• Stress
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.259-267
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors influencing cognitive function and life satisfaction in elderly living alone. Methods: It was cross-sectional descriptive study by using secondary data from the 2014 national survey of Korean elderly. The study sample consisted of 2,249 subjects who live alone, aged 65 years old and over. Data were analyzed frequency analysis, ${\chi}^2$-test, t-test, ANOVA and Logistic regression analysis. Results: The risk factors that significantly influenced cognitive function were old age, bereavement, lack of education, no regular exercise and low socio-cultural activity satisfaction. The risk factors that significantly influenced life satisfaction were no bereavement, lack of education, no work, negative evaluation of health status, diagnosis of depression and no regular exercise. Also experience of emotional and economical abuse, neglect of financial support and low cognitive function were identified risk factors of life satisfaction. Conclusions: The elderly living alone with risk factors of cognitive decline should be interested. To prevent or delay cognitive impairment, regular exercise and socio-cultural activities were recommended. It was suggested that the promotion of cognitive function, appropriate work and exercise, and social efforts to prevent abuse and neglect can contribute to improving life satisfaction of elderly living alone.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.110-118
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• 2018

Purpose: Reminiscence therapy is a widely used intervention for older adults and those with dementia. However, the attributes of the concept of reminiscence is not clearly proposed. The aim of this study was to clarify the concept of reminiscence in Korean older adults with dementia. Methods: The study applied the concept analysis method of Walker and Avant. The literature review included the previous studies of reminiscence from philosophy, literature, art, neuroscience, medicine, psychology, sociology, and nursing. Results: A total of 43 Korean or international papers were analyzed in this study. Attributes of reminiscence in Korean older adults with dementia were regeneration of memories, internal and external communications, expression of suppressed emotions, and recognition of ego identity. The suppressed emotions and ego identity may result from Korean cultural characteristics based on the suppressed environments of many wars and dictatorships in the past. The consequences of reminiscence in Korean older adults with dementia are cognitive enhancement, relief of depression, and improvements of social interactions, ego integrity, and quality of life. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the historical and cultural characteristics should be considered to develop effective nursing interventions including reminiscence for Korean older adults with dementia.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.521-526
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Although a lot of effort has been put into increasing fruit and vegetable intakes in preschool children, vegetable intake in this group is still low. This study investigated whether nutrition education focusing on fruit and vegetable intakes can affect preschoolers' fruit and vegetable intakes as well as their behavioral outcomes. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Thirty-five preschoolers (54.3% boys, n = 19) aged 4-6 years residing in Seoul underwent weekly nutrition education intervention (8 sessions) between May and July 2016. Intakes of fruits and vegetables were measured during pre and post-intervention. At snack time, fresh fruit (150 g) and vegetable (120 g) snacks were distributed to each child by teachers. The remaining portions of the snacks were weighed and recorded for each child. Behavioral outcomes were measured by applying Child behavior checklist 1.5-5 and the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. RESULTS: During post intervention, vegetable intake increased from $36.15{\pm}30.64g$ to $48.01{\pm}31.23g$ (P = 0.010). Among the emotional and behavioral problems measured by parents, levels of total problems (P = 0.001), internalizing (P = 0.004), externalizing (P = 0.003), anxiety and depression (P = 0.001), and aggressive behavior (P = 0.005) decreased. Anxiety (P = 0.026) score, as measured by teachers, also decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition education of preschoolers regarding the intakes of fruits and vegetables had a positive effect on preschoolers' vegetable intake as well as on their emotional and behavioral outcomes. A long-term, large-scale study with a broader study design is warranted to further investigate the role of fruit and vegetable intake in cognitive development and behavior of preschoolers.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.308-319
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• 2018

