• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.341-355
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The consumption of dietary supplements has shown an increase among young people in their 20s. We aimed to compare the use of dietary supplements and related factors between Chinese international and Korean college students living in South Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We conducted online surveys of 400 Chinese international students and 452 Korean college students from January to February 2021. We analyzed the factors related to the use of dietary supplements by these students using multi-group structural equation modeling and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Approximately 65% of the Chinese international students and 93% of the Korean college students consumed dietary supplements at least once in the year preceding the survey. The common types of dietary supplements consumed by both groups of students were vitamin and mineral supplements, Lactobacillus products, and red ginseng products. Structural equation modeling showed that perception of the consumption of dietary supplements by family and friends positively influenced attitude toward dietary supplements. This effect was higher for Korean college students than for Chinese international students (P < 0.01). Attitude toward dietary supplements positively influenced their use, and this effect was higher for Chinese international students than for Korean college students (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that the use of dietary supplements by Chinese international students was significantly associated with age, self-reported health status, interest in health, perception of and attitude toward dietary supplements, and length of residence in South Korea. Among Korean college students, it was associated with exercise frequency and attitude toward dietary supplements. CONCLUSION: This study showed significant differences in the use of dietary supplements and related factors between Chinese international and Korean college students. Therefore, nutrition education programs on dietary supplements need to have differentiated content for each group. Such differences also suggest that the industry should consider the relevant characteristics of college students while developing and marketing dietary supplements.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.109-119
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• 2020

As interest in the environment increases, consumers increasingly choose to buy products with eco-friendly production processes. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of consumption values and materialism/voluntary simplicity on the attitudes and purchase intentions toward eco-friendly fashion products. A survey of university students in Seoul was conducted and 203 questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS 23.0. The consumption values consisted of six factors: subjective value, novelty value, social value, brand value, practical value, and health/safety value. Materialism/voluntary simplicity was grouped into two factors of materialism pursuit and voluntary simplicity pursuit. Brand values were found to negatively affect attitudes toward eco-friendly fashion products. The more one pursued brand names, the more negative was one's attitude toward eco-friendly fashion products. Health/safety values had a positive effect on purchase intentions for eco-friendly fashion products and voluntary simplicity pursuit had a positive effect on both attitudes and purchase intentions. The materialist group had high subjective value, novelty value, social value, and brand value among the consumption values, and the voluntary simplicity-seeking group tended to pursue the value of health and safety. This study was meaningful in that it identified the characteristics of consumers showing favorable attitudes toward eco-friendly fashion products.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1247-1258
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• 2011

This study aimed to clarify the relationships among the characteristics of consumers and their influence on fashion leadership. Two kinds of variables were investigated in this study: centrality of visual product aesthetics and consumer innovativeness as personal characteristics, and role-relaxed consumption and consumer susceptibility to interpersonal influence as interpersonal characteristics. Data were gathered by surveying university students in the Seoul metropolitan area, using convenience sampling, and 322 questionnaires were used in the statistical analysis. In analyzing data, correlation analysis, factor analysis, and regression analysis were conducted. Factor analysis on the centrality of visual product aesthetics revealed three sub-factors: value, acumen, and response intensity. Meanwhile, factor analysis for consumer susceptibility to interpersonal influence revealed two sub-factors: informative and normative conformities. However, consumer innovativeness, role-relaxed consumption, and fashion leadership revealed only one factor. Regression analysis showed that visual product aesthetics, especially acumen and response intensity, were the most influential factors; furthermore, consumer innovativeness and normative conformity had positive influence on fashion leadership. However, role-relaxed consumption had negative influence on fashion leadership.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.465-479
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• 2018

