• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.124-131
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• 2013

South Korea is changing into a multi-cultural society, due to an increase in international marriage, foreign workers and transcultural immigration. In addition, the number of North Korean defectors entering South Korea has increased and now, there are approximately 25000. Therefore, this review have focused on a research that pertains to adaptation and mental health concerns of their children. Children who have immigrated themselves or whose parents have immigrated, might experience language barriers, difficulties in school adjustment, identity confusion and mental health problems. However, their academic performance and developmental status are known to be variable and be affected by socioeconomic status and their parents' educational level. Studies that evaluated the psychological problems of North Korean adolescent refugees' indicated the need for interests in both emotional and behavioral problems. The risk factors of North Korean adolescent refugees' mental health are suggested to be past traumatic experiences, long duration of defection and short period of adaptation. When mental health professionals provide assessment and treatment, they should consider the pre- and post-migration experiences & cultural background that affect the illness behaviors and attitudes toward mental illnesses. Lastly, the majority of children with multi-cultural background are still under an adolescent period and we should follow up with long-term perspectives.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.341-351
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• 2017

Purpose: The aim this study was to identify the factors that influence the social adjustment of North Korean defectors. The participants were 156 North Korean defectors over 20 years old residing in G and C cites. Methods: The data were collected from August 1 to October 31, 2014, and analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 21.0 program with one-way ANOVA, t-test, Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple stepwise regression. Results: The general characteristics, such as family, health status, and job, had a significant influence on social adjustment. The level of depression and anxiety was less than moderate and the levels of self-esteem, hope, and social adjustment were moderate. The correlations among depression, anxiety, self-esteem, hope, and social adjustment were significant. These variables showed an explanation rate 28% and self-esteem (${\beta}=.17$), depression (${\beta}=-.15$), anxiety (${\beta}=-.15$), hope (${\beta}=.14$), job (temporary)(${\beta}=-.10$), health status (bad)(${\beta}=-.07$), job (no)(${\beta}=-.04$) were statistically significant among the variables that influenced social adjustment. Conclusion: A program of nursing intervention is needed to care for the mental and physical health problems as well as social education to reduce the negative perception of North Korean defectors.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Health Science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.107-118
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• 2014

Purpose. to help them find mental rest and improve school life adjustment by way of a fine art cure program. Methods. two primary schools in Gyeongsangnam-do were chosen where there are plenty of multiple-family kids. 13 children from the families between Korean husbands and foreign wives were divided into 2 groups: experimental group (7, C School), control group (6, H School). The two groups took the KSD (Kinetic School Draw), while the experimental group received a fine art cure program (40 minutes, once a week, 10 times in total). After the program, the KSD was given again to both groups. To prove the effects of this study, the picture projection test KSD was given before and after the experiment. For comparison and analysis, the changes in each individual's attitude, behavior, responses, and emotions were observed and recorded. Results. The fine art treatment program had some effects on the psychological rest of the elementary school children from multiple-culture families. In the pretest before the art cure program, the subjects shrank and cared a lot about others. According to the progress of the program, however, their worries and anxiety began to be gone. They had confidence through mental ease and self-respect. Therefore, the fine art cure program had a positive effect on the improvement of self-respect and sociality of multiple-culture family kids. Their school life was influenced by the newly-attained confidence, achievement, and peer relationship. Conclusions. This research is of some significance in that the fine art cure program was held to reveal its effects on the school life adjustment of the elementary school kids from multiple-culture families, especially because worries grow about the possibility of their maladjustment in the era of multiple-culture families. In addition, this program is expected to give some basic information about the development of programs to make friendly relations and smooth communication among the multiple-culture parents and teachers as well.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.15-25
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• 2020

Prevalence of pediatric obesity has increased worldwide in the last 20 years. Obese children suffer not only physical complications but also mental health problems such as depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and eating disorders, as well as psychosocial impairments, such as school adjustment problems, bullying, and low self-esteem. Recently, there have been some studies on the association of mental health problems and pediatric obesity. In the treatment of pediatric obesity, many previous studies suggest multidisciplinary treatment. However, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has attracted attention because obese children are accompanied by body image distortion, emotion dysregulation, and difficulties in stimulus control. This review is a narrative summary of the recent studies on mental health problems and CBT in pediatric obesity. The relationship between depression/anxiety and pediatric obesity is still inconsistent but recent studies have revealed a bidirectional relation between depression and obesity. Additionally, some studies suggest that obese children may have eating disorder symptoms, like loss of control eating, and require therapeutic intervention for pediatric obesity treatment. Furthermore, impulsivity and inattention of ADHD symptom is thought to increase the risk of obesity. It has also been suggested that CBT can be very effective for mental health problems such as depression, impulsivity, and body image distortion, that may coexist with pediatric obesity, and use of multimedia and application can be useful in CBT.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.42-53
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• 2020

