• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.189-224
• /
• 2010

Nowadays Korean society has a fast growing population of North Korean immigrant youth. Especially, North Korean immigrant youth, who are discontinuing formal education, experience difficulties in social exclusion and adaptation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of adaptation and social support of North Korean immigrant youth discontinuing formal education, and to seek affirmative supporting plans and solutions for their adaptation. The methodology utilized for this study was a case study research. On the basis of the results and categorization, 'a network between overall categories and of early adaptation' was derived. The major findings of this study are summarized as follows. First, the participants of this study experienced major difficulties during 'economical adaptation', and their economical adaptation was strongly interrelated with their 'educational adaptation'. The discontinuing of their education resulting from their fleeing period caused 'academic differential and age disparity.' Thus they could not enroll in the formal education system, and their insufficient educational background resulted in low wages and overwork due to manual labor jobs. Second, participants recognized 'interpersonal relations' as the most essential factor in adaptation, and 'social support' from the interpersonal relations played an important role in adaptation to and comfort in Korean society. 'Interactions with South Koreans' was recognized as a significant resource for gaining informational and appraisal support, but was not activated satisfactorily. On the other hand, interaction with North Korean immigrants was avoided by the reason that 'there's nothing to learn', however emotional support from North Korean immigrants of close relationship played an important role in participants' adaptation, especially in all aspects of psychological adaptation. Third, participants experienced a lot of difficulties and stresses in their 'physical health and psychological adaptation'. Their chronic diseases worsened by remaining untreated, and female perceived symptoms were observed more often than in male. Meanwhile, excessive 'stresses' from the unfamiliar environment of South Korea negatively affected their psychological adaptation. However, they were satisfied with sense of liberty and security from living in a democratic society.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.40 no.6
• /
• pp.517-525
• /
• 2007

This study was performed to assess the effects of physiological factors and lifestyles on bone mineral density (BMD) in 64 postmenopausal women. Sixty four subjects were selected out of 223 postmenopausal women in Seoul and Kyunggido. The BMD of the lumbar spine (L2 ${\rightarrow}$ L4) and femoral neck were measured dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Subjects were assigned to one of three groups such as normal (T-score > -1, n = 20), osteopenia (-2.5 < Tscore ${\leq}$ -1, n = 24), and osteoporosis (T-score ${\leq}$ -2.5, n = 20). Anthropometric measurements and questionares were administered to these women. The mean age, height, weight and BMI were 62.09 yrs, 153.78 cm, 56.09 kg and 23.70 $kg/m^2$ respectively. The BMDs of lumbar spines (L2 ${\rightarrow}$ L4), femoral neck were 0.84 $g/cm^2$, 0.71 $g/cm^2$ respectively. Years after menopause and age of last delivery of the osteoporosis and osteopenia group were significantly longer than the normal group (p < 0.05). The hours of exercise and outdoor activity of the normal group were longer than the osteoporosis and osteopenia group, but there were no significant differences among the three groups. The BMDs of these two sites were positively correlated with weight, BMI, hip and body fat and negatively correlated with LBM, TBW. These results show there are no consistent effects on bone mineral density, adjusting for age and BMI, of physiological factors and lifestyles in postmenopausal women. Therefore. this study confirmed that one of the most effective ways to minimize bone loss in postmenopausal women would be to maintain an adequate body weight.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.126-134
• /
• 2020

