• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.149-156
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• 2007

This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of food commodity supplementary program for low-income, living alone elderly people. The subjects were 57 low income aged females who lived alone in Bucheon city. The food commodity supplementary program lasted for 6 months, supplying one meal per day consisting with grains, meat, vegetables, dairy and fruit. Dietary intake, anthropometric measurements, and blood profiles were assessed. After 6 months of food commodity supplemented period, dietary intakes of protein(p<0.05), calcium(p<0.05), iron(p<0.05) and vitamin B(p<0.001) were significantly increased. The mean weight(p<0.05) and BMI(p<0.05) were increased, and the frequency of BMI over 25kg/m$^2$ was also raised from 54.4% to 59.7%. Serum concentrations of total protein(p<0.001) and albumin(p<0.001) were significantly increased, indicating improvement of protein status. The frequency of anemia was decreased from 45.6% to 26.3%. However, the proportion of dyslipidemia was increased. In general the stable food commodity supplementary program was effective to improve general nutritional status of the poor aged who lived alone, however, nutrient intakes still did not meet RDA for the elderly and the rates of obesity and dyslipidemia were increased. Therefore, local government should provide more active food support program and the selection of food items for commodity should be evaluated at regular intervals.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.171-182
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• 2009

This study was performed to investigate socioeconomic factors relating to obesity and inadequate nutrient intake in women in low income families residing in Seoul. The subjects were 125 women (aged 41-87 y) recruited from the local health center for free health examination for low income families. The socioeconomic status such as educational level, income level, and housing condition were poor. For subjects aged less than 65 years, the prevalence of obesity was 44% based on BMI (${\geq}\;25\;kg/m^2$), 48% based on WHR (${\geq}\;0.85$), and 50% based on waist circumference (${\geq}\;80\;cm$) and for those more than 65 years, these were greater and 57%, 81%, and 79%, respectively. The main food sources of daily diet were vegetables, grains, and fruits. Energy and other nutrient intake was not adequate for all subjects and the inadequacy was more profound in the elderly, showing percentages of subjects whose intake was less than EAR were greater than 50% for all nutrients except for iron and below RI were also greater than 50% for all nutrients. The prevalence of obesity and nutrient inadequacy were not associated with socioeconomic status in subjects aged less than 65 years, however, obesity was associated with household income and nutrient inadequacy was related to education (vitamin A) and housing status (protein, phosphate, and iron) in the elderly. After adjustment for ages, in the elderly, OR for obesity (BMI ${\geq}$ 25, OR = 12.601; 95% CI = 2.338-67.911) and central obesity (WC ${\geq}$ 80 cm, OR = 4.778; 95% CI = 1.103-20.696) were greater in subjects who earned less than 500 thousand Won per month than who earned more. For inadequate nutrient intake, the OR for inadequate intake of Vitamin A (OR = 4.555; 95% CI = 1.491-13.914) was greater in subjects with no education than those educated. Subjects without her own house had greater risk for inadequate intake for protein (OR = 3.660; 95% CI = 1.118-11.981), phosphate (OR = 3.428; 95% CI = 1.157-10.158), and iron (OR = 3.765; 95% CI = 1.205-11.766) than subjects possessing her house. In elderly females in low income families, the socioeconomic status was associated with the risk for obesity (income level) and inadequate nutrient intake (education level and housing status). More attention on these groups should be given for prevention of obesity and inadequate nutrient intake.

• 한국노년학
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.743-759
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• 2009

This study examined the effects of the economic activity status on the mental health of middle and older adults. In terms of mental health, a theoretical model was used to evaluate the mediating role of the income level and the satisfaction in family relationship. Using data from Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing, job seekers and those who had never worked before were excluded and employees and retirees (over 45 years old) who have both a spouse and children were selected for the analysis. The variables were the economic activity status, the income level, the satisfaction in family relationship, and the mental health. The results show that the number of employed middle and older adults were higher than that of retirees, and the satisfaction in family relationship were generally high. In terms of mental health, the level of happiness was high, while the level of depression was low. Also, the pathway analysis of the effect of the economic activity status on the mental health shows that the economic activity status directly affects the mental health and gives indirect effects through the medium of the income level and the satisfaction in family relationship.

• Proceeding of Spring/Autumn Annual Conference of KHA
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• 1998.08a
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• pp.56-59
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• 1998

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.1-15
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• 2017

Objectives: About for twenty years, immigrant women in South Korea have steadily increased due to economic growth and industrialization. According to previous studies in terms of immigrants, subjective socio-economic status(SES) as well as objective SES such as income, occupation and level of education predict health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine association between subjective social status and perceived health among immigrant women. Methods: We analyzed 12,531 participants from the 2012 National Survey of Multicultural Families. Study variables included subjective SES in Korea, subjective SES in community and perceived health. Control variables were age, household income, employment, education, marital status, ethnicity, language proficiency. For this study, descriptive analysis, Chi-square test, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. Results: Among immigrant women, after adjusting for control variables, level of education in community was not associated with perceived health. Otherwise, subjective social status in Korea(low subjective social status reference group vs high subjective status : OR 2.056) was associated with perceived health. Conclusions: Immigrant women in Korea would be culturally affected by inherent characteristic rather than social economic status. Through this study, in order to improve health inequality among immigrant women, we should consider developing social supports and networks.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.84-87
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• 2017

