• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.62-71
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of drinking patterns and the prevalence of hazardous drinking and alcohol use disorder with the assessment of alcohol policy needs in community population of urban city in Korea. Methods : Data was collected from 1,000 residents in a single urban city in Korea, from June 1 to July 31, 2011 by a questionnaire. As research tools, socio-demographic characteristics composed of variables based on study purpose, alcohol problems and alcohol use disorder state scales composed with Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test(AUDIT) and Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener(CAGE), and the assessment of alcohol policy needs in community population questions were used. Results : The lifetime experience of alcohol drinking was 97.4%. For the frequency of drinking, 21.9% of population responded 2 to 4 times per weekly. 24.4% of male had one time or more high risk drinking, defined as having four or more drinks in a sitting, per week. 51.6% experienced the first time drinking of alcohol in adolescence. The lifetime prevalence of hazardous drinking and alcohol use disorder were 14.9% and 3.3%, respectively using AUDIT. Alcohol use disorder were 9.6% with the CAGE scale. Problem drinking were 8.4% in this study. They requested the program such as prevention education(57.2%), construction of liaison system to treatment facilities(50.1%), alcohol counseling and intervention(41.7%), and rehabilitation program(39.8%). Conclusions : These results demonstrate that alcohol problem and alcohol use disorder were much prevalent, and these problem started in the earlier age. It is necessary to develop an effective alcohol prevention program or policy with considering the needs in community population.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.479-490
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• 2017

The objective of this study is to examine the association of social networks and medical care utilization of elderly living alone depending on self-rated health status, and also to measure the moderating effects of welfare services for elderly. To this purpose, the data which was collected from the 2014 National Survey on Elderly in Korea was analyzed by Chi-square test and Poisson regression. According to the results, social networks and elderly welfare services affected to medical care utilization of elderly living alone, only who aware of their self-rated health status as bad. With this group, the frequency of contact with family and participation in lifelong education had a significant effect on increasing medical care utilization. In contrast, the frequency of contact with neighbors and the participation in elderly employment program were significant to reduce the utilization of medical care. Furthermore, the moderating effects of elderly welfare services were also measured that formal social gathering has an effect of increasing the medical care utilization of elderly living alone by expansion of their social networks. Based on these results, this study consequently has an implication for suggesting expansion of elderly welfare services, which might be an alternative to social networks of elderly living alone, and also for seeking the direction of political intervention that helps health promotion and disease prevention through the research of medical care utilization.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.576-590
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• 2021

As a 'Senior Citizen' by applying an active theory based on a role model, elderly volunteers may seek to impart health to the local communities through volunteer activities. In addition, the strategies for promoting the elderly participation volunteering actions may apply with the lifelong education/learning model for citizenship development, which intends to expand the elder volunteer activity participants and the areas of volunteering actions. In this study, we attempted to find out how volunteering fieldworkers experience and perceive volunteer-promoting strategies for senior volunteers drawn from previous literatures and studies on promoting elderly volunteer actions. For the purpose of the study, we conducted in-depth interviews with 12 fieldworkers who worked senior-welfare centers and volunteer centers in Seoul and Kyeong-gi area. We used the directed-content analysis, which categorized 12 themes/categories commonly mentioned from previous literatures and studies. Within these categories, the analysis was made to derive issues and improve promoting strategies specified from the interviewees. The outcomes of the study included the insights regarding what promoting-strategies might be necessary to enrich existing senior volunteer actions. The study highlighted not only reviews volunteer fieldworkers' current experiences with senior volunteers but also barrier and practical suggestions for the continuous advances of senior volunteer programs and strategies.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.87-102
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• 2021

Child abuse and neglect are recently increasing in Korea, and although the government has actively improved the child protection system, the number of abused children and the rate of cases judged as abuse have continuously risen. Given that 75% of child abusers are parents, child abuse and neglect are expected to recur. To prevent such a recurrence, various intervention programs for abused children and their parents are required. The purpose of this study were to design a recovery support service process and investigate the effectiveness of pilot program for families of origin, including neglected(protected) children, to improve the system by which these programs are operated, and formulate policy alternatives that reinforce "family preservation" principles. The pilot program was implemented from June to November 2020 in 4-local healthy family support center. The number of program participants and the frequency of participation in each other differed, because of the difference in number of confirmed coronavirus cases in each region and the requirement for social distancing. Through the program, a community-based service process was developed for neglected(protected) children and their parents, and cooperative networks between related facilities and institutions were established. The study formulated the following recommendations: First, a cooperation system among government departments mandated to provide different services to neglected(protected) children is needed. Second, wider and various channels through which abused children can avail of protective services should be developed within communities. Third, more stable environments for program operation should be cultivated, and cooperative partnerships should be sought for knowledge sharing among relevant government departments. Another necessary measure is for a center to develop its own business model, in which the duplication of services provided by involved organizations is avoided. Finally, clear guidelines, administrative standards, and specific plans for program operation should be arranged. Also regional characteristics are maintained, but services should be standardized.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.300-306
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• 2010