Purpose: This study examined the frequency of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in Korean adolescents and the major factors influencing the excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, such as sociodemographic characteristics, health-related behaviors, psychological characteristics, and dietary habits. Methods: The analysis was performed using the data from the 2017 Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. The subjects included in the analysis were 30,885 middle school students and 31,391 high school students, totaling 62,276. The frequency of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was calculated by summing the consumption frequencies of soda, high caffeine or energy drinks, and sweet beverages over the last 7 days. The Rao-Scott chi-square test, reflecting information on the sampling design, was used to test the differences in the rate of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption according to each factor. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the factors influencing the excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. Results: The rate of sweetened beverage consumption was higher in boys than in girls, in high school students than in middle school students, in students whose father's education level was lower, in those whose subjective academic performance was lower, and in those who smoked or consumed alcohol. In addition, the rate of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was higher in those who experienced severe stress, suicidal ideation, sadness, or a sense of despair. The rate of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was also high in those who skipped breakfast; who frequently consumed fast foods, ramen, or snacks; and who frequently ate meals at convenience stores, supermarkets, or school stores. Conclusion: The rate of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in Korean adolescents is related to various factors, such as sociodemographic characteristics, health-related behaviors, psychological characteristics, and dietary habits.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.60-72
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• 2018

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the awareness of energy drinks, energy drink consumption behaviors, and associated factors among college students. Methods: A total of 536 students from three universities in Cheongju completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding awareness and consumption of energy drinks as well as general characteristics, health-related characteristics, and eating habits. Results: Approximately half of the respondents reported they knew what energy drinks were, while 45.7% had heard of energy drinks but did not know what they were. However, 76.9% had experience in using energy drinks. The main reason for using energy drinks was to stay awake, and the main place that they were used was on campus or at the library. More than 70% of energy drink users did not read the caffeine contents of energy drinks. After consuming energy drinks, 31.3% experienced adverse effects, the most serious being sleep disturbance. Approximately 33% of students consumed energy drinks once a month or more frequently, and men consumed energy drinks more frequently than females. Energy drink users who consumed at least one drink each month were more likely to be natural science major or drink more milk for male students, and to have more allowances or consume less meat for female students, compared with non-users. Conclusions: Our study showed that 33% of students consumed at least one energy drink each month, and there were a small number of students consumed energy drinks almost every day or energy drinks mixed with alcohol. Accordingly, college students should be taught potential health hazards of energy drinks mixed with alcohol as well as energy drinks alone. In addition, reading labels about caffeine and sugar contents in energy drinks is encouraged.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.206-217
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• 2016

