• 한국노년학
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.709-726
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• 2010

As S. Korea is aging faster than any other industrialized countries, there exists a need to understand how best to improve the quality of life of the elders. The main purpose of this study is to examine the predictors of life satisfaction in the nationally representative sample of adults aged 65 and older (n=4,155) drawn from the Wave I (2006) of the Korean Longitudinal Study on Aging. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was run to assess the unique explanatory contribution of socio-demographics, social network, activity participation, and physical/psychological health on the life satisfaction. Three separate analyses were undertaken to note differences by education level: older adults with no formal education, those who had completed 9th grade, and those who had completed 12th grade and more. There are three main findings: 1) Physical/psychological health variables such as subjective health, regular exercise, and depression were significant predictors of life satisfaction regardless of education level; 2) While social network and activity participation factors influence life satisfaction of the two lower education groups, such factors don't affect the highest education group; 3) Marital status, household income, and location of residence were significant demographic predictors of life satisfaction regardless of education level. Implications for program development and policy are discussed in this paper.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.344-352
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• 2023

Background: With its developed port and related industries, the concentration of fine dust is high in Busan compared to other cities in South Korea. Many studies have reported the health effects of fine dust, but there has been a lack of information regarding concentrations of volatile organic compounds among those who exposed to high levels of fine dust. Objectives: This study aimed to define an area with high concentrations of particulate matter and perform biomonitoring surveys among the residents of the area. Methods: Air quality data was collected and the mean level of each district in Busan was derived. We then defined the area with the highest concentrations of PM₁₀ as a target site. Urine samples were collected from the 400 participants and analyzed for VOCs metabolites - trans,trans-Muconic Acid (t,t-MA) and N-AcetylS-(benzyl)-L-cysteine (BMA). Interviews were conducted by trained investigators to examine demographic information. The levels of t,t-MA and BMA were compared with representative South Korean population data (Korean National Environmental Health Survey). The association of the VOC metabolites and fine dust were analyzed by general linear regression analysis. Results: The mean of PM₁₀ in the target site was 42.50 ㎍/m³ from 2018 to 2020. Among the 400 participants in the target site, 74.8% were female and the average age of the participants was 66 years. The geometric mean of t,t-MA was 71.15 ㎍/g creatinine and the BMA was 7.00 ㎍/g creatinine among the residents. The levels were higher than the geometric mean from the 4th KoNEHS. The levels of t,t-MA showed significance in BMI, smoking status, and household income. BMA showed significance in gender and age. Conclusions: Compared to the general population of South Korea, the target site's residents had higher biomonitoring levels. Based on this study, continuous screening for high risk areas, including the target site, and biomonitoring of the residents are required.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.97-103
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to exploratively examine factors affecting walking at night anxiety among the elderly. Study sample for the analyses was 9,120 persons aged over 65. Factors affecting walking at night anxiety among the elderly were composed of sociodemographic factors, health-related factors, and social perception factors. Sociodemographic factors include gender, age, region, education, having or not having a spouse, household income. Health-related factors include walking ability, vision, subjective health status, cognitive function. Social perception factors include perception about other's compliance with laws and perception about safety from crime. The main results of the analyses are as follows. Among sociodemographic factors, factors that had significant effects on walking at night anxiety among the elderly were gender, age, region, education. Among health-related factors, factors that had significant effects on walking at night anxiety among the elderly were walking ability, vision, subjective health status, cognitive function. Among social perception factors, factors that had significant effects on walking at night anxiety among the elderly were perception about other's compliance with laws and perception about safety from crime. Results of this study show that there is a need for multiple methods to make safe and comfort walking environment for the elderly.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.48.1-48.13
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• 2023

Background: This study was conducted to identify the success rate for smoking cessation over time after participation in a therapeutic smoking cessation camp, and to identify how participant characteristics, including a supportive workplace environment for smoking cessation (SWESC), affect the success rate for smoking cessation. Methods: In all, 296 participants at smoking cessation camps in Ulsan between 2015 and 2020 were investigated. The success rates of smoking cessation after weeks 4, 6, 12, and 24 at camp were investigated. The participants were grouped as workers with an SWESC, and workers without an SWESC, and variables (age, education, household income, marital status, drinking, exercise, body mass index, morbidity, job, number of counseling sessions, cigarettes smoked per day and smoking initiation age) were investigated. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted at each time point. In addition, Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate the variables affecting the success rate for smoking cessation over time. Results: The smoking cessation success rate of workers with an SWESC at week 24 (90.7%) was higher than that for workers without an SWESC (60.5%). Multiple logistic regression was performed to determine the relationship between each variable and the success rates for smoking cessation at week 6, 12, and 24. SWESC was confirmed as significant (p < 0.05) variables for increased success rate for smoking cessation at all 3 time points. After adjusting for all variables, the Cox proportional hazards survival analysis showed a hazard ratio of 6.17 for SWESC (p < 0.001,; 95% confidence interval: 3.08-12.38). Conclusions: At a professional treatment smoking cessation camp, participants with an SWESC showed a significantly higher success rate for smoking cessation. Supportive workplace environment for workers' health is expected to be an important factor for smoking cessation projects as well as other health promotion projects at workplace.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.88-104
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• 2024