Background: Some mental illnesses such as depression are known to be one of the risk factors of suicide and proper antidepressant therapy can reduce suicidal behavior. Objectives: This study aimed to analyze regional variations in antidepressant consumption and adherence, suicide rate, prevalence of suicide related mental disorders, and access to relevant healthcare services. Methods: Cross-sectional analyses were conducted using National Patients Sample data compiled by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service between 2014 and 2016. We included patients who had a diagnosis record of suicide related mental disorders during the study period. Cause of death statistics and National health and medical statistics were used to identify suicide rate and distribution of healthcare service. We conducted visual analyses, chi-squared tests, independent t-tests and correlation analyses to demonstrate regional variations. Results: Between 2014 and 2016, the average prevalence of suicide related mental disorders was 5.4 per cent. Suicide rate and prevalence of suicide related mental disorders were higher in Gangwon, Chungcheong, and Jeolla (p < 0.001), and lower in Seoul (p < 0.001) than the national average. Unexpectedly, regional variations in antidepressant consumption were seen in the limited area including Daejeon, Chungnam and Gyeongnam (p < 0.05). The number of mild patient-centered clinics was associated positively with antidepressant consumption (p < 0.01) and associated negatively with suicide rate (p < 0.01). Conclusion: There were some regional variations in prevalence of suicide related mental disorders, antidepressant adherence and suicide rate. The higher level of antidepressant therapy and the lower level of suicide rates were seen in regions with easy access to mild patient-centered clinics.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.164-172
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• 2019

This study examined the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)-related variables of firefighters through a systematic literature review. Electronic databases were searched, including RISS, National Assembly Library, NDSL, KmBase. The search terms were PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Firefighter. Eleven studies from 146 references screened were included. All studies were non-experimental and correlational analyses. The positive correlation factors were age, duration of work, traumatic events, frequency of mobilization, number and strength of traumatic events experienced, work burden, coping method, D-type personality, depression, and anger rumination. The negative correlation factors were resilience, social support, self-esteem. To improve the mental health of firefighters in the future, professional intervention programs should be constructed to improve resilience, social support, and self-esteem, which are protective factors of PTSD.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.63-70
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• 2019

This study examined the effect of emotional factors, physical factors and socioeconomic factors on suicidal ideation of 75 or older seniors and sought to identify what kinds of factors should be satisfied to prevent their suicide. Using "2017 National Survey of the Elderly", the study conducted survey among 75 or older 3,023 males and 1,295 females. It used multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify the factors affecting suicidal ideation. As a result, the study found that ties with their offspring, the number of chronic diseases, being abused or not, depression and living with or without espouse had significant effects on their suicidal ideation and abuse was the largest factor. Therefore, in order to reduce suicide rate of 75 or older seniors, more active attention should be rendered to their physical, socioeconomic and emotional health problems, and measures to reduce elderly abuse should be sought. In particular, institutional improvement and revitalization of elderly counseling institutions are needed to reduce elder abuse

• Mycobiology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.230-241
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• 2019

The Great Sebkha of Oran is a closed depression located in northwestern of Algeria. Despite the ranking of this sebkha among the wetlands of global importance by Ramsar Convention in 2002, no studies on the fungal community in this area have been carried out. In our study, samples were collected from two different regions. The first region is characterized by halophilic vegetation and cereal crops and the second by a total absence of vegetation. The isolated strains were identified morphologically then by molecular analysis. The biotechnological interest of the strains was evaluated by testing their ability to grow at different concentration of NaCl and to produce extracellular enzymes (i.e., lipase, amylase, protease, and cellulase) on solid medium. The results showed that the soil of sebkha is alkaline, with the exception of the soil of cereal crops that is neutral, and extremely saline. In this work, the species Gymnoascus halophilus, Trichoderma gamsii, the two phytopathogenic fungi, Fusarium brachygibbosum and Penicillium allii, and the teleomorphic form of P. longicatenatum observed for the first time in this species, were isolated for the first time in Algeria. The halotolerance test revealed that the majority of the isolated are halotolerant. Wallemia sp. and two strains of G. halophilus are the only obligate halophilic strains. All strains are capable to secrete at least one of the four tested enzymes. The most interesting species presenting the highest enzymatic index were Aspergillus sp. strain A4, Chaetomium sp. strain H1, P. vinaceum, G. halophilus, Wallemia sp. and Ustilago cynodontis.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.655-662
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• 2019

