• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1199-1210
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• 2012

This study investigated the influence of obesity on depression and stress by analyzing the results of the national survey on health and nutrition. Relationships between normal, obese, and severely obese groups were investigated. The results of the study are as follows. First, obesity caused by demographic variables showed a relationship to both gender and average monthly income. In the case of the seriously obese group, females had higher rates of depression than males, and the high obesity group had lower average monthly income than the normal and obese groups. Second, obesity caused by health-related variables found that high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes that was not angina-related displayed higher rates of depression in the serious obesity group than in the other groups. As for subjective evaluations of one's own health condition, the serious obesity group showed a high tendency to evaluate their own health conditions negatively. Third, the difference between depression and stress related to obesity level showed no difference between the normal weight group and the obesity group; however, the seriously obese group demonstrated relatively higher occurrences of depression and higher stress scores. Fourth, the result for depression and stress level caused by demographic variables, health-related variables, and obesity demonstrated a direct relationship to gender, subjective level of satisfaction with one's personal finances, average monthly income, subjective perception of one's own health and severely obesity status. More specifically, it was found that the ratio of depression and stress score was higher when the subject was female, among those whose subjective evaluation of their own finances and health condition was negative, and those who suffered from severe obesity.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.528-535
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• 2003

The purposes of this study were: 1) to investigate the operational and financial characteristics of contract-managed high school food services in Seoul, 2) to analyze the financial performance of high school food services 3) to develop guidelines for meal pricing and facilities investment costs. From Oct to Nov 2001, questionnaires were mailed to 249 high schools that were managed by contract food service companies. A 40.2％ response rate was recorded. The results of this study were as follows: 1. Student enrollment in high schools run by contract-managed food services was 1,518, with a 68.5％ participation rate in the school lunch program. The average meal price was 2,141 won. 2. Based on the income statement analysis, average total sales were 410,440,504 won and average net profit was 16,098,558 won. 3. The optimum food cost per meal was 1,200-1,300 won per meal, calculating using the methods of conversion factor, RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance), and nutrient exchange unit. 4. Guidelines for meal pricing were developed using the modified actual pricing method based on facilities investment cost, number of meals and food cost. The ratio of labor cost, general management expenses and ordinary profit were adopted from the schools with liability. The food cost, depreciation and interest cost were calculated based on unit meal. 5. The guideline for facilities investment was developed based on the number of meals, meal price and food cost. The guideline included the maximum facilities investment cost paid by the contract food service management company. (Korean J Nutrition 36(5): 528∼535, 2003)

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.161-165
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• 2021

Objectives: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spreads heterogeneously, disproportionately impacting poor and minority communities. The relationship between poverty and race is complex, with a diverse set of structural and systemic factors driving higher rates of poverty among minority populations. The factors that specifically contribute to the disproportionate rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection, however, are not clearly understood. Methods: We evaluated SARS-CoV-2 test results from community-based testing sites in Los Angeles, California, between June and December, 2020. We used tester zip code data to link those results with United States Census report data on average annual household income, rates of healthcare coverage, and employment status by zip code. Results: We analyzed 2 141 127 SARS-CoV-2 test results, of which 245 154 (11.4%) were positive. Multivariable modeling showed a higher likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 test positivity among Hispanic communities than among other races. We found an increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 positivity among individuals from zip codes with an average annual household income

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.252-261
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the health status(present illness, ADL and IADL), health perception, and health promotion behaviors of low-income elderly who are receiving the visiting nurse service in the community. Method: The sample of the study was 735 elderly over 65years old with basic livelihood security, who were conveniently selected from 245 public health centers nation-wide. Data collection was done using a structured questionnaire through interviews by visiting nurses. Result: The average number of present illnesses in the study subjects was 4.18. The average scores of ADL and IADL were 15.903.39and 9.772.97 respectively, which indicates a relatively independent everyday life. However, $64.2\%$ of the subjects perceived their health status as 'not healthy'. In terms of health promotion behaviors, $77.8\%$ of the subjects had ceased smoking, $83.9\%$ stopped drinking, $56.4\%$ had a regular diet, $45.8\%$ received regular physical check-ups during the past two years, and $66\%$ received flu shots. Approximately $50\%$ of the subjects were practicing 3-4 health promotion behaviors. Significant factors associated with health promotion behaviors were ADL, IADL and self-efficacy. Conclusion: Health promotion programs which focus on regular diet, exercise, and regular physical check-ups should be developed to improve independence of everyday life and quality of life among low-income elderly.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.103-112
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of socioeconomic status on the eating-out satisfaction, eating-out expenditure, meal balance and dietary attitude of 251 married females in Youngnam Area. The monthly frequency of eating out with family was 2.5 visits with an expenditure of 116,000 won in this study. Korean food was the most frequently selected type of board for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The respondents satisfied with the taste of the food the most, whereas least satisfied with the sanitation. The average expenditure for eating-out was 62,000 won per visit with the average of 39,000 won in the lowest income group and 78,000 won in the highest one. Regarding the meal balance score, the overall score was 3.48 with the lowest score(2.98) being recorded for the dairy products and the highest score(3.95) for vegetables. As for the dietary attitude score, breakfast scored the highest(3.79) and consideration of balanced workload, exercise, rest and dining activities received the lowest score(2.57). Meal balance and attitude scores were not significantly different among the eating-out expenditure levels. The eating-out expenditure demonstrated a positive correlation with total food expenditures, household income, educational attainment and others. The low income group who had low meal balance scores and dietary attitude scores tended to spend proportionally more on eating-out. In conclusion, the studies revealed that the respondents favored the Korean food and did not satisfied with the sanitation most when eating-out. In terms of eating-out expenses, the group with the highest income and educational attainment spent the most on eating-out and food expenditures.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.348-354
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• 2017