Purpose: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is primarily synthesized in the liver upon stimulation of infectious disease cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), and is used as a biological marker of systemic inflammation. Previous studies reported that hs-CRP is closely related to diet and abdominal obesity. Furthermore, a dietary score favoring the consumption of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains over meat and saturated fat reduced inflammation and decreased the prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity. Nevertheless, no studies have examined whether hs-CRP mediates the relationship between dietary scores and abdominal obesity, and research on the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) is lacking. Therefore, the present study examined the association between the KHEI and abdominal obesity and the mediating effect of hs-CRP. Methods: In total, 17,770 adults aged ≥19 years were included in the study using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015-2018. KHEI was developed to assess the overall diet quality of Korean adults. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses assessed the relationship between KHEI, hs-CRP, and abdominal obesity. The mediation analysis with the bootstrapping method was performed using SAS MACRO. Results: Among women, the odds ratio (OR) of abdominal obesity prevalence was lower in the highest KHEI compared to the lowest KHEI after adjusting for age, body mass index, educational level, income level, occupational status, marital status, household type, region type, alcohol consumption, smoking status, physical activity, total energy intake, and hsCRP (OR 0.744, 95% confidence interval 0.598-0.926). The association between KHEI and abdominal obesity was partially mediated via hs-CRP, and the mediated proportion was 68.7% in men and 38.1% in women. Conclusion: A substantial relationship was observed between the KHEI and abdominal obesity among females. Moreover, according to the KHEI, abdominal obesity may be mediated partially by hs-CRP.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.34
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• pp.23.1-23.14
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• 2022

Background: The musculoskeletal disease (MSD) burden is an important health problem among Korean fishers. We aimed to investigate the indicators of the prevalence of MSD and contributions of significant indicators to MSD in Korean fishers. Methods: This cross-section study included 927 fishers (male, 371; female, 556) aged 40 to 79 years who were enrolled from 3 fishery safety and health centers. The outcome variable was one-year prevalence of MSD in 5 body parts (the neck, shoulder, hand, back, and knee). Independent variables were sex, age, educational attainment, household income, job classification, employment xlink:type, hazardous working environment (cold, heat, and noise), ergonomic risk by the 5 body parts, anxiety disorder, depression, hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. The adjusted odds ratio of MSDs by the 5 body parts were calculated using multiple logistic regression analysis. We computed the population attributable fraction (PAF) for each indicators of MSDs using binary regression models. Results: The one-year prevalence of MSD in the neck, shoulder, hand, back, and knee was 7.8%, 17.8%, 7.8%, 27.2%, and 16.2% in males vs. 16.4%, 28.1%, 23.0%, 38.7%, and 30.0% in females, respectively. The ergonomic risk PAF according to the body parts ranged from 22.8%-59.6% in males and 22.8%-50.3% in female. Mental diseases showed a significant PAF for all body parts only among female (PAF 9.1%-21.4%). Cold exposure showed a significant PAF for the neck, shoulder, and hand MSD only among female (25.6%-26.8%). Age was not a significant indicator except for the knee MSD among female. Conclusions: Ergonomic risk contributed majorly as indicators of MSDs in both sexes of fishers. Mental disease and cold exposure were indicators of MSDs only among female fishers. This information may be important for determining priority risk groups for the prevention of work-related MSD among Korean fishers.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.34
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• pp.4.1-4.11
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• 2022

