• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.77-85
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• 2023

Suicide is the leading cause of death among Korean adolescents. There is a growing interest in the role of loneliness as a risk factor for suicide ideation and depressive symptoms. However, little is known in the Korean context. This study analyzed a total of 109,796 respondents from the Korea Youth Health Behavior Survey in 2020 and 2021. Multiple logistic regression models were implemented to test the association between loneliness and either of suicidal ideation and depressive mood. Covariates included demographic characteristics, school enrolled, household income, living arrangement, self-rated health, and the number of times treated for violence. Adjusted odd ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed. 12.0% of adolescents reported to have felt lonely frequently and 3.0% always. 11.8% and 26.0% had suicidal ideation and depressive mood, respectively. The prevalence of suicidal ideation was higher in the always-lonely adolescents (52.6%) than in the frequently-lonely adolescents (35.1%). The always-lonely adolescents were nearly 30 times more likely to have suicidal ideation (OR=30.7; 95% CI, 27.1 - 34.8) and to feel depressed (OR=32.5; 95% CI, 29.2 - 36.4) than adolescents who felt never lonely. In conclusion, Loneliness was a major risk factor for suicidal ideation and depressive mood among Korean adolescents. Monitoring and addressing the condition of loneliness may help reduce suicidal ideation and depressive mood.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of secondhand smoke on depression and suicidal ideation in adolescents. Methods: The study used the raw data of the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (2018). Age, academic achievement, living with family, economic status, and stress were adjusted and the relationship between secondhand smoke and depression and suicidal thoughts was analyzed by gender. Results: The results showed that secondhand smoke had a significant effect on mental health of adolescents. Male students who experienced secondhand smoke at school and at public places had 1.41 times and 1.37 times higher depression rates, respectively. Female students who experienced secondhand smoke at home, school, and public places had 1.27 times, 1.35 times, and 1.39 times higher depression rates, respectively. Suicidal thoughts were 1.17 times and 1.22 times higher among male students who experienced secondhand smoke at school and at public places. Female students who experienced secondhand smoke at home, school, and public places had 1.12 times, 1.08 times, and 1.21 times more suicidal thoughts. Conclusion: Secondhand smoke has a significant effect on adolescent depression and suicidal thoughts. Therefore, efforts should be made to have institutional changes and increased awareness across the country, such as homes, schools, and communities, to prevent exposure to secondhand smoke.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2020

Background: Smartphones are a modern necessity. While they are convenient to use, smartphones also have side effects such as addiction. This study assessed the relationship between smartphone use, a part of everyday life in modern society, and oral health. Methods: An analysis was conducted using 2017 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey data. The propensity score estimation algorithm used logistic regression and 1:1 matching algorithm using nearest-neighbor matching. After matching, a total of 15,032 participants were classified into two groups containing 7,516 teenagers each who did and did not use smartphones, respectively. Results: Comparison of oral health behaviors according to smartphone use revealed a statistically significant difference in the frequency of tooth brushing per day, use of oral hygiene products, intake of foods harmful to oral health, and experience of oral health education (p<0.05). The factors affecting oral pain experience of adolescents were examined. Compared to male participants, female participants had an odds ratio of 1.627 for oral pain (p<0.05). According to the household income level, compared to the group with higher income, the group with lower income showed higher oral pain experience (p<0.05). Oral pain experience was 1.601 times more frequent among teenagers using smartphones (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that use of smartphones by adolescents affected their oral health. These findings indicate the need for improved oral health management through the use of effective school oral health programs and individual counseling by oral health professionals, promotion of information dissemination through public media, and development of prevention strategies.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.57-64
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• 2022

Purpose: Adolescent suicide is an important issue worldwide. Although literature on preventing suicide among adolescents tends to focus on suicidal ideation, suicidal planning is also an important issue as a stage leading to suicidal behavior. This study aims to identify suicidal planning-related factors, including generalized anxiety disorder, among adolescents who had suicidal ideation. Methods: This secondary study used data generated from the 16th(2020) Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, which included 5,979 students who had suicidal ideation. Factors related to suicidal planning were identified by performing a logistic regression analysis of the participants. All analyses were performed using SPSS 27.0. Results: Among adolescents who had suicidal ideation, 23.8% had suicide plans. The suicidal plans were significantly related to school level (middle, OR=1.38, 95% CI=1.22~1.55), whether they were living with family (no, OR=1.36, 95% CI=1.06~1.75), perceived body image (normal, OR=1.23, 95% CI=1.05~1.44; Obese, OR=1.33, 95% CI=1.14~1.54), depression (yes, OR=1.47, 95% CI=1.25~1.72), tobacco use (yes, OR=1.31, 95% CI=1.12~1.54), alcohol use (yes, OR=1.21, 95% CI=1.06~1.38), drug use (yes, OR=1.96, 95% CI=1.44~2.66), and/or generalized anxiety disorder (severe, OR=1.76, 95% CI=1.44~2.14). Conclusion: The findings of the study suggest that in addition to the commonly recognized factors for adolescent suicide, generalized anxiety disorder should also be considered when establishing strategies to prevent suicide planning in adolescents who had suicidal ideation.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.518-531
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the association between fruit and vegetable intake and mental health in Korean adolescents. Methods: This study used the data from the 2014-2017 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a national cross-sectional survey on 137,101 boys and 130,806 girls aged 12-18. Fruit and vegetable intake was assessed based on the frequency of consumption. The outcome variables were the perceived happiness, perceived stress, depressive symptom and suicidal ideation over the previous 12 months. Logistic regression models were used after adjusting for the demographic, life style and other dietary factors. Results: Only 34% and 29% of Korean adolescents consumed fruits more than 5 times/week and vegetables more than 2 times/day, respectively; whereas 37%, 25% and 12.2% of Korean adolescents had perceived stress, depressive symptom and suicidal ideation, respectively. After adjusting for the confounding variables, the greater consumption of fruit and vegetable were all associated with a higher odds of perceived happiness; the adjusted odds ratios (AORs) (95% CI) were 1.53 (1.46-1.60) in boys and 1.82 (1.73-1.90) in girls who consumed fruit ≥ 5 times/week, and 1.65 (1.54-1.76) in boys and 1.62 (1.51-1.72) in girls who consumed vegetable ≥ 2 times/day. In contrast, the consumption of fruit or vegetable were all significantly associated with a lower odds of perceived stress, depressive symptom, and suicidal ideation; the AOR (95% CI) were 0.70 (0.67-0.73), 0.88 (0.84-0.93), and 0.78 (0.73-0.83) in boys who consumed fruit 3-4 times/week, and 0.71 (0.67-0.76), 0.88 (0.81-0.94), and 0.68 (0.62-0.74) in boys who consumed vegetable 5-7 times/week. Similar associations of fruit or vegetable consumption with perceived stress, depressive symptom, or suicidal ideation were found in girls. Conclusion: These findings provide evidence that increasing fruit and vegetable intake is important for better mental health among adolescents.