Based on phenomenological view a research utilizing qualitative methodology to understand about parenting difficulty and stress through an in-depth interview with grandmother in low-income grandparent-headed family was administrated. The results indicated that experience with parenting stress of grandmother in low-income grandparent-headed family lead to economic hardship, grandchildren who are a barrier of old-age, and desolate parenting. This article implicates that a basis to guide a direction and role of social welfare intervention to alleviate parenting stress of grandmother in grandparent-headed family and to improve a life quality emergent on the results could be provided. Several considerations on this finding shows as follows. First, with currently active support project re-monitored and re-checked, support program could be needed to enlarge. Second, support program development and social support to decrease parenting stress and depression of grandmother in grandparent-headed family could be necessary. With educational and cultural as well as mentoring program helpful for grandmother parenting designed, a support system to complement non-sufficient support network will be established together.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.299-307
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• 2019

Objectives: While occupational stress has long been a central focus of psychological research, few studies have investigated how immigrant microbusiness owners (MBOs) respond to their unusually demanding occupation, or how their unresolved occupational stress manifests in psychological distress. Based on the job demands-resources model, this study compared MBOs to employees with regard to the relationships among emotional demands, job resources, and depressive symptoms. Methods: Data were derived from a cross-sectional survey of 1288 Korean immigrant workers (MBOs, professionals, office workers, and manual workers) aged 30 to 70, living in Toronto and surrounding areas. Face-to-face interviews were conducted between March 2013 and November 2013. Results: Among the four occupational groups, MBOs appeared to endure the greatest level of emotional demands, while reporting relatively lower levels of job satisfaction and job security; but MBOs reported the greatest job autonomy. The effect of emotional demands on depressive symptoms was greater for MBOs than for professionals. However, an inspection of stress-resource interactions indicated that though MBOs enjoyed the greatest autonomy, the protective effects of job satisfaction and security on the psychological risk of emotional demands appeared to be more pronounced for MBOs than for any of the employee groups. Conclusions: One in two Korean immigrants choose self-employment, most typically in family-owned microbusinesses that involve emotionally taxing dealings with clients and suppliers. However, the benefits of job satisfaction and security may protect MBOs from the adverse mental health effects of job stress.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.237-249
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• 2019

Objectives: Interest in the use of complementary and alternative treatments to treat dementia. Meditation is used to treat various symptoms of physical and psychological diseases. Some studies suggest that meditation might have positive effects on cognitive functions, especially attention, in the elderly. However, how meditation affects Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients remains unclear. In this review, we assessed the effectiveness of practicing meditation in combination with standard care in AD. Methods: We searched the CCRCT, MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED and CINAHL databases on 30 May 2017. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that used meditation in adult patients diagnosed with AD. We allocated patients to a meditation combined with standard care or a standard care-only group. Results: The two RCTs met the inclusion criteria. A total of 98 patients were included in the meditation with standard care and standard care-only groups in this review. All meditation programs in the included trials were based on practicing mindfulness. The results of our meta-analysis indicatedthat adjunctive mindfulness meditation programs exerted favourable but non-significant effects on cognitive function on the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) (MD=4.68, 95% CI -0.11 to 9.46; Z=1.92, p=0.06). Only one study assessed depression, anxiety, quality of life and stress. No adverse events related to meditation were reported in the included studies. Conclusions: Insufficient data iscurrently available to determine the effectiveness of practicing meditation on patients diagnosed with AD. Hence, further RCTs with high methodological quality and larger sample sizes are needed to effectively estimate the effects of meditation on AD.