This article examines gender differences in stress levels and coping strategies while using mobile phones. We constructed an e-mail survey to collect data from 1,000 adults in South Korea, and used latent means comparison and multi-group structural regression in structural equation modeling. It was determined that as compared to men, women were more vulnerable to stress. Regarding coping, women used all three coping strategies more equally than men, including active coping, expressive support seeking, and avoidance, whereas men mainly chose active coping; however, there were no significant gender differences in coping outcomes, and both women and men coped effectively by choosing their own personal strategies. We suggested how to reduce stress levels for women through enhancing their self-efficacy, as self-efficacy was shown to reduce stress levels specifically for women. Additionally, based on our findings, we proposed how both men and women could cope more effectively.

Consumer perception of the meaning of 'green' and 'green products' as well as how they use green claims (including terms, certifications, and marks) should be examined to help consumers pursue green behavior in everyday life. This study investigates what type of green claims prevail in the Korean consumer market and how consumers perceive the meaning of 'green' and green claims. For these purposes, media analysis, in-context research (shop visit) and a survey were conducted to collect green claims (including green terms and certified/noncertified green marks). Green claims in the consumer market were first summarized and analyzed; subsequently, the most frequently used 7 green marks and 15 green terms were selected to construct a consumer survey questionnaire on consumer perceptions of green claims. An online survey was performed via Embrain and the survey respondents consisted of 500 adult consumers over the age of 20. The field research results showed frequent green claims in the Korean consumer market. However, certified (and hence trustworthy green product information labels) were uncommon in the market. The only green claim widely known and used by consumers was the energy consumption efficiency label. Consumers were interested in the green information label not because it affected their utility cost nor because it was important for environment protection.

The study examined how changes in time invested in private tutoring and academic achievement influenced each other through a multivariate latent growth model by using the data from the first to the third year presented in the KYPS. This study identifies not only how changes in the private tutoring experience exerted a direct influence on changes in academic achievement, but also measures what kind of changes in private tutoring and academic achievement had emerged over time. The detailed study results are as follows. First, the analysis of time invested in private tutoring showed that the higher the grades, the greater were the amount of time invested in private tutoring in the case of Korean language study. On the other hand, the results showed that in the case of English and mathematics, the higher the grades, the lesser was the amount of time invested in private tutoring. Second, private tutoring and academic achievement were all in a linear relationship. Third, it was shown that the time invested in private tutoring and academic achievement exerted a negative influence on each other according to the passage of time.

The purpose of this study was to analyze human upper body surface changes at the shoulder and back area. The body surface data were analyzed in terms of muscle and bone displacement in dynamic postures. Body surface data were collected with a 3D body scanner. The body surface was scanned at the static and four baseball batting postures. The body surface dimensions over the deltoids, scapulae and trapezius were measured. The results show that the vertical measurements of the deltoids increased by 20%. The horizontal measurements of the axilla of the back increased. The surface of the trapezius was elongated by over 10%, and the lower back musculature was elongated by about 50%. The results of this study showed that changes in back body surface caused by upper arm movements. It was influenced by the deltoid articulated with the humeri and the scapulae and trapezius. These body surface changes caused by muscle activities and ranges of motion can be used to design functional clothing.

This study investigates Korean high school student's perception of sexual harassment and relative effects of victim's clothing, dating behavior and respondent's gender on perceptions of alleged sexual harassment cases. A quasi-experimental method was applied using a $2{\times}2{\times}2$ between-subjects factorial design that manipulated three variables (clothing exposure, dating behavior, and gender). Questionnaires were distributed to a convenience sample of 540 high school students and 530 questionnaires were used for the data analysis. The results indicate that the victim's clothing and dating behavior had a significant main effect on the responsibility for sexual harassment. The respondent put less responsibility on the assailant when the victim wore revealing clothing and when her dating behavior was provocative. The significant interaction effect between the respondents' gender and the victim's dating behavior indicated that when the victim's behavior was provocative, female respondents held more responsible to victim than male respondents did. The results also indicate that victim's clothing, dating behavior, and respondent's gender had significant main effect on the justification of sexual harassment. The respondents indicated that assailant's behavior is unjustifiable; however, when victim more revealing clothing, they indicated that the behavior is more justifiable.

