• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.117-126
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• 2018

Purpose: The leading cause of death among teenagers in Korea is suicide. Also, it is known that mental health of Korean adolescents identified based on the levels of perceived stress or depression is very poor. The purpose of this study was to examine the current status of student mental health programs in Korea and the associated problems and to explore ways to make the programs more effective. Methods: The subjects of the study were a total of 115 school nurses and school counselors in elementary, middle and high schools. The study examined the current status and the associated problems of school mental health programs as well as the needs for teacher training programs related to student mental health. Results: Few mental health programs other than counseling for at-risk students were being carried out. The problems associated with student mental health management were, in terms of management, 'accountability in case of incidents such as student suicide' and 'parents uncooperative in their kid's mental health management (visit to hospital, etc.)' and, in terms of manpower, 'unclear R&R between school nurses and school counselors' and, more fundamentally, 'the lack of human resources.' The needs for teacher training programs related to student mental health were very high and the content required most was 'ways to manage stress of students and teachers themselves,' followed by 'interpersonal conflicts management & conservational skills,' and 'ways to manage student mental illness.' Conclusion: In conclusion, to increase the effectiveness of student mental health programs, we should move on from the current system which focuses only on early discovery and intervention to a more comprehensive system that includes preventive approaches, while having clearer R&R and more workforce dedicated to student mental health programs and attracting more parental cooperation and support.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.301-307
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• 2016

Objectives: This study investigated the association between perceived ethnic discrimination and depressive symptoms among biethnic adolescents in South Korea. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 4141 biethnic adolescents using data from the 2012 National Survey of Multicultural Families. Perceived ethnic discrimination was measured using the question "Have you ever been discriminated against or ignored because either of your parents is not a Korean?" with an assessment of depressive symptoms over the past 12 months. Logistic regression was applied to examine potential associations between perceived ethnic discrimination and depressive symptoms. Results: Among 4141 biethnic adolescents, 558 (13.5%) reported having experienced ethnic discrimination. The most common discriminatory perpetrators were friends (n=241, 5.8%), followed by strangers (n=67, 1.6%). Depressive symptoms were related to experience of ethnic discrimination (odds ratio [OR], 3.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.89 to 4.98) after adjusting for potential confounders. In an analysis focusing on the perpetrators of discrimination, depressive symptoms were found to be associated with perceived ethnic discrimination from friends (OR, 3.95; 95% CI, 2.75 to 5.68), teachers (OR, 4.53; 95% CI, 2.16 to 9.51), family members and relatives (OR, 3.89; 95% CI, 1.59 to 9.48), neighbors (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.14 to 5.38), and strangers (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.30 to 4.79). Furthermore, the OR for depressive symptoms among those exposed to 1, 2, or 3 or more discriminatory perpetrators were 3.61 (95% CI, 2.49 to 5.24), 3.61 (95% CI, 1.68 to 7.74), and 6.69 (95% CI, 2.94 to 15.22), respectively. Conclusions: According to our findings, friends were the most common perpetrators of discrimination and the experience of ethnic discrimination was associated with depressive symptoms among biethnic adolescents in South Korea.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.525-533
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to verify the relationship among depression, school adjustment, parent-child bonding, parental control and smartphone addiction, and to identify factors which influence smartphone addiction in adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used, with a convenience sample of 183 middle school students from 3 middle schools. Data collection was conducted through self-report questionnaires from April to May, 2017. Data were analyzed using ${\chi}^2$ test, Fisher's exact test, t-test, one-way ANOVA, correlation coefficient analysis, and binary logistic regression with SPSS Ver. 21.0. Results: The mean score for smartphone addiction was 29.40. Of the adolescents, 21.3% were in the smartphone addiction risk group. Logistic regression analysis showed that gender (OR=7.09, 95% Cl: 2.57~19.52), school life (OR=0.86, 95% Cl: 0.79~0.93), smartphone usage time (OR=1.32, 95% Cl: 1.04~1.66), and parental control (OR=4.70, 95% Cl: 1.04~21.29) were effect factors for the smartphone addiction risk group. Conclusion: Findings indicate that school satisfaction was an important factor in adolescents' smartphone addiction. Control oriented parent management of adolescents' smartphone use did not reduce the risk of smartphone addiction and may have worsen the addiction. Future research is needed to improve understanding of how teachers and parents will manage their adolescents' use of smartphones.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.3-9
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• 2006