Background: Long working hours are known to account for approximately one-third of the total expected work-related diseases, and much interest and research on long working hours have recently been conducted. Additionally, as the prevalence of prediabetes and the high-risk group for diabetes are increasing worldwide, interest in prediabetes is also rising. However, few studies have addressed the development of type 2 diabetes and long working hours in prediabetes. Therefore, the aim of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the relationship between long working hours and the development of diabetes in prediabetes. Methods: We included 14,258 prediabetes participants with hemoglobinA1c (HbA1c) level of 5.7 to 6.4 in the Kangbuk Samsung Cohort Study. According to a self-reported questionnaire, we evaluated weekly working hours, which were categorized into 35-40, 41-52, and > 52 hours. Development of diabetes was defined as an HbA1c level ≥ 6.5%. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the development of diabetes were estimated using Cox proportional hazards analyses with weekly working 35-40 hours as the reference. Results: During a median follow-up of 3.0 years, 776 participants developed diabetes (incidence density, 1.66 per 100 person-years). Multivariable-adjusted HRs of development of diabetes for weekly working > 52 hours compared with working 35-40 hours were 2.00 (95% CI: 1.50-2.67). In subgroup analyses by age (< 40 years old, ≥ 40 years old), sex (men, women), and household income (< 6 million KRW, ≥ 6 million KRW), consistent and significant positive associations were observed in all groups. Conclusions: In our large-scale longitudinal study, long working hours increases the risk of developing diabetes in prediabetes patients.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.269-276
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of the current study was to compare the vegetable and fruit intake between one person households and those living with family. Methods: The 24-hour recall data of 14,914 persons over 20 years old who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2010 to 2012 were used for the final analysis. Consumption of non-salted vegetables and fruits (${\geq}400g/day$), fruits (${\geq}200g/day$), and kimchi (${\geq}120g/day$) was compared between one person households and those living with family. Logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between potential determinants and adequate vegetable and fruit intake. Results: After additional adjustments for age, household income, and total energy intake, no statistically significant differences in likelihood of low intake of nonsalted vegetable and fruit and kimchi were observed between one person households and those living with family. (Nonsalted vegetables and fruits: odds ratio (OR) = 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.79-1.68 for the men; OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 0.98-1.59 for women). However one person households have greater likelihood of low intake of kimchi than those living with family in women (OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.31-2.26). Conclusion: Although there were no differences in likelihood of low intake of non-salted vegetables and between individuals living alone and those living with family, women of one person households were great likelihood of low intake of kimchi compared to those living with family.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.181-190
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• 2012

After industrialization, the labor force participation rates of women, especially married women is drastically increasing. So, this study was designed to analyze the determinants of married women's employment status considered. For this, the determinants of married women's employment status were divided into individual-related, children-related, household-related and job-related variables to establish the research models. Based on this, the following results were drawn from a multinominal logistic regression analysis of the determinants of married women's employment status. First, an analysis of individual-related variable showed that married women had the employment status of labor wages with residence in the center of the city and high academic background. Second, an analysis of children-related variable showed that they had the employment status of labor wages with many their children and no their children under the age of six. Third, an analysis of household-related variable showed that they had the self-employment status of labor wages with nuclear family and few income earners of family members. Finally, an analysis of job-related variable showed that they had the employment status of labor wages when they got a job before they got married, their husband didn't get a job, and their husband worked in a professional field. As for findings stated above, as there was a difference in the determinants of married women's employment status, the ways for improvement in the married women's employment status would be suggested as follows. First, married women with young children have the low employment status, basically, requiring problem-solving ways for this because the housekeeping and child-rearing burden caused by marriage and childbirth are factors that continue to obstruct a job. For this, the flexible working hours system, which housekeeping and child-rearing can harmonize with economic activities like developed countries, needs to be activated. But the activation of such flexible working system will produce actual results under institutional protection, such as a related-protection law. Second, the Leave of Child Care System is debated as one of the most representatively systems that housekeeping can harmonize with economic activities. Now, although the System is legislated, the use is very poor.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.24 no.1 s.87
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• pp.29-38
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• 2006

After the first opening of the KTX in April 2004, travel time between major cities has been dramatically reduced. The reduction rates range from 32% to 47%. Considering travel time reduction between major cities, this study concerned about the intercity travel impact of the KTX operation. This study aimed to analyze intercity mode choice behavior of Daegu Citizens according to the first opening of the KTX. This study takes place in two sections. These are (i) the section of KTX between Daegu and Seoul, and (ii) the section of KTX between Daegu and Daejeon. This study estimated empirical models for analyzing intercity mode choice behavior according to the first opening of the KTX. This study makes use of the data from travel survey from Daegu metropolitan area. The main part of the survey was carried out in the KTX Dong-Daegu station. The survey data includes the information on travel from Daegu to Daejeon and from Daegu to Seoul. In order to analyze intercity choice behavior according to the frist opening of the KTX, multinomial model structure is used. For the model specification, a variety of behavioral assumptions about the factors which affect the mode choice, were considered. From the empirical model estimation, it is found that OVTT(Out-of-Vehicle Travel Time), OVTC(Out-of-Vehicle Travel Cost), IVTT(In-Vehicle Travel Time), IVTC(In-Vehicle Travel Cost), travel frequency, travel purpose, sex, age, occupation. household income, individual income are significant in choosing intercity travel mode. However, it is found that the intercity nde choice behavior is different between (i) the section of KTX between Daegu and Seoul, and (ii) the section of KTX between Daegu and Daejeon. Furthermore, some policy implications are discussed in conclusion.