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the needs for return-to-work support of cancer survivors and related factors in patients with cancer and their caregivers. Methods : 182 patients and 114 caregivers were recruited. Distress Thermometer and Problem List and scale ranging 0~10 measuring the degree of needs for return-to-work support were utilized. The needs for return-to-work support between the patient group and caregiver group (patient's needs evaluated by the caregiver) were compared, and related factors were investigated using logistic regression analysis. Results : 34.6% and 28.1% of patients and caregivers reported return-to-work support of cancer survivors is "very necessary". The degree of needs was 6.60±3.365 points in the patient group and 6.17±3.454 points in the caregiver group, with no significant difference (p=0.282). The needs for return-to-work support evaluated by patients was high when they underwent surgery (OR=2.592, p=0.007), has fertility problems (OR=6.137, p=0.025), has appearance problems (OR=2.081, p=0.041), or has fatigue (OR=2.330, p=0.020). The needs for return-to-work support of patients evaluated by caregivers was high when patients treated with breast cancer (vs respiratory cancer, OR=13.038, p=0.022 ; vs leukemia/lymphoma, OR=4.517, p=0.025 ; vs other cancer, OR=13.102, p=0.019), has work/school problems (OR=4.578, p=0.005), or has depression (OR=3.213, p=0.022). Conclusions : The degree of needs for return-to-work support of cancer survivors was high, and factors related to the needs were different between the two groups. This suggests that return-to-work support of cancer survivors is required, and clinical characteristics, the distress of patients, and differences between patients and their caregivers should be considered in establishing a support plan.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.62-66
• /
• 2008

Purpose : In addition to epileptic seizures (ES), a variety of physiologic, organic and psychogenic disorders can manifest as paroxysmal behavioral events. Paroxysmal nonepileptic events (PNEs) are quite encountered in infants, young children, and adolescents. In a substantial proportion of cases, a careful history and examination will elucidate their nature. However, in other cases, it is necessary to differentiate PNEs from ES by video-electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring. We report our experiences with PNEs in a group of children and adolescents who underwent video-EEG monitoring. Methods : From September, 2004 to June, 2006, one hundred thirty patients were monitored in the Pediatric Epilepsy Monitoring Units of Korea University Guro and Ansan hospitals. Their hospital charts were reviewed and video records of these events were analyzed. We observed all patients after video-EEG monitoring for more than 3 months. Results : Typical spells occurred during monitoring in 33 patients, not associated with a seizure pattern on EEG recordings. Two patients were diagnosed as frontal lobe epilepsy on basis of typical semiology and clinical characteristics, so 31 patients were documented to have PNEs finally. The mean age of patients was $7.2{\pm}5.8\;years$. The male to female ratio was 15 (48.4%) to 16 (51.6%). Among 31 patients, fifteen patients had associated disorders such as epilepsy, developmental delay, cerebral palsy, gastric ulcer, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or depressive disorder. Somatoform disorder and factitious disorder was frequently seen in children more than 5 years old (P<0.05). Psychogenic disorder was more frequent in female (n=6) than in male (n=2) but there was no statistical significance (P>0.05). Conclusion : Our study suggests that video-EEG monitoring is an important diagnostic tool in the evaluation of paroxysmal behavioral events. With correct diagnosis of the PNEs, several unnecessary treatment could be avoided.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.93-109
• /
• 2017

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the subjective perception to the nutrient intake and mental health of Korean adolescents by the residual method. This study was based on data from the 5th and 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2014) of the 2,961 total subjects(male 1,548, female 1,413, aged 12 to 19 years). The nutrient intake was collected by using the 24 hr recall method and mental health and BMI were collected by the health interview survey and physical examination research. An analysis of the relationship between the subjective perception and BMI showed that the proportion of those with a distorted perception of their body type was the highest among adolescents with normal weight(p for trend, <.001). Especially, regarding the subjective body type, the proportion of adolescents who perceived themselves overweight was significantly higher among females as compared to that among males (p for trend, <.001). An analysis of nutrient intake status against the subjective perception showed that the group of adolescents who perceived themselves overweight had the lowest scores on the index of nutritional quality (INQ), nutritional adequacy ratio (NAR) and mean adequacy ratio (MAR) (p for trend, <.001). With respect to the daily intake of major nutrients, adolescents who perceived themselves overweight consumed the lowest amounts of total energy (p for trend, <.01) and carbohydrate (p for trend,<.001). An analysis of the mental health status of the adolescents showed that those who perceived themselves overweight had the highest levels of stress recognition and depression (p<0.01). In conclusion, the adolescents' subjective perception is associated with their nutrient intake and mental health. Therefore, some educational programs are desirable to help the adolescents to have their desirable subjective perception and to increase their satisfaction with their body type.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.67-75
• /
• 2002

