intervention on Health-Promoting Behavior, Psychological Distress and Reproductive Health of Overweight and Obese Female College Students vol.9, pp.3, 2015, https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9030309