• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.151-169
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• 2015

Objectives: The deleterious effects of air pollution on various health outcomes have been demonstrated. However, few studies have examined the effects of air pollution on liver enzyme levels. Methods: Blood samples were drawn up to three times between 2008 and 2010 from 545 elderly individuals who regularly visited a community welfare center in Seoul, Korea. Data regarding ambient air pollutants (particulate matter ${\leq}2.5{\mu}m$ [$PM_{2.5}$], nitrogen dioxide [$NO_2$], ozone [$O_3$], carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide) from monitoring stations were used to estimate air pollution exposure. The effects of the air pollutants on the concentrations of three liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], and ${\gamma}$-glutamyltranspeptidase [${\gamma}$-GTP)]) were evaluated using generalized additive and linear mixed models. Results: Interquartile range increases in the concentrations of the pollutants showed significant associations of $PM_{2.5}$ with AST (3.0% increase, p=0.0052), ALT (3.2% increase, p=0.0313), and ${\gamma}$-GTP (5.0% increase, p=0.0051) levels; $NO_2$ with AST (3.5% increase, p=0.0060) and ALT (3.8% increase, p=0.0179) levels; and $O_3$ with ${\gamma}$-GTP (5.3% increase, p=0.0324) levels. Significant modification of these effects by exercise and alcohol consumption was found (p for interaction <0.05). The effects of air pollutants were greater in non-exercisers and heavy drinkers. Conclusions: Short-term exposure to air pollutants such as $PM_{2.5}$, $NO_2$, and $O_3$ is associated with increased liver enzyme levels in the elderly. These adverse effects can be reduced by exercising regularly and abstinence from alcohol.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.299-306
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to provide current the recent information on indium-related adverse health effects and the Korean indium-related industries. Methods: Peer review papers were searched in environmental, occupational and medical journals with the keyword of 'Indium' and 'ITO' and reviewed. To determine the indium related industries and indium consumption amounts, references and database were investigated and analyzed. In addition, field walk-through surveys and interviews were conducted in order to collect field data and to ascertain the field situation for the processes and industries. Results: A total of 10 cases of indium lung diseases have been reported in series since the first case reported in 2001. Seven cases were found in Japan, two cases in the United States, and one in China. No indium lung case has been reported yet in Korea, but it is believed that there are high potential risks among workers in indium-related industries. There are four categories in indiumrelated- industry; indium production and smelting, manufacturing of indium products such as ITO target, the production of thin films of flat panel display, and indium recovery industry. We found that all these types of industries are operating in Korea. Therefore, it is necessary for industrial hygienists to understand the processes and industries related to indium as well as the adverse health effects of indium. Conclusions: It was found that all four categories of indium-related industry from the indium production to recovery industry are active in Korea. However, the adverse health effects of indium are not well recognized. Therefore, it is believed that there is a high risks in indium-related industry, and it is necessary to make emergency interventions.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.213-219
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: There is little information on the association between weight misperception and eating behavior in Korean adolescents. Therefore, we investigated the association of food intake habits and dieting method and disturbed eating behavior (DEB) in relation to weight misperception. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Data was collected by using a nationwide online panel survey from 6,943 adolescents enrolled in middle/high school. DEB was measured with the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) and those who scored ${\geq}20$ on the EAT-26 were considered to have eating disorder. Logistic regressions were conducted to examine the association between weight misperception based on self-reported weight status and dieting method and eating behaviors. RESULTS: The proportion of weight underestimation was 23.5% and that of overestimation was 24.0%. Weight overestimating girls were more likely to engage in various unhealthy dieting practices (OR = 1.69 for fasting; OR = 1.88 for laxative or diuretic use; OR = 2.05 for self-induced vomiting after meals; P < 0.05). Moreover, there was a strong association between overestimation and undesirable eating behaviors, especially among girls, e.g.: having breakfast (OR = 0.85), high consumption of fast foods (OR = 1.28) and regular sodas (OR = 1.39), but not among boys. In both genders, weight overestimation appears to be a major risk factor for DEB (OR = 1.34 for boys and OR = 1.41 for girls; P < 0.05). CONSLUSIONS: Weight overestimation is associated with unhealthy weight control practices and eating behaviors. We particularly found a significant association between weight overestimation and DEB among nationwide Korean adolescents.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.423-432
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate asbestos handling history of workers at automobile manufacturing plants in Korea. Methods: National regulations on asbestos and Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency(KOSHA) database on the information of asbestos containing products were reviewed. We investigated asbestos related materials from one automobile manufacturing plant. Material safety data sheets(MSDS) collected in 2010, work environment monitoring results reported from 2000 to 2013, trade union reports and asbestos survey reports were reviewed. We also interviewed workers with long career and did walk-through survey. Results: The Ministry of Labor in Korea has permitted asbestos manufacturing since 1990. In 1997, the use of crocidolite and amosite asbestos were banned. In 2007, the Korean government announced a total ban on the manufacturing, importation and use of all kinds of asbestos, which took full effect in 2009. A total of 174 asbestos products information from KOSHA database was analyzed. Extruded cement panel for building, special brake for crane farm machinery, gasket, joint sheet and thermal insulator were produced until 2007. From automobile manufacturing plant survey, we confirmed that asbestos containing materials(ACM) such as gasket, heating induction materials have been used until 2011. Asbestos containing building materials(ACBM) such as bamlites, slate and ceiling tex were reported at 122 asbestos dismantling projects in 2014. Conclusion: Although the use of all kinds of asbestos were banned from 2009, ACMs and ACBMs installed before 2009 were still found at automobile manufacturing plant until 2011 and 2014 respectively. In particular, asbestos slates should be managed because most of slates had not been removed until 2014.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.377-383
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• 2021

