• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.188-195
• /
• 2016

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between internet addiction, smartphone addiction, and psychosocial factors. This study was designed to examine the vulnerability factors for internet and smartphone addiction. Methods: The participants were 1041 children and adolescents in a small and medium-sized cities. All of the participants were evaluated in terms of their demographic characteristics and present use of the internet and smartphone, as well as using internet and smartphone addiction and other psychological scales. Statistical analyses were performed to compare the psychosocial factors between the high risk, potential risk, and general user groups of internet and smartphone addiction. Results: The participants were classified into three groups, the high risk (N=33), potential risk (N=203), and general user (N=805) groups with regard to their internet and smartphone addiction level. There were statistical significantly differences between the groups in terms of the economic status of the family, academic performance, parents, use of internet and smartphone, loneliness, family cohesion, family adaptability, perceived social support, and peer relationship. Conclusion: These results suggest that the internet and smartphone addiction of children and adolescents is related to various psychosocial vulnerability factors.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.66-80
• /
• 2001

Most people experience stress during his or her life. The types of psychosocial stressors are variable. Also, the stress appraisal, coping, and responses in stress process are variable. These varieties reflect individual differences due to ongoing social situation, personal dispositions such as personal resources and vulnerability factors, etc. The stress process results in psychosocial growth or no substantial change in functioning or health, or adverse change in functioning(illness) or health to person. Therefore, the preventive management and treatment of stress need to be tailored to individual characteristics. All physicians managing the stress-related patients have to understand the multidimensional aspects of stress. To understand stress better in psychosocial aspect, I comprehensively reviewed the literature on stress.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.63-72
• /
• 1997

For the purpose of examining the relationship between perceived stress, vulnerability variables, and somatization tendency, the self-report questionnaires of perceived stress, styles of stress coping(passive and active copings), self-perception, gender, and somatization tendency were administered to university entrants(n=2,024). The results were as follows: 1) Perceived stress, styles of stress coping(passive and active copings), self-perception, and gender accounted for 15.56% of the total variance in somatization tendency. As a result of comparing the relative contributions of all predictor variables to somatization tendency, the highest was perceived stress, and the next in order were passive coping style, self-perception, and gender, whereas direct effect of active coping style was not significant. 2) The two-way and three-way interaction effects of perceived stress X vulnerability variables were not significant. 3) The two-way and three-way interaction effects of gender X psychosocial variables were not significant. To conclude, perceived stress and vulnerability variables independently contribute to somatization tendency in university entrants, and furthermore it is suggested that vulnerability variables as well as perceived stress must be considered to account for somatization tendency.

• Korean Medical Education Review
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.215-230
• /
• 2022

The purpose of this study was to explore the psychosocial characteristics of academically maladjusted students and the College's current status regarding academic maladjustment based on 4-year medical student cohort data collected from 2018 to 2021 and through interviews with 10 medical education experts using the integrated research method. This study included 223 students who consented to inclusion in the student cohort and participated in the emotional behavior test and college adaptability test of whom 65 students experienced academic maladjustment. Academically maladjusted students had significantly higher scores for social stress, anxiety, sense of inadequacy, attention, hyperactivity, and school maladjustment, and significantly lower scores for relationships with parents, interpersonal relationships, self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-strength. Academic and social integrity, emotional stability, university satisfaction, and university service satisfaction were all significantly lower in the academically maladjusted students than in the non-maladjusted group. The expert interviews indicated that academic maladjustment was mainly recognized as a personal problem, with causes such as lack of motivation and learning methods, vulnerability to stress, lack of social relationships and alienation, lack of support from the family, and insufficient resilience. Systematic support other than counseling for academically maladjusted students is required, and an early diagnosis and preventive intervention are important.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.77-85
• /
• 2021

Breast cancer is the most prevalent oncological disease among women. Various psychosocial distress is common at the diagnosis, treatment, and posttreatment phase of breast cancer. For the treatment of breast cancer, not only medical treatment but also psychosomatic integrative care will be needed. Patients with breast cancer may lead to increased vulnerability to stress, adjustment disorder, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, and these psychiatric diseases and conditions are associated with recurrence or exacerbation of breast cancer. Psychosocial treatment of anxiety and depression could increase the quality of life of patients and decrease the recurrence and progression of breast cancer. In this article, we reviewed 5 clinical breast cancer survivorship guidelines focused on psychosomatic integrative care including psychosocial treatment and alternative treatment for psychosocial distress. Because 5 treatment guidelines were using various definitions of evidence, we confirmed evidence of various psychosocial treatments for patients with breast cancer based on the definition of evidence by the US Preventive Service Task Force (USPSTF) guideline. We also reviewed the effect size of psychosocial treatment for anxiety, depression, mood, and quality of life in patients with breast cancer. This article discusses the barrier to the delivery of psychosomatic integrative care and suggests integrative care planning for breast cancer. Multi-disciplinary teams, patient's needs assessment, information technology support, patient and caregiver engagement, planned periodic monitoring of psychosocial distress by a psychosomatic specialist or consultation-liaison psychiatrist are recommended as key features of a psychosomatic integrated care plan.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.56 no.5
• /
• pp.413-421
• /
• 2023