Objectives: Obesity is one of risk factors for psychological and social adjustment problems (depression, low self esteem, low school function etc). Quality of life(QOL) is comprehensive and multidimensional construct including physical, emotional, social and school functioning. Some authors reported that child and adolescent obesity is associated with impaired QOL. This study was to examine the association between QOL and body mass index (BMI) in middle school students. Methods : Cross sectional analysis of 471 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 14 years ($mean{\pm}SD,\;13.4{\pm}0.6$), who attended one of middle schools in Seoul, Korea. Participants' QOL were scored by using Korean version of pediatric QOL inventory generic score scale ($PedsQL^{TM}$ 4.0). Participants had a $mean{\pm}SD\;BMI\;of\;21.3{\pm}4.0$. Self reports and parent proxy reports using $PedsQL^{TM}$ 4.0 were administered to measure participant's QOL. Participants were divided into four groups by BMI (Male: obesity group >26.5, at risk group 23.2-26.5, normal weight group 15.8-23.1, underweight group <15.8, Female : obesity group >25.2, at risk group 22.9-25.2, normal weight group 16.0-22.8, underweight group <16.0). Results : Compared with other groups, obese adolescents reported significantly(p<0.01) love. QOL in all domains. Obese adolescents were more likely to have impaired QOL than normal weight adolescents (Odds Ratio, 8.3, 95% confidence interval, 4.0-16.7). Conclusion : Obese adolescents have lower QOL than normal weight adolescents. Psychiatrist, parents, and teachers need to be informed of the risk fur impaired QOL in obese adolescents to target interventions that could enhance health outcomes.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.17-33
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• 2000

The aim of this study is having the status, knowledge and attitude of the high school attendees toward smoking be analyzed, helping to make effective health education methods to diminish adolescent smoking habits. The field self-questionnaire investigation has been performed from Oct 10th through 23rd in 1999. The whole 427 cases were distributed to 1st and 2nd grade students of randomly selected men's high school in Seoul. And 414 cases (97%) were finally selected for analysis after exclusion of cases with insufficient information. The main contents of questionnaire are composed of several sectors; the general characteristics of the interviewees, the relationship with parents, the life style and the peer relationship in school. And smoking-related characteristics are taken into consideration, too. The major findings of the study are as follows: The smoking/non-smoking related factors are, in socio-demographical terms, the grade, average spending per month of the interviewees. And the degree of satisfactory relationship with parents is significant on smoking behavior. The higher, the degree of satisfaction on school life and relationship with designated teacher, the more chances of non-smoking habit. Poor academic grades and peer group dependability of interviewees cause higher smoking habit rate in other way. The self-interviewees grade and cohabitation with parents are also significant on both the attitude toward smoking habit and the knowledge on smoking statistically. The academic history and vocations of the parents and the academic grades of interviewees are also effective variables, but don't make any gap between groups knowledge on smoking. Smoking groups used to have positive attitude toward smoking habit. Both the attitude and knowledge on smoking by the consideration of Quit-smoking have statistically significance. The groups which have negative attitude and high knowledge on smoking quit-smoking into consideration. And the primary cause of quit-smoking is on health by smoking. Depression, stress, adult smoking in the house, peer group pressure, cigarettes advertisements on papers and magazines and smoking scenes on TV have positive correlation on forming smoking habit (p〈0.001) But the knowledge on diseases triggered by smoking has negative correlation on forming smoking habit. (p〈0.05, p〈0.001). Social factors as monthly spending, relationship and communication with parents, the degree of satisfaction in school life, academic grades and student-teacher relationship have crucial negative correlation on smoking habit. That is to say, the higher, the monthly spending is, the worse, the relationship with parents and teachers is, the lower, the academic grades of the student is, the percentage of the interviewees who have smoking habit seems to get higher.

• Journal of The Korean Association of Information Education
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.107-115
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• 2006

As the use of computers and the Internet become more commonplace, many children are using the Internet. The Internet is rapidly permeating into the daily lives of elementary school students. There are some positive effects of using the Internet: it helps children's studies and communication skills and relives stress. However, some negative effects are arising, such as aggressive behavior caused by Internet games, sleeping disorders, and Internet addiction. The goal of this disquisition was to find out how an upper class of elementary school children are using the Internet and also the degree of their Internet addictions. The effects that Internet addiction had on various aspects, such as on the individual, family, and school were observed. In the individual aspect, self-respect, self-control, awareness of stress, depression, and personal taste were observed. In the aspect of family, communication with parents, the nursing behavior of parents, family functions, friendliness within the family, and the family's emotional support were observed. In the aspect of school, relationships with teachers, relationships with friends, study activities, compliance to rules and participation in events were observed. By analyzing each cause of Internet addiction, this disquisition hopes to help prevent Internet addiction and to support educational guiding about Internet addiction of elementary school children.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.221-235
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• 1998