Agroforestry has been practiced in arid and semi-arid regions for the purposes of preventing desertification and to increase income for locals. However, the intended effects of such practices have been limited due to strong winds and aridity. This study undertook multi-year monitoring of the productivity of income crops associated with windbreak planting in a semi-arid region of Mongolia, and explored strategies of windbreak planning to enhance the multi-purpose effects of agroforestry practices. The tree crown density of windbreak planting was on average 40% in one year after planting and 65% 2-3 years after, and thereby windspeeds were reduced by about 30% and 54%, respectively. Average windspeed reductions at leeward distances from the windbreak planting were approximately 60% within 3H (H=tree height), 50% at 5H, and 42% at 7-9H, presenting a pattern in which the farther the distance the less the reduction in windspeeds. The windbreak planting increased crop productivity by up to 6.8 times, compared to the productivity absent of windbreaks. Increases in the crown density as stated above resulted in increases of crop productivity by up to 3.6 times. Based on such results, this study proposed a model of windbreak planning as a typical land-use system of border windbreak planting or alternate windbreak planting of combining trees and income crops. The model also included tree planting with a crown density of 60% and allocation of income crops within a leeward distance of 5 times the height of the trees to reduce windspeeds by about 50%. The results from this study are applicable to practicing agroforestry not only at the study site but also in other regions worldwide where strong winds and aridity are problematic.

• Journal of Labour Economics
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.73-105
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• 2019

In this paper, we investigated the impacts of minimum wage on the working hours and labor income of wage earners considering coverage of minimum wage. The results show that the increase in the proportion of workers influenced by the minimum wage in the industry has a negative effect on the average monthly working hours and the average monthly salary of workers affected by the minimum wage. This implies that firms try to offset the rise in labor costs caused by increase in the minimum wage by adjusting the working hours of the employees influenced by the minimum wage. Our finding suggests that the minimum wage policy would reduce the labor income of workers affected by the minimum wage.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.484-492
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• 2022

In this study, we used the Korea Health Panel Study for 2017 raw data as analytical data to understand the factors that affect the catastrophic health expenditures of the baby boomer generation and the final number of analyzed was 808 people. Analysis methods performed frequency analysis, crosstabulation, and multiple regression analysis, with p = .05 at the significance level for all validations. The statistically significant differences among the baby boomer generation were education level, marriage status, health insurence, household income, drinking, smoking, subjective health, outpatient care, and inpatient care. The average number of illnesses in the baby boomer generation was 8.14, of which 7.97 for male and 7.97 for female. The average number of outpatient visits was 16.81, of which 14.81 recalls for male and 26.89 for female. More than 40% of the ability to pay the catastrophic health expenditures rate was 15.3% for male and 26.3% for female. The factors affecting the catastrophic health expenditure of babyboomer generation are as follows. that influence the widow's fence medical expenses are as follows. Male were private insurance, household income, drinking, and inpatient care, and female were private insurance, household income, and drinking.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.95-97
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• 2011

Purpose: We analyzed the medical costs for severely traumatized patients according to the severity and medical performance so that we could improve the financial balance of the trauma center. Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on patients visiting SNUH Trauma Center from May 2011 to August 2011. Among a total of 55 severely traumatized patients, 31 patients whose medical bills were available and categorized were included in this study. The injury severity score (ISS) was calculated from the abbreviated injury score (AIS), which was updated in 2008,for each patient to assess the severity of injury. Major trauma was defined as an ISS above 15. Results:The 31 patients in this study included 20 males and 11 females. The average ISS was $33.23{\pm}16.65$ points. We categorize the patients into three groups according to ISS, 16-24: group 1, 25-40: group 2, and above 41: group 3. Total incomes, admission fees, surgery fees, and imaging test fees are shown in table 1. The costs seem to be higher costs in group 2, but this result has no statistical significance. Statistical significantly data are as follows: high radiologic test fees in group 1, short hospital stay in groups 1 and 2, and short ICU stay in group 1. The average hospital stay was 17 days, and the average emergency intensive care unit (EICU) stay was 7.5 days. Although the EICU stay was only 44% of the total hospital stay, the income from the EICU covers 79.4% of the total hospital income. Conclusion: From this study, we found several items that show relatively high medical income from severely traumatized patients visiting the SNUH Trauma Center. Most of the medical fees arise in the early phase of acute medicine usually in the ICU. Efforts to identify the items with high income and to minimize expenses will improve the financial structure of the Trauma Center,which is facing a budget crisis.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.435-455
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• 2021

This study aimed to examine the effect of the income change and income level during the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals' depression, and to test how those associations may differ by gender. Participants consisted of 634 adults(M_age=44.18, SD_age=13.88, 313 females) recruited through an online research company. Participants completed a set of questionnaires that measured income change, average monthly income for the past six months, and the Korean version of CES-D. The results indicated that decreases in income, but not levels of income, significantly predicted levels of depression. Furthermore, both income change and income level interacted with gender to predict depression. Specifically, income change predicted depression only for males, while income level predicted depression only for females. These findings suggest that the effects of income-related indicators on depression during the pandemic may differ by gender. The study also offers practical implications by proposing gender as a potential factor to consider in early identification and intervention to prevent depression during the pandemic.