Background: This study investigated the longitudinal associations between the degrees of positive and negative spillover in work-life balance (WLB) at baseline and reports of depressive mood at a 2-year follow-up in Korean women employees. Methods: We used a panel study design data of 1386 women employees who participated in the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families in both 2014 and 2016. Depressive mood was measured using the "10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale." Associations between the positive and negative spillover in WLB at baseline and reports of new incidence of depressive mood at 2-year follow-up were explored using a multivariate logistic regression model. Results: Negative spillover in WLB at baseline showed a significant linear association with reports of depressive mood at 2-yearfollow-up after adjusting for age, education level, marital status, number of children, and positive spillover (P = 0.014). The highest scoring group in negative spillover (fourth quartile) showed a significant higher odds ratio of 1.95 compared with the lowest scoring group (first quartile; P = 0.036). Conclusion: Positive spillover in WLB showed a U-shaped association with depression. The degrees of positive and negative spillover in WLB among Korean women employees at baseline were associated with new incidence of depressive mood within 2 years. To prevent depression of female workers, more discrete and differentiated policies on how to maintain healthy WLB are required.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.310-319
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• 2021

Background: Humidifier disinfectant exposure is an ongoing issue, and there is still considerable related controversy. Various approaches are needed to secure scientific evidence on the extent of the victims' damages and for the determination of appropriate compensation. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the association between humidifier disinfectant (HD) use and academic achievement in Korean children. Methods: This study used data from the 8th Panel Study on Korean Children in 2015. For the final study, 1,598 cases were used. T-tests and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to determine whether the use of humidifier disinfectant is a factor that affects academic ability. Results: Children in groups using humidifier disinfectant showed statistically significantly lower scores in all areas of language, including reading, speaking and writing, and statistically lower scores in all areas of mathematics, including counting, addition and subtraction. In the multiple regression analysis results, which control for the effects of various demographic/social variables, the use of humidifier disinfectants showed statistically significant beta coefficients (β: -0.357, p<0.001), negatively affecting children's language ability. As for the 'math' variable, which was created by combining counting, addition, and subtraction scores, the use of humidifier disinfectants as independent variables also showed statistically significant beta coefficients (β: -0.200, p<0.001), negatively affecting children's math ability. Conclusions: The results of the study showed that depending on whether or not humidifier disinfectants were used, there are differences in children's language abilities, such as reading, speaking, and writing, as well as in their mathematical abilities, such as counting, adding, and subtracting numbers. These findings are thought to serve as a scientific basis for extending the perspective from health effects to more diverse areas of demographic and social impact related to humidifier disinfectant damage and compensation.