The relationship of abdominal obesity ("AO") with co-morbidity and mortality is well established. This study assessed the factors associated with AO, which was defined as a waist circumference ≥90 cm for men and ≥85 cm for women, in the group aged over 65 years. A total of 1,435 subjects were analyzed among the participants of the 2014 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Statistical methods for a complex sample were applied by using a SPSS program (ver. 25.0). AO was more frequently found in females. The results of the logistic regression analysis showed that heavy drinking (OR: 1.53), no weight training (OR: 0.68), stressful mental status (OR: 0.61), bad health-related quality of life (by EQ_5D, OR: 1.45), hypertension (OR: 2.18), prediabetes (OR: 1.94), diabetes (OR: 1.63), low HDL-cholesterol (OR: 1.86), anemia (OR: 0.55), and heavy energy intake (OR: 1.41) were significantly related with the prevalence of AO after adjustment for gender. Heavy drinking (OR: 1.89), bad self-rating of health status (OR: 1.72), low HDL-cholesterol (OR: 1.85), heavy energy intake (OR: 1.79), low intake of riboflavin (OR: 1.60) were still significantly related with the prevalence of AO after adjustment for gender and body mass index (BMI), this study suggests that certain characteristics of health habits, mental health status, and chronic diseases may be associated with AO. This study did not establish the existence of relationship between nutrient intakes, except for riboflavin, and risk of AO, but this study suggests that prospective research is needed to establish causal connections among those factors.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.11-22
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• 1998

Social support may be a crucial aspect in single mothers' adjustment from the loss of spouse. Using a survey data collected from 285 widowed or divorced mothers, this study investigated whether social support buffers the deleterious effects of stress on psychological adjustment among poor single mothers. Results revealed that social support is not provided for at a desirable level. After controlling the single mothers' characteristics, stress in daily life, emotional support, job status and child relationship were associated with depression of them. It was also founded that emotional support buffer the negative effect of stress on depression of single mothers. Therefore, the support programs focused on emotional support are necessary for single mothers to enhance their mental health.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.31-60
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• 2023

Purpose: This study explored the influencing factors on suicide-related behaviors (ideation, plans, and attempts) focusing on mental health problems (anxiety, depression, and loneliness) among Korean adolescents. Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted with data from the 16th Korean Youth Health Behavior Survey collected from in 2020 by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: After the adjustment of demographic characteristics and health risk behaviors, the influences of mental health problems on suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts showed the anxiety odds ratio (OR) for severe anxiety vs. minimal (OR 4.65, 4.67, and 3.75), depression (OR 4.27, 3.69, and 4.49), loneliness (OR 2.18, 1.96, and 1.96). Health risk behaviors (violence experience, drug use, stress, smoking, and drinking alcohol) and demographic variables (gender, school record, and socioeconomic status) were also significantly associated with suicide-related behaviors. Conclusion: Anxiety, depression, and loneliness were strong predictors of suicide-related behaviors. Early detection of suicide risks through screening for comprehensive mental health problems was recommended. Suicide prevention that considers the risk factors, including mental health problems and other risk factors, needs to be developed and implemented to reduce suicide risks among adolescents.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.270-277
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was done to identify predictors of the fighting spirit or helplessness/hopelessness in the patients' mental adjustment to cancer. Cancer patients' characteristics like performance status, metastasis and duration of diagnosis with demographic factors, spiritual support and social support were used as predictors of a fighting spirit or helplessness/hopelessness. Methods: A total of 124 ambulatory cancer patients completed the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) scale and responded in a structured instrument about their characteristics, spiritual and social support. Results: The results of multiple regression analysis revealed that confidence in the supporter ($R^2=.114$, p=.000), duration of cancer diagnosis ($R^2=.041$, p=.000) and faith ($R^2=.030$, p=.000) were predictive of a fighting spirit ($R^2=.185$, p=.000); whereas, education ($R^2= .074$, p=.001), performance status ($R^2=.055$, p=.000), satisfaction with social support ($R^2=.046$, p=.000), and metastasis ($R^2=.037$, p=.000) were predictive of helplessness/hopelessness ($R^2=.202$, p=.000). Conclusion: Social support, spiritual support and disease related factors like metastasis, performance status, and duration of cancer diagnosis need to be considered in a psychosocial nursing intervention for a fighting spirit or helplessness/hopelessness.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.95-120
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to find the factors that facilitate married female immigrants' early adjustment in Korea. For this purpose, 14 immigrated female participants living in Daegu were interviewed in-depth by using an open-ended questionnaire. The major findings are as follows: Through content analysis of participants' responses, three major factors were found to influence successful adjustment of married female immigrants personal factors, familial support and the social support system. Among the personal factors, having a conservative marital attitude, optimism and liking the partner rather than economic concern for the reason of marital decision making are contributing factors to the successful marital adjustment. Above all, familial support, a husband's good personality, care, and active support are the important factors in a foreign wife's adjustment and life satisfaction. Parent-in-law's help and tolerance playa role in a foreign daughter-in-law's successful adjustment. In the social support system, joined activities and the support of mends from the homeland make a contribution to decreasing the sense of isolation and to giving mental well-being for married female immigrants. The center for support of multicultural family gives them the opportunity to meet people from their homelands and to expand the social network.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.4421-4428
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• 2013

This study was designed to find out what influences sociality on school adjustment among middle school students from formally broken families, and whether ego-resilience may have a mediating effect on the relationship between sociality and school adjustment. The participants were 147 middle school students from formally broken families in D city. Data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 18.0. version. As a result, both sociality(r=.716) and ego-resilience(r=.706) had significant influence on school adjustment. And also their ego-resilience played a mediating role between sociality and school adjustment. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and apply programs for improving the students' sociality and ego-resilience that can influence school adjustment.