Purpose : Recent changes in the population structure of Korea, such as rapid decline in birth rate and exponential increase in old-aged people, prompted us to prepare a new health improvement program in children and adolescents. Methods : We reviewed current health screenings applied for children and adolescents in Korea and other developed countries. We collected and reviewed population-based data focused on mortality and morbidity, and other health-related statistical data. We generated problem lists in current systems and developed new principles. Results : Current health screening programs for children and adolescents were usually based on laboratory tests, such as blood tests, urinalysis, and radiologic tests. Almost all of these programs lacked evidence based on population data or controlled studies. In most developed countries, laboratory tests are used only very selectively, and they usually focus on primary prevention of diseases and health improvement using anticipatory guidance. In Korea, statistics on mortality and morbidity reveal that diseases related to lifestyle, such as obesity and metabolic syndrome, are increasing in all generations. Conclusion : We recommend a periodic health screening program with anticipatory guidance, which is focused on growth and developmental surveillance in infants and children. We no longer recommend old programs that are based on laboratory and radiologic examinations. School health screening programs should also be changed to meet current health issues, such as developing a healthier lifestyle to minimize risk behaviors—or example, good mental health, balanced nutrition, and more exercise.

• 한국노년학
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.569-592
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• 2018

This study purported to investigate the current state of human rights of older adults residing in rural areas of Korea. The study utilized, as an analytic framework, 4 priority directions (1. "older persons and development", 2. "rural area development", 3. "advancing health and well-being into old age", and 4. "ensuring enabling and supportive environments") with 13 task actions recommended by Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA). Furthermore, the study examined gender differences in all items included in the analytic framework. Data was collected by the face-to-face survey on 800 subjects aged 65 and over. Statistical analyses were conducted using STATA 13.0 program. The main results were summarized in order of 4 priority directions as follows. First, average working hours per day were 6.2, and men reportedly participated in economic activities and needed job training more than women, while women participated in lifelong education programs more than men. Awareness of fire and disaster prevention facilities was low in both genders. Second, accessibility to the support center for the elderly living alone as well as protective services for the vulnerable elderly was found to be low. IT-based services and networking were used more by men than women, and specifically, IT-based financial transactions and welfare services were least used. Third, medical check-ups and vaccinations were well received, while consistent treatments for chronic illnesses and long-term care services were relatively less given. In addition, accessibility to mental health service centers was considerably low. Fourth, although old house structures and the lack of convenience facilities were found to be circumstantial risk factors for these elders, experiences of receiving housing support services were scarce. The elderly were found to rely more on informal care, and concerns for their care were higher in women than men. Plus, accessibility to elderly abuse services was markedly low. Based on these results, discussed were implications for implementing policies and practical interventions to raise the levels of the human rights for this population.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.292-309
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• 2016

The purpose of the present paper is to investigate the effects of stress and depression experienced by the first (1955-1964) and second (1968-1974) generations of baby boomers on their psychological well-being as well as the moderation effects of social supports for them. For this purpose, 369 who come under the category of the first- and second-generation baby boomers were selected by convenient sampling from among the participants in the programs of the life-long educational institutes in Seoul metropolitan area and questionnaires of self-administered type were distributed to them. Frequency analysis, t-test, ANOVA, correlation analysis and hierarchial regression analysis which used input of mean-centered variables and interaction term were conducted to determine the moderating effects of social supports based on the replies to the questionnaires. The major outcomes of the analyses could be summed up as follows: first, the stress and depression suffered by the first and second generations of baby boomers turned out to have negative (-) influence upon their psychological well-being; second, the social supports for those two generations were found to exercise positive (+) effects upon their psychological well-being; and third, a survey of difference in the moderating effects of social supports between the first- and second-generation baby boomers showed that, in case of the first generation, the worse their economic status and the higher their stress and depression were, the lower their psychological well-being tended to be and that social supports functioned to hike their psychological well-being but had moderating effects only in connection with stress. In case of the second generation, however, it was shown that the higher their stress and depression got, the lower their psychological well-being developed and that social supports might increase their psychological well-being but without any moderating effects on the part of relationship with their stress and depression. A practical and political method was discussed to improve baby boomers mental health.