This study was conducted to assess the recognition and consumption of health functional food (HFF) of the college students in the Northern Gyeonggi-do area (Republic of Korea). To accomplish this, a survey was conducted to investigate 360 college students (183 males and 177 females) regarding their general characteristics, as well as the recognition, knowledge, considerations, purchases and consumption of HFF. Most male and female students (68.9% and 61.6%, respectively) were unaware of the HFF certification mark, however, more females(58.8%) were aware of the legal HFF definition compared to males (36.6%). The HFF advertising routes for males and females were 'TV radio' (43.2% and 43.5%, respectively) and 'internet smart phones' (19.7% and 27.1%, respectively). The main factor considered for selection and the most serious problem concerning HFF by males and females were 'effectiveness' (36.1% and 43.6%, respectively) and 'hype (exaggerated advertisement)' (35.0% and 55.9%, respectively). The main purchase route by males and females was 'pharmacy' (35.2% and 27.8%, respectively). The main reason for HFF product purchase by males and females was 'health promotion' (38.8% and 29.4%, respectively) and the main reason for not purchasing an HFF product was 'no health problem'(34.8% and 36.7%, respectively). The percentage of HFF consumption was 46.0% in males and 69.8% in females. The main HFF product consumed by males and females was 'vitamin mineral' (36.9% and 43.5%, respectively). The main reason for HFF consumption by males was 'health promotion' (31.0%) and females was 'recovery from fatigue' (21.8%). The main reason for not consuming HFF by males and females was 'no health problem' (38.4% and 41.5%, respectively). These results suggest the need to provide correct information concerning HFF to college students. Based on these results, greater efforts should be made to provide meaningful information regarding factors affecting purchase and consumption patterns for college students related to the research and development of HFF in the Northern Gyeonggi-do area.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.266-276
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify variables related to smoking behaviors (never smoked, former smoker, current smoker) among college students on the basis of the PRECEDE model. Method: Data were collected from 327 college students in Chungbuk Province from May to June 2006 using a self-reported questionnaire. Result: The rate of current smokers was 19.0%. The rate of current smokers in male students (41.1%) was significantly higher than that of female students(8.3%). Also, there were significant differences by general characteristics such as major, academic achievements, satisfaction with major and alcohol consumption. Number of smokers among five close friends was 1.72 and it showed significant differences among different gender, majors, levels of satisfaction with majors and alcohol consumption. In discriminant analysis, discriminant variables on smoking behavior were the number of smokers among close friends, the referent persons' responses about smoking and subject's belief about smoking. Conclusion: These research findings suggest that we can enhance the prevention of college students' smoking by strengthening the related factors such as enforcing a non-smoking environment and strengthening college health education strategies of non-smoking including a negative belief of smoking and the hazard of passive smoking.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.304-312
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: International students face dissimilar food environments, which could lead to changes in dietary behaviors and anthropometric characteristics between before and after migration. We sought to examine the risk factors, including dietary behaviors, acculturation, and demographic characteristics, related to overweight subjects residing in South Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study, collecting data from 142 Chinese international students (63 males, 79 females) in 2013. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 25.4 years, and almost half of them immigrated to South Korea to earn a master's degree or doctoral degree (n = 70, 49.3%). Chinese international students showed an increase in skipping meals and eating speed, but a decrease in the frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption in South Korea compared to when they lived in China. We found a statistically significant increase in weight (69.4 ${\rightarrow}$ 73.9 kg) and BMI (22.4 ${\rightarrow}$ $23.8kg/m^2$) for male subjects (P < 0.001) but no change for female subjects. We also found that overweight subjects were more likely to be highly acculturated and male compared with normal-weight subjects. CONCLUSION: Among Chinese international students living in South Korea, male and more highly acculturated subjects are more vulnerable to weight gain. This study provides useful information to design tailored nutrition intervention programs for Chinese international students.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.631-646
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to investigate the carbonated beverage consumption and related factors of dental hygiene students in Gwangju Jeonnam. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 343 dental hygiene students in the Gwangju Jeonnam area from May 17, 2017 to June 1 based on convenience sampling. The questionnaire consisted of general characteristics of the subjects, the frequency of carbonated beverage intake, its degree of impact on oral health, oral care behavior following the intake of carbonated beverages, and the method of intake. Results:There were 293 people (85.4%) who drink carbonated beverages. The intake frequency was an average of 3.9 times a week, and the most frequently consumed beverage was cola with an average of 1.8 times a week. The intake frequency of carbonated beverage was correlated with a higher share of the cost of the beverage in the subject's monthly allowance, a lower intention of ceasing intake of carbonated beverage henceforth, and a lower grade. Conclusions: It is necessary to raise awareness on carbonated beverages through nutrition education concerning beverages including the harmful effects of carbonated beverages and reinforcement of oral health education in regular education courses. In addition, it is considered necessary to refrain from the consumption carbonated beverages by oneself as a preliminary dental hygienist.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.119-125
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• 2015

This study was analyzed to provide fundamental data on the relationship between fast food consumption behaviors and food-related lifestyle types. Data was collected from 268 middle students in the Incheon region through a self-administered questionnaire. A factor analysis extracted five comprising food-related lifestyle, which we named health seeking (factor 1), taste seeking (factor 2), easy seeking (factor 3), popularity seeking (factor 4) and safety seeking (factor 5). According to the results of the factor analysis, the food-related lifestyle showed that the average consumption was more than 2.95 and, 0.792 in Cronbach alpha coefficient. There were significant differences in the influence factor for the selection of fast food according to taste seeking and, popularity seeking types (p<0.05). Also, the easy seeking and safety seeking lifestyle types showed a significant differences for the reason the choosing criteria of fast food (p<0.05). Especially, the nutrition problem was of the highest importance for the health and safety seeking but an advertisement effect trend appealed more to the taste seeking, easy seeking and popularity seeking lifestyles. There were significant differences in fast food of intake frequency according to health seeking, easy seeking, popularity seeking and safety seeking types (p<0.05). A significant positive result of the internal characteristics of fast food consumption (p<0.05) was shown for the health seeking and safety seeking types. A significant positive result of the external characteristics of fast food consumption (p<0.05) was shown for the popularity seeking and safety seeking types.