This study is a descriptive survey to explore the health lifestyle of adults. The study subjects are teachers of elementary. middle and high school. and staffs of research institutes located in Chungchung Province and Daejon city. The data was collected from Jan. to march 1997 through self reporte for structured questionnaire. Fantastic check list of Wilson and Ciliska for Health Lifestyle Assessment and DSM-III-R for somatic symptom were used as tools. Data was analysed by frequency, $X^2_test$, t-test and Anova using SAS program. The results are as follows: 1. There were statistically significant differences In drinking(t=7.75, P=.000), exercise(t=-2.99, P=.003)and interpersonal relationship(t=2.22, P=.027) among 10 health lifestyle between smoking group and non-smoking group, in drinking(t=17.98, P=.000), exercise(-4.71. P=.000), and job satisfaction(t=2.22, P=.027) between drinking group and non-drinking group, and in eating habit(t=-2.00, P=.045), drinking (t=4.47, P=000), exercise (t= -16.49, P=000), keeping traffic law(t= -2.68, P=.007), personality (t= -2.05, P=.040) and anxiety/depression(t=-3.47, P=.000) between exercise group and non-exercise group. 2. There was statistically significant difference in cardiovascular symptom(F=4.22, P=.0l) among somatic symptoms of subjects according to exercise level. 3. There was statistically significance difference in lifestyle according to smoking level(F=, 3.33, P=.011), drinking level(F=9.17, P=.0001) and exercise level(F=11.93, P=.000l), and in somatic symptom according to sex(t=-3.93, P=.0001), weight(F=3.83, P=.022), exercise level (F=3.29, P=.03) among general characteristics. 4. There was statistically significant difference between sex in general (t= -3.64, P=.0001), gastrointestinal(t=-2.21, P=.02), musculoskeletal(t=-3.92, P=.001), and total symptom (t= -3.92, P=.0001). 5. There was statistically very highly signigicant difference In weight according to smoking($x^2=25.18,\; P=.001)$ and exercise$(x^2=16.46,\; P=001)$. 6. There was statistically significant difference in frequency between smoking group, drinking group and exercise group$(x^2=24.52,\;P=.001)$. Among a number of habit, smoking, drinking and exercise are important factors of human health to prevent related disease morbidity and death. It is essential for industrial health nurse to committ in this subject considering the influence of those factors and lifestyle on health. There is also a relationship of weight with smoking and exercise, the frequency of overweight/obesiy in smoking/ no-exercise group were high. It is quite necessary for the people having cardiovascular symptom to exercise to lower morbidity and mortality. The industrial health nurse has to keep In mind on this point and consider of time and facilities of fitness of employee. It needs to explore the cause by further research on somatic symptom of women. This research shows that concerning the relationship between smoking, drinking, and exercise, health care provider must take not only management of disease, but health behaviors and lifestyle into consideration.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.14 no.1_spc
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• pp.299-317
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• 2008

The school drop-out among the youth has grown to become a serious social problem since about 2000 and calls for an attention to its seriousness. Therefore, this study reviewed the statitistical reports and the previous empirical findings on the school drop-out and integrated to establish a comprehensive understanding of this social phenomenon. The main concepts and terminologies on school drop-out, the current statistics, the possible causal factors and the usual trajectory the youth take after dropping-out of school were discussed to conceptualize the issue. Analyses indicated 12 characteristics of the students who dropped out of school. Those 12 characteristics were restructured according to the ecological conceptual model. The social instability and the financial crisis in the 1990's has eroded the stability of the primary environments of adolescents such as family and school. The family breakdowns from divorce and other reasons weakened psychological and financial support for adolescents. The diminished authority of teachers and school over students exposed conflicts between teacher and students, students' loss of purpose and interest in academic attainment. The adolescents showed emotional reponses like increased level of depression, helplessness, aggression, indicated cognitive reponses such as the loss of purpose and interest in studying, a heightened sense of uncertainty of the future, and behavioral responses like sexual acting out behaviors, and bullying. The unmet psychological needs of adolescents result in run-away and school drop-out behaviors, which in turn progress into juvenile delinquency as the society fails to provide adequate and appropriate guidance and interventions. The intervention strategies at the national level were proposed and the limitations of the study were discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.190-202
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• 1996

This study assessed psychiatrically referred 5-to 13-year-old children who presented inattention or hyperactivity as chief complaints. Demographic characteristics, primary diagnosis, and comorbid psychiatric conditions of them were identified, and they were assessed using questionnaires and neuropsychological tests. Primary diagnoses included ADHD, anxiety disorder, mental retardation, depression, oppositional defiant disorder, developmental language disorder and others. functional enuresis, conduct disorder, and developmental language disorder were among the secondarily diagnosed disorders. In patients diagnosed as ADHD, overall comorbidity rate was 55.3%. The disorders that frequently co-occured with ADHD were specific developmental disorder, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, anxiety disorder and other. ADHD groups with or without comorbidity differed in performance IQ and CPT scores. ADHD group differed from externalizing disorders group in the information subscore of IQ, MFFT, and CPT scores, and differed in teachers rating scales, the uncommunication factor of CBCL, and CPT card error compared with internalizing disorders group. The authors concluded that inattentive or hyperactive children should be assessed using various instruments to differentiate other disorders and to identify possible presence of comorbid conditions.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.57-72
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of academic stress levels on life-style behaviors and mental health among the junior high school students in Korea. A convenient sample drawn from the 842 students from 8 junior high schools in Seoul and Kyunggi-Do area was investigated with a survey instrument. Female students showed higher academic stress levels compared to male students, especially in terms of the stress related to teachers, class time, and peer relationships. For the male students, higher stress levels were related to the higher risk factors of smoking, drinking and inhaling drug abuse. Students who had higher academic stress levels spent more time in using computer and playing digital games compared to those who had lower academic stress. In addition, higher academic stress levels were significantly related to risk of mental health, especially depression. These results suggest the urgent needs of preventive or educational program to support students with academic stress resolve in healthy manners such as playing sports or music or club activities.