• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.93-108
• /
• 2021

Objective: This study examined the mediating effect of adolescents' self-esteem on the relationship between their childhood abuse experiences and school rule-breaking behavior. Methods: The research participants consisted of 1,748 adolescents aged from 15 to 16. Adolescents' school rule-breaking behavior and self-esteem were measured in 2016, whereas their childhood abuse experiences were measured in 2010. Panel data collected by the National Youth Policy Institute were analyzed using the bootstrapping technique and PROCESS Macro for SPSS. Results: The results of the study are as follows. First, the adolescents' childhood abuse experiences affected their school rule-breaking behavior. That is, the adolescents who were abused by their parents were at higher risk of breaking school rules later in life. Second, the adolescents' self-esteem mediated the relationship between their childhood abuse experiences and school rule-breaking behavior. The adolescents who were abused by their parents tend to have low levels of self-esteem and thereby break school rules. Conclusion/Implications: The present study shows the possibility that childhood abuse experiences lead to adolescents' problematic behaviors, such as school rule violation. It also indicates that it is necessary to provide counseling and therapeutic interventions for enhancing the self-esteem of adolescents of the at-risk group with childhood abuse experiences.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.154-160
• /
• 2021

Objectives: This study identified the association between excessive exposure to screen media and behavioral and emotional problems in elementary school students. Methods: A total of 331 parents of children aged 7-10 years were recruited from "The Kids Cohort for Understanding of Internet Addiction Risk Factors in Early Childhood (K-CURE)" study. Children's demographics, household media ownership, screen time, and behavioral/emotional problems were assessed using a parental questionnaire. Children's behavior/emotional problems were measured using the Korean version the of Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL) score. Results: The total K-CBCL score in the screen overuse group was 51.18±9.55, significantly higher than 47.28±10.09 in the control group (t=2.14, p=0.05). For each subscale, the externalization score (51.65±10.14, 48.33±8.97, respectively; t=2.02, p<0.05), social problem score (55.41±6.11, 53.24±5.19, respectively; t=2.27, p<0.05), and rule breaking behavior score (55.71±6.11, 53.24±5.19, respectively; t=2.27, p<0.05) were significantly higher in the screen overuse group than in the control group. In addition, the screen overuse group also had a significantly higher usage rate than the control group, even if limited to smartphones, not only on weekdays (3.56±2.08, 1.87±2.02, respectively; t=-4.597, p<0.001) but also weekends (1.62±0.74, 1.19±0.83, respectively; t=-3.14, p=0.003). Conclusion: The study suggested that screen media overuse patterns in children in Korea are particularly relevant to the excessive use of smartphones and are related to higher risks of emotional and behavioral problems.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.119-126
• /
• 2024

Objectives: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal behavior, including suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempts, are important predictors of suicide in adolescents. This study aimed to investigate the associations between NSSI, SI, NSSI+SI, mental health problems, and family factors in Korean adolescents in Jeju Island, with an emphasis on key findings. Methods: A total of 561 adolescents completed self-report questionnaires regarding demographics, NSSI, SI, suicidal behavior, perceived family functioning, and mental health problems, which were assessed using Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children, Screen for Children Anxiety-Related Disorders (SCARED), and Youth Self-Report (YSR). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance, chi-square test, post-hoc analyses, and multivariate logistic regression. Results: In this study, 22.3% of adolescents reported either NSSI or SI, with 5.5% reporting NSSI and 20.7% reporting SI. Combined (NSSI+SI) group showed a significantly higher SCARED score, anxiety/depression, thought problems, attention problem, and rule breaking on YSR than did the SI only group. Higher level of depression and anxiety were significantly associated with NSSI and SI. Female sex and perceived family dissatisfaction were significantly associated factors for SI, but not for NSSI in multivariate logistic regression. Conclusion: This study provides insights into the clinical characteristics and associated factors among adolescents with NSSI, SI, and NSSI+SI in Jeju Island. Identifying these results can inform the development of targeted prevention and intervention strategies to mitigate the negative consequences of these behaviors and contribute to a better understanding of the role of family in this context.