• Journal of Wellbeing Management and Applied Psychology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.11-19
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• 2023

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the structural relationships among mothers' parenting practices, child's self-esteem, and child's well-being and to explore the mediating effects of mothers' parenting practices on child's well-being through child's self-esteem. Research design, data, and methodology: Data from the 10th and 13th waves of the Korean Child Study Panel were used for the study, and data from 1,213 mothers and child were analyzed using SPSS 28.0 and the R statistical program. Results: First, in the relationship between the mother's parenting practices, the child's self-esteem, and well-being, the mother's authoritative parenting practices were positively correlated with the child's self-esteem and well-being. Second, the mother's authoritative parenting practices in preschool directly influenced the child's self-esteem in late school, and the child's self-esteem directly influenced the child's well-being. Third, mothers' authoritative parenting practices in the preschool years had a static effect on child's Well-being through the mediation of child's Self-Esteem in the late school years. The direct mediation effect of the Child's Self-Esteem was confirmed. Conclusions: To promote child's Well-being, mothers should adopt authoritative parenting practices with affection and control and try to improve child's self-esteem. In addition, programs that focus on improving child's self-esteem can be expected to enhance school-aged child's well-being.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1-14
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to explore structural relationships among social support, parenting stress, self-perception and parenting behavior perceived by mother and provide preliminary data useful for desirable parenting behavior. For this purpose, the data of fourth wave Panel Study on Korean Children(PSKC) including social support, parenting stress, self-perception and parenting behavior measured by 1,746 mothers with 3-year-old children were analyzed. We identified structural relationships among the variables using SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 18.0 applying structural equation modeling. Measurement model and structure model had favorable goodness of fit and the results of structure models on each path were as follows. First, parenting behavior had positive correlations with social support and self-perception but there was a negative correlation between parenting behavior and parenting stress. Second, the relationship between social support and self-perception was mediated by parenting stress and parenting stress and self-perception mediated the relationship between social support and parenting relationship. In conclusion it is required to raise awareness about the importance of development of various parent education programs and parenting behavior.

• Journal of The Korean Digital Architecture Interior Association
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.51-60
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• 2011

Although the comparative advantage of cities is emphasized in the context of transition into an information-oriented society and globalization, it is difficult to define the concept and evaluate the status of each city. There have been many studies and appraisals on urban competitiveness with common features of subjective standards by researchers. This study aims at extracting determinants of competitive advantage of location by not normative but data-based approach, and deals with panel data concerning 21 cities in capital region. Factor Analysis, a kind of multivariate methods, is taken up for the purpose and results in various findings. Time-serial 5-factor models constructed by the analysis show temporal variability in the determinants and have non-exhaustive and overlapped categories. This study also finds that 'educational base' is emphasized as a leading determinant and 'health, welfare and public services' factor is getting more important. The other potential factor explaining variables such as college and museum is also emerging, which is considered as an element to attract people from outside. And the fact that traditionally expected factors regarding industrial or productive basis is not drawn out indicates the other way of thinking on the relationship between the essential function of cities and industrial foundation.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the nurses' perception of the importance of evaluating continuing nursing education programs. Methods: Subjects were 465 nurses enrolled in continuing nursing education programs at five university hospitals in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. Data were collected from September 20, 2011 to October 13, 2011. The instrument was developed by the author through a literature review. Content validity was established from a panel of six experts. Data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 18.0 program. Results: The purpose of the program was rated as the most important domain by the subjects. Interestingly, 'program outcome' and 'effectiveness of program' were ranked below the mean (M=$3.64{\pm}0.75$). These two domains were influenced by the district of work and the type of institution. The position of the participants at their institutions made the significant differences on their perception of 'program purpose.' Conclusion: The results of this study might aid us to have better understanding for what nurses perceive the importance of evaluating continuing nursing education programs. This information might be able to be used for improving programs. Further studies are needed to explore the validity of the instruments to evaluate continuing nursing education programs.