Objectives: This study explored the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on psychosocial stress in prime working-age individuals in Korea, focusing on gender inequalities. We hypothesized that the impact of COVID-19 on mental health would differ by age and gender, with younger women potentially demonstrating heightened vulnerability relative to men. Methods: The study involved data from the Korea Community Health Survey and included 319 592 adults aged 30 years to 49 years. We employed log-binomial regression analysis, controlling for variables including age, education, employment status, marital status, and the presence of children. The study period included 3 phases: the period prior to the COVID-19 outbreak (pre-COVID-19), the early pandemic, and the period following the introduction of vaccinations (post-vaccination). Results: The findings indicated that women were at a heightened risk of psychosocial stress during the early pandemic (relative risk [RR], 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.98 to 1.05) and post-vaccination period (RR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.10) compared to men. This pattern was prominent in urban women aged 30-34 years (pre-COVID-19: RR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.10; early pandemic: RR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.25; post-vaccination period, RR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.31). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted unequal impacts on psychosocial stress among prime working-age individuals in Korea, with women, particularly those in urban areas, experiencing a heightened risk. The findings highlight the importance of addressing gender-specific needs and implementing appropriate interventions to mitigate the psychosocial consequences of the pandemic.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
• /
• v.65 no.2
• /
• pp.231-254
• /
• 2013

The growth of legal and illegal gambling industry in Korea has increased the gambling accessibility. Actually, the prevalence of gambling addiction in Korea is significantly higher than those in western countries. The problems related to gambling make negative consequences in the individual, familial and socio-economical aspect. Previous studies showed that the prevalence of problem gambling by college students was much higher than that by adolescence and adult due to the nature of psychosocial developmental stage. The purpose of this study is to explore the path of problem gambling among college students based on the Jacob's general theory of addiction. Participants are 366 male college students who have experienced on gambling behavior. The main results are as follows. First, the problem gambling prevalence of participants is 14%. Second, statistical analysis using structural equation modeling shows the significant pathway among psychological vulnerability, needs to escape and problem gambling. Instead, the physiological vulnerability is not significant on the path to problem gambling. On the basis of these findings, the implications for social welfare prevention and intervention to college students are discussed.

• Psychiatry investigation
• /
• v.15 no.12
• /
• pp.1100-1114
• /
• 2018

Objective Personality traits can be the basis for individual differences in the biological response of stress. To date, many psychobiological studies have been conducted to clarify the relationship between personality and biological reactivity to stress. This review summarizes the most important findings in this area of research. Results Key findings related to the relationship between personality factors and stress-sensitive biological systems in four research models have been summarized; model of psychosocial characteristics, model based on Rumination and Emotional Inhibition, Eysenck's biopsychological model, and Five-Factor Approach of Personality. Conclusion According to the results of this review, it can be concluded that personality typology of individuals influenced their biological reactivity to stressful events. Understanding the biological basis of personality can help to better understand vulnerability to stress. Future research can be continuing based on framework of the four models.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.182-197
• /
• 1996

For the purpose of examining the relationship between smoking, perceived stress and vulnerability factors, and furthermore suggesting interventions to reduce excessive smoking and prevent nicotine dependency effectively, the questionnaires of perceived stress(stressful experiences), ways of stress coping(passive and active copings), smoking motives, social influence, age, amounts of smoking, and nicotine dependency were administered to smokers among medical students in Chosun university(n=186). 1) As a result of classifying smokers by the types of smoking, the most was a type of smokers to reduce negative emotions and the next in order were addictive smokers, smoker for stimulation, smoker for pleasure, etc. 2) The effects of motive, age, and active coping style were significant, but the effects of perceived stress, passive coping style, and social influence were not significant in average amount of daily smoking. 3) The effects of motive, social influence, and age were significant, but the effects of perceived stress, passive and active coping styles were not significant in the degree of nicotine dependency. To summarize, it is concluded that there were a lot of people who smoke to solve negative emotions, but the direct effects of perceived stress and passive coping style on both average amounts of daily smoking and the degree of nicotine dependency were not significant. On the other hand, motive, age, active coping style, and social influence were proved to be more important variables than the others in explaining college students' smoking.

• Psychiatry investigation
• /
• v.15 no.11
• /
• pp.1046-1052
• /
• 2018

Objective The aims of the present study were to explore the occurrence of childhood trauma and importantly to determine the impacts of childhood trauma on psychosocial features in a Chinese sample of young adults. Methods A survey was carried out in a group of 555 university students by using Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Dysfunctional Attitudes Questionnaire (DAS), Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS). The moderate-severe cut-off scores for CTQ were used to calculate the prevalence of childhood trauma, and then psychosocial features were compared between individuals with and without childhood trauma. Results A proportion of 18.6% of university students had self-reported childhood trauma exposures. Subjects with childhood trauma reported higher scores of SDS, SAS, DAS, and psychoticism and neuroticism dimensions of EPQ (t=4.311-5.551, p<0.001); while lower scores of SSRS and extraversion dimension of EPQ (t=-4.061- -3.039, p<0.01). Regression analyses further revealed that scores of SAS and DAS were positively (Adjusted B=0.211-0.230, p<0.05), while scores of SSRS were negatively (Adjusted B=-0.273- -0.240, p<0.05) associated with specific CTQ scores. Conclusion Childhood trauma is still a common social and psychological problem. Individuals with childhood trauma show much more depression, anxiety, distorted cognition, personality deficits, and lower levels of social support, which may represent the social and psychological vulnerability for developing psychiatric disorders after childhood trauma experiences.