Objectives：This study was conducted to investigate the degree of psychopathologies of the family members of children with chronic convulsive disorder and evaluate the structures and dynamics of those families. Methods：The participant patients and family members were recruited from the population attending the outpatient clinic of department of pediatric neurology in Seoul National University Hospital in Korea. All the patients had idiopathic chronic convulsive disorder. Any patient with mental retardation, pervasive developmental disorder and gross brain pathology was excluded. As controls, normal students were chosen and their sex, age, achievement, socioeconomic status were matched to patients. The author interviewed the children and their family members twice and obtained informations about patient-parent relationship, patient-sibling relationship and others. For in-depth evaluation, we used family environment scales(FES), symptom Checklist-90-revised(SCL-90-R), self administered dependency questionnaire for mother(SADQ). Results：After interviewing with the parents of epileptic children, overprotection of parents, hostile feeling of siblings toward index children were higher than controls. The parental conflict was also more expressed than control families. According to results from FES, the scores of the subscales of expression, achievement-orientation, intelligence-orientation and active recreation were significantly lower than control group. The epileptic children showed higher dependency to parents especially in affection, communication and traveling areas of SADQ than control group. Maternal psychopathologies evaluated by SCL-90-R were much higher than the mothers of controls. According to T scores of SCL-90-R, about 40% of mothers with epileptic children had the risk of clinically significant depressive or anxiety disorders. Conclusion：These results suggested that the family members of epileptic children had more relationship problems and psychopathologies than control group and some mothers might have clinically significant depressive or anxiety disorders. so, effective psychiatric family interventions are needed for resolution of conflict and psychopathologies of family members.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.41 no.8
• /
• pp.776-785
• /
• 2008

Maternal stress was one of the common symptoms that pregnant women could have experienced during pregnant period. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation of maternal stress with maternal nutrients intake and pregnancy outcome. Subjects were 248 pregnant women and were recruited at two hospitals in Seoul area. Individual stress levels were divided by the stress scores (total 41 scores), as low stressed group (< 12) and high stressed group (${\geqq}12$). The social characteristics, nutrient intake, anthropometric measurements and pregnancy outcome were compared between low stressed group (LSG) and high stressed group (HSG) to recognize risk factor of maternal stress. We found that subjects experience stress by various factors which were concern about newborn (40.4%), concern about health (28.8%), economic difficulties (13.2%), depress (10.1%), family relationship (2.9%), concern of house work (2.5%), human relationship (2%). In HSG, unemployed rate (p < 0.05) and pre-pregnancy BMI (p < 0.05) were higher than in LSG. Family size in HSG was larger than that in LSG (p < 0.01). Doing regular exercise with the light activity level was significantly higher in LSG (p < 0.05). The nutrient intake in LSG was slightly higher than that in HSG, but not statistically significant. Pregnancy outcome was not significantly affected by the maternal stress. In conclusion, the risk of maternal stress may be related with a life style during pregnancy. Therefore, life style for maternal stress control, such as weight control and regular exercise is recommended to prevent maternal stress.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.27-41
• /
• 2000