Catastrophic healthcare expenditure refers to out-of-pocket spending for healthcare exceeding a certain proportion of a household's income and can lead to subsequent impoverishment. The aim of this study was to investigate the proportion of South Korean households that experienced catastrophic healthcare expenditure between 2006 and 2015 using available data from the Korea Health Panel, National Survey of Tax and Benefit, and Household Income and Expenditure Survey. Frequencies and trend tests were conducted to analyze the proportion of households with catastrophic healthcare expenditure. Subgroup analysis was performed based on income level. The results of the Household Income and Expenditure Survey revealed that around 2.88% of households experienced catastrophic healthcare expenditure in 2015 and that this proportion was highest in the low income group. Results also showed a statistically significant increasing trend in the number of households with catastrophic healthcare expenditure (annual percentage change= 0.92%, p-value < 0.0001). Therefore, the findings infer a need to strengthen public health care financing and to particularly monitor catastrophic healthcare expenditure in the low income group.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5539-5543
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• 2012

Objective: The smoking prevalence in Malaysia is high, especially among men and adolescents. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors towards cigarette smoking among school teachers in Malaysia. Methodology: This study was a school-based cross-sectional study conducted among 495 secondary school teachers. The questionnaire used in this study consisted of 29 questions categorized into two sections: socio-demographic characteristics and smoking behaviour. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) program 13.0. ANOVA; t-tests were used in univariate analysis; multiple linear regression was applied for multivariate analysis. Results: The majority of the participants were female (81.6%), in the age group ranged between 30-39 years (44%), Malay (90.1%), married (89.7%), degree holders (85.1%), with monthly income ranged between 3000-3999 Ringgit Malaysia (33.5%), from urban areas (94.7%), their specialty is social studies (33.9%) and with no family history of cancer (83.6%). The prevalence of smoking among school teachers in Malaysia was found to be 7.8%. Regarding reasons to start smoking among school teachers: the major reason was found to be relaxation (33.3%), followed by stress-relief (28.2%). Univariate analysis showed that sex, educational status, monthly income and residency were significantly associated with smoking among school teachers (p<0.001, p=0.004, p=0.031, p=0.010; respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that gender and marital status were significantly associated with smoking among school teachers (p<0.001, p=0.033; respectively). Conclusion: The prevalence of smoking among school teachers in Malaysia was found to be relatively low. Sex, marital status, educational status, monthly income and residency were significantly associated with smoking among school teachers.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.610-619
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• 2008

In order to investigate if the employment of housewives may affect the nutritional status of their family members, an analysis was made for the data of 2001 Korea National Health and Nutrition survey. Housewives aged 20 or over were divided into two groups of the working (W, 44.3%) and the non-working (NW, 55.7%), and household income levels were divided into 4 groups of low, middle, high, and high above according to the minimum cost of living in the year of 2001. Nutrient intakes were assessed by using dietary recommended intakes for Koreans of 2005. Working housewives showed similar levels to those of non-working housewives in most nutrients intakes except energy and vitamin C. However their families excluding housewives of W, than those of NW, took less protein, calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin C when assessed as % of recommended intakes and took more sodium. Such differences were very strong in children and adolescents, and in the middle income households. More % of the families of W than those of NW consumed nutrients below the estimated average requirements. Percents of hypertension classified by both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were higher in adult family members of W than in those of NW. This tendency seemed to be more significant in the family members aged 30 to 49. Both obesity and under-weight rates of school children ($7{\sim}12\;yrs$) in W were higher than those in NW. The above resuIts suggested that employment of housewives could have negative influences on the nutritional status of their family members, especially of their children and in the middle income class.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.332-342
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• 2002

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the level of activities of daily living (ADL) in a group of community dwelling elderly. Methods: The subjects were 100 low-income elderly registered in a public health center. The data were analyzed using the SPSS/PC program. Results: The results were as follows: 1. The basic ADLs of the subjects were scored at 7 levels, and the mean score was 6.24 out of 7 points. The subjects did not necessarily require help from others, but might have needed more times or instrumental assists to perform ADLs. The lowest ADL score was reported on walking up to the stairs (5.05), for which the subjects did not need physical assistance, but needed a certain degree of supervision. The highest score was reported on self eating (6.74), followed by bowel management (6.60). 2. The mean IADL score of the subjects was 1.77 out of 4 points. indicating that the subjects were very independent in performing IADLs, without help from others. 3. In relation to general characteristics, the level of ADLs of the subjects was significantly different by age (F=6.65, P=.000), main activities (F=6.36, P=.001), perceived health status (P=4.66, P=.012), educational background (F=4.64, P=.03), marital status(F=4.62, P=.005), and major household income (F=4.15, P=.002). 4. The subjects' level of IADLs in relation to their general characteristics was significantly different by perceived health status (F=8.08, P=.001), major activities (F=7.33, P=.000), age (F=6.18, P=.000), family context (F=3.53, P=.018), religion (F=3.10, P=.019), marital status(F=2.62, P=.055), and major household income (F=2.31, P=.049).

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.5-32
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to analyze the differences of young children's emotional intelligence and happiness according to the socioeconomic status of their fathers. The subjects were 264 young children attending daycare centers and kindergartens in Busan, Korea. Data were analyzed with one-way MANOVA to find out the differences of young children's emotional intelligence and happiness according to education, income level or career of their fathers. Results of this study as follows: First, there were significant differences in emotional intelligence according to education, income level and career of their fathers. Second, there were significant differences in happiness according to education, income level and career of their fathers. Therefore, their father's socioeconomic status variables are the best variables in order to predict emotional intelligence and happiness of young children.