• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.4-14
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• 2023

This study aimed to discuss mental health services for children and adolescents that are being implemented as initiatives of the Korean government and to review the functions and roles of these projects during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three government departments are in charge of providing mental health services for children and adolescents: Ministry of Education, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and Ministry of Health and Welfare. The Ministry of Education has implemented several policies to facilitate the early detection of mental health issues among school students (from preventive interventions to selective interventions for high-risk students). The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family additionally serves out-of-school children and adolescents by facilitating early identification of adolescents in crises and providing temporary protection or emergency assistance (as required) through the Community Youth Safety-Net Project. Furthermore, the Ministry of Health and Welfare operates relevant mental health agencies for individuals of all ages including children and adolescents. Any high-risk students who have been screened through the projects of the Ministry of Education are supported through referrals to the following institutions for appropriate treatment of their symptoms: specialized hospitals, the Youth Counseling and Welfare Center operated by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the National Youth Healing Center, the Mental Health Welfare Center operated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Suicide Prevention Center, and the Child Welfare Center. To assist students who are facing any psychological difficulties because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Education has established a psychiatric support group for providing emergency mental health care; furthermore, schools are promoting psychological surveillance (e.g., provision of non-face-to-face counseling services that are centered around the Wee Center). The Ministry of Education, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and Ministry of Health and Welfare have provided varied mental health support services in order to address the challenges faced by children and adolescents during the pandemic. Nevertheless, the mental health services operated by each ministry do show some limitations because their service provision system is insufficiently collaborative. The present study discussed the positive effects of each initiative as well as its limitations; furthermore, it suggested improvements for facilitating the healthy development of children and adolescents' mental health.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.57-69
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of nutrition and health-related behavior on quality of life in some adolescents. Methods: The subjects of this study were total 243 middle school students in Deagu, Korea. A self-administrated questionnaires were used to obtain general characteristic, health-related behaviors, nutrition status, and quality of life. The height and weight of participants were measured, then calculated body mass index(BMI). To assess an association between nutrition and health-related behavior and quality of life, an univariate and multivariate analysis were applied using PASW Statistics 18(SPSS Inc, Chicago, USA). Results: As the perceived general health and subjective happiness were better, there were a higher score for all subscales of quality of life. The adolescents, the highest of total intake of energy and overweight, were more likely to have lower quality of life score but there were no statistically significant. Factors related to the adolescents's quality of life were found to be gender, perceived general health, subjective happiness and physical activity. Conclusions: Various factors were related to quality of life in adolescents. To improved the quality of life in adolescent, it is need to develope a physical activity program and counseling of mental condition as well as adequate diet programs.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.341-349
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• 2019

Background: A self-assessment questionnaire, the GERD-Questionnaire (GERD-Q) was used to determine the prevalence of GERD in adolescents, describe the related factors, and determine the impact on quality of life (QoL). Methods: The incidence of GERD was evaluated using the GERD-Q in adolescents aged 12-18 years. The Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Symptom Questionnaire and Quality of Life Questionnaire (PGSQ-A) for adolescents were additionally administered. Some factors considered related to GERD were also evaluated. Results: The 520 adolescents were included. The prevalence of suspected GERD, according to a GERD-Q cutoff score of ${\geq}7$ was 32.9%, and those drinking soda were 1.7 times more likely to have GERD (95% confidence interval, 1.3-2.2; p<0.001). However, soda consumption was not a risk factor for development of GERD symptoms. Applying a cutoff score of ${\geq}8$, only 10.9% of the participants had a positive GERD score, but the association with soda consumption persisted. The median PGSQ-A score in subjects suspected of GERD was 8 (range 0-37) on weekends and 1 (range 0-17) during weekdays (p<0.001) compared to those not suspected of GERD, with a median of 2 (range 0-27) during weekends and 0 (range 0-10) during weekdays. Heartburn, regurgitation, and extraesophageal symptoms correlated significantly with QoL (p<0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of suspected GERD in adolescents was 32.9% or 10.9%, depending on the cutoff score used. There was a statistically significant difference in PGSQ-A scores between the subjects suspected or not of GERD, indicating an impaired QoL.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.455-463
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• 2022

Objectives: Economic hardship has a serious impact on adolescents' mental health. The financial impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was more severe for low-income families, and this also impacted adolescents. This study aimed to examine the associations of economic deterioration (ED) caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and low socioeconomic status (SES) with adolescents' suicidal behaviors. Methods: This study analyzed data from the 2020 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, which included 54 948 middle and high school students. Odds ratios (ORs) of suicidal ideation, suicidal planning, and suicide attempts related to ED and SES were calculated using multivariable logistic regression. We calculated relative excess risks due to interaction to assess additive interactions. Results: The ORs for suicidal ideation, suicidal planning, and suicide attempts related to combined severe ED and low SES were 3.64 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.13 to 4.23), 3.88 (95% CI, 3.09 to 4.88), and 4.27 (95% CI, 3.21 to 5.69), respectively. Conclusions: ED and low SES were significantly associated with suicidal behaviors in adolescents. Although no significant additive interaction was found, the ORs related to suicidal ideation, suicidal planning, and suicide attempts were highest among adolescents from low-income families with severe ED. Special attention is needed for this group, considering the increased impact of economic inequality due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.38-47
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• 2023