The purpose of this study was to investigate Korean college students' housing values and housing expectations as well as considerations for housing in their 20s and to explore influences on housing values and expectations. Items related to four housing functions were developed in conjunction with Maslow's hierarchy of human needs to measure housing values. An on-site questionnaire survey was administered to students of a university-A located in Chungbuk province between May 28, 2012, and June 17, 2012. Among the total 476 responses, 465 responses from Korean students were used for further data analyses. The findings are as follows: (1) Among housing functions, those related to shelter functions were perceived as most important followed by function as a place for self-esteem. (2) More than 70 percent of the respondents expected to rent a housing unit in their 20s and more than half of the respondents expected non-traditional and relatively affordable compact size structure types such as studio, Officetel or Gosiwon. (3) Price, location and transportation were found to be the most important considerations when choosing housing in their 20s. (4) Convenience in use of public transportation and commute time were found to be the most important in location choice, and maintenance conditions and security systems were the most important for building choice. (5) Female respondents tended to consider personal safety, security systems, neighborhood facilities, and distance from family more important than male respondents when choosing housing, while male respondents considered parking space more important than females.

This study investigated residents' preferences for spatial features of sitting areas in assisted living facilities, and provides recommendations for planning sitting areas to support residents' spatial preferences and social interaction. The study participants were 69 residents of eight assisted living facilities (30+ resident capacity), located in south central Texas. A photographic comparison method was used, in which residents were shown 20 matched pairs of photos, with a single feature digitally modified in each pair, and asked to select which environmental representation they preferred. The hypothesized spatial characteristics were identified in practice based literature as those that may encourage usage of sitting areas: viewability, variety, homelikeness, and privacy. Most of the hypothesized features were preferred by participants, with the highest preference found for non-institutional furniture arrangements and naturalness, followed by increasing enclosure and variety of seating. Preference was less significant for domestic cues such as carpeted floors, divided light windows, and boundaries defined by different colored material or columns, possibly due to their physical impairments or preference for visual openness. Participants' level of mobility assistance was significantly related to their preference for some features, such as seating with people-watching capability, and carpeted floors. The findings have implications for facility architects and administrators engaged in resident-oriented spatial planning.

Using data from the 2010 National Survey of Korean Families (NSKF), we investigated factors associated with marital conflict for baby boomers in South Korea. Korean baby boomers are those born during the post-Korean War period from 1955 to 1963. OLS regression examined the marital conflict of these couples. Baby boomer couples reported that they experienced occasional marital conflict; subsequently individual and family level variables explained 15% of baby boomers' marital conflict. The key findings were that satisfaction in spousal communication was negatively associated with conflict for baby boomer couples. However, the existence of unmarried adult children was positively associated with baby boomers' marital conflict. Work and family balance was also negatively associated with marital conflict. We found that the more satisfied with communication with the spouse, the fewer unmarried adult children, and the more work and family balance the couple maintained, the less marital conflict these baby boomers experienced.

This study reviews the current status of Korean first graders, their experience with early care and education (ECE) programs, and their participation in private and after-school education. The research also examines how school adjustment during the first grade is related to family income, types of ECE programs, and participation in private and after-school education. Using the first year data of the Korean Child and Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS) 2010, this study analyzes 752 first graders who attended only one of two types of ECE programs (child care centers or kindergartens), after which two 25% income extremes were examined. The analysis demonstrates that children from low-income households attended child care centers more often, while children from high-income households attended kindergartens more often. For both low-income and high-income groups, child care centers had a lower starting age and longer attendance periods than did kindergartens. High-income household children started attending ECE programs earlier, experienced more private and after-school education, and received a larger number of private and after-school educational lessons. For the second research purpose, children from low-income families showed better peer relations in school adjustment, while children attending child care centers showed better teacher relations than children attending kindergartens. Children with after-school education also exhibited better peer relations. These findings show the importance of government support for early learning, especially for low-income families and offer a foundation for developing private education polices for early childhood before and after school entry.