Objects：This study was designed for studying of current Korean adolescents computer game playing habits and exploring associations with parental rearing patterns and individual psychopathology. Methods：One hundred twenty four adolescents(age 13-15) who reside in urban area completed self-report questionnaires containing Questionnaires designed by authors, Symptom Checklist-90-Revision of Korean Version(SCL-90-R) and Parental Bonding Instrument(PBI). Results：1) Computer game playing appears to be one of the social and leisure phenomena in these days. Although Adolescents spend a lot of times on computer game, Many of them perceive not problematic. 2) Compared with females, Male play computer games more regularly, more longer, spent more times in gamebang. 3) There was positive relationship between anxiety subscale in SCL-90-R and detrimental effects of computer game. 4) There was positive relationship between game frequency and maternal overprotection. 5) The main reasons for playing are 'for an avoidance of stressful life events', academic burden was the most troublesome issues in korean adolescents. 6) Many adolescents use gamebang as a social place, but they thought that gamebang is not good places to have a good time. Conclusion：This papers shows that computer game playing is a popular social leisure activity in Korean adolescents. And, Most of korean adolescents reported that they are suffered from pressure of academic achievements. They use computer game mainly by means of relieving academic pressures. In a heavy game users who have many conflicts with parents, teacher and who has frequent truancy and social withdrawal show significant anxiety. Maternal overprotection was observed in heavy game users. Authors recommended that clinicians should be careful in examining heavy computer game behaviors. Both underlying affective states and environmental influences, including family situations should be vicariously examined.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.57-69
• /
• 1997

Objective：At the present time in Korea, for a considerable proportion of children and adolescent, delinquent behavior and violence has become as a way of life in their lives and a major social problem issue as well. The contributing factors to this problem were assumed to be the negative interaction between family environment and character of adolescent. The purpose of this study is to search the relationship between these constructs and juvenile delinquency. Method：Data were collected through questionnaire survey over a period of 2 months. Subjects served for this study consisted of 1,863 adolescents including 657 delinquent adolescents and 1,206 student adolescents in Korea, sampled from Korean student population and delinquent adolescent population confined in juvenile corrective institutions, using proportional stratified random sampling method. Their age ranged between 12 and 18 years. Data were analysed by IBM PC using SAS program. Statistical methods employed were Chi-square and principal component analysis. Results：The results of this study were as follows：Inconsistency by parental child rearing patterns tended to affect delinquent behavior among delinquent adolescents. On the other hand, adolescent students were consistently reared by their parent with democratic, flexible, trusting their children and reward-oriented attitudes. In comparison of both parents in the degree of influence on their children, it was revealed that paternal child rearing pattern was more influential on their children’s behaviors than maternal’s. The psychological instability of family, disharmonious parent-child relationships tended to be contributing to delinquent behavior among delinquent adolescents. Especially, It was an interesting finding that student’s mother is the higher employed than delinquent’s mother. However working mother was more prevalent in the student’ adolescents than in student adolescents in previous studies. The delinquent adolescents have more depressive trend, more complaints of psychosomatic symptoms, the higher degree of need frustration, the more maladaptive and antisocial personality pattern than student adolescents. Conclusion：Recently, many studies on association between family factor, character of adolescent and juvenile delinquent behavior have produced relatively consistent results. This study showed that family environment and character trait of adolescent also were linked with delinquent behavior such as smoking, drinking, runaway and physical assaults etc. The results of this survey may provide impetus for future speculation and study of correlation or reciprocal interaction between family factor, character trait of adolescent and delinquent behavior during adolescence and beyond.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.29-36
• /
• 2007

The using frequency of processed foods and dietician's perception against management of food service at 98 food service institutions located in Jeollabuk-Do were surveyed. Food service institutions included 13 hospitals,38 schools,40 enterprises, and 7 others. Single menu (75.5%) with two (33.7%) or three (57.1%) side dish was offered. In addition, the offering ratio of boiled water and spring water was 37.8 and 32.7%, respectively. The processed foods with high using frequency were kochujang (1.19), sesame oil (1.22), and doenjang (1.30), but that of leek, onion, Chinese cabbage, and radish were 4.95, 4.62, 4.60, and 4.26, respectively. Dietician's major affairs in all type of food service institutions were cooking (64.3%), purchase (48.0%), and personnel managements (39.8%). Dieticians, however, had a low perception against safety and nutrition management. Therefore, in order to prevent the outbreak of food-borne diseases, we estimated that the education and the conversion of dietician' perception against safety and nutrition management were needed.