In this study, we aimed to explore whether eating alone is associated with mental health conditions in Korean adolescents. The data of 2,012 Korean adolescents aged 12-18 years were obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015-2019. Participants were classified into three groups based on the frequency of eating alone: none (all meals with others); 1 meal/day alone; and ≥2 meals/day alone. Mental health conditions were assessed based on stress recognition, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation. Multivariable logistic regressions were employed to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of poor mental health conditions according to the frequency of eating alone. Adolescents who ate ≥2 meals/day alone had higher odds of stress recognition (AOR: 2.65, 95% CI: 1.94-3.63), depressive symptoms (AOR: 2.55, 95% CI: 1.47-4.42), and suicidal ideation (AOR: 2.53, 95% CI: 1.05-6.08) than those who ate all their meals with others. In addition, having breakfast or dinner alone increased the odds of stress recognition. Considering the continuous increase in the social phenomenon of eating alone, nutritional educations are needed to develop adolescents' ability to choose more nutritionally balanced and healthy meals when eating alone.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.9 no.7
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• pp.85-93
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to identify the influence of demographic characteristics such as inappropriate lifestyle, stress, and health status among health risk factors of early adolescents according to gender. There is a gender difference in the perception of mental and physical health of early adolescents, and the result can be different in behavior patterns between men and women. This study was conducted to identify the health risk factors as independent variables for early adolescents in Daegu and Gyeongbuk area, and to analyze the determinants of gender (male, female) differences by parents, family environment, friends, academic background, appearance, grade, location, school grades, family situation, and health status as demographic factors. And, the Odds Ratio of the early adolescents was analyzed through logit analysis and the differences according to the influence relationship of each of them were examined. As a result of the analysis, the more the sleep and physical activity, parents, home environment, friends, academic background, and appearance are increased, the more the influence is likely to become on the male students. On the contrary, the rest of the health risk factors can increase, and the threat to the health risk factors is likely to become severe to the female students.Among them, it is necessary to develop a pre-preventive program for early adolescents' health risk factors, provide basic data for practical application in the field, and seek a detailed program according to the gender of early adolescents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.175-183
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the factors that influence sleep satisfaction among adolescents with Allergic Rhinitis in Korea. Methods: Data were obtained from 21,480 subjects who completed the 2018 14^th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. The data were analyzed using complex samples logistic regression with PASW 18.0. Results: The factors influencing sleep satisfaction were gender, grade, academic achievement, economic status, living arrangement, physical activity, drinking, smoking, stress, depression, perceived health status and perceived body image. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop interventions considering general and health-related characteristics in order to improve sleep satisfaction among adolescents with allergic rhinitis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.148-155
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• 2020

Purpose: The study was performed to identify the relationship between particulate matter and allergic diseases among adolescents in South Korea. Methods: The study used the raw data from the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey which was performed in 2018. The data of a total of 60,040 students were analyzed, using SPSS 21, by descriptive statistics, t-test, χ2 test, and logistic regression. Results: Allergic diseases among adolescents were showed to be significantly related to gender, age, school record, stress, BMI, insufficient sleep, depression, current drinking, current smoking, and particulate matter concentrations. Conclusion: The findings suggest that a health promotion program that considers particulate matter concentrations be developed to improve the health status of adolescents with allergic diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.56 no.11
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• pp.459-464
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• 2013

Improving mental health and reducing the burden of mental illness are complementary strategies which, along with the treatment and rehabilitation of people with mental disorders, significantly improve population health and well-being. A Institute of Medicine report describes a range of interventions for mental disorders that included treatment and maintenance, reserving the term "prevention" for efforts that occur before onset of a diagnosable disorder. Mental health problems affect 10-20% of children and adolescents worldwide. Despite their relevance as a leading cause of health-related disability and their long lasting consequences, the mental health needs of children and adolescents are neglected. Early intervention can help reduce the significant impacts that children and adolescents with serious mental health problems may experience. Screening is the first step in early intervention, recognizing emotional and behavioral problems and providing help at an early stage. It is essential to implement early intervention in a sensitive and ethical manner to avoid any of the negative outcomes.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.153-164
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined whether there is a relationship between smoking and health behavior and the status of cigarette or e-cigarette smoking adolescents. Methods: This study, as secondary analysis research, used the raw data from the 14th Korea youth risk behavior survey 2018. The data were analyzed by frequency analysis, Rao-Scott 𝑥²-test, and logistic regression analysis. Results: Differences in gender, economic levels, and the educational levels of mothers were observed between cigarette smoking and e-cigarette smoking adolescents. The relationship between smoking and health behavior and status was examined by comparing cigarette and e-cigarette smoking. The results showed that the ratio of e-cigarettes was relatively higher in adolescents who have substance experiences. In contrast, cigarette smoking was related to drinking and perceived lack of sleep. Conclusion: This study suggests that it is necessary to develop healthy behavior that is strongly related to the smoking types of adolescents and health promotion programs.