• Human Ecology Research
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• 제57권4호
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• pp.485-498
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• 2019

This study examined the mediating effect of internal locus of control in the relationship between family and friend support and acculturative stress of North Korean adolescent refugees. Participants consisted of 101 North Korean adolescent refugees (40 males and 61 females) aged 13 to 24, who live in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, and Busan. SPSS 25.0 and Mplus 5.12 were used to analyze data. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated and structural equation modeling (SEM) examined the mediating effect. The results of this study are as follows. First, a higher level of family support and friend support were associated with a higher level of internal locus of control. A higher level of internal locus of control was associated with a lower level of acculturative stress among North Korean adolescent refugees. Second, the level of internal locus of control mediated the relationship between friend support and acculturative stress. This study is meaningful in that it examines the specific paths affecting acculturative stress of North Korean adolescent by examining family and friend support, which are environmental factors, and internal locus of control, which is internal factor of individuals. The study results suggest that improving friend support as well as increasing the level of internal locus of control for North Korean adolescent refugees can be an effective way to prevent or intervene acculturative stress.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.124-131
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• 2013

South Korea is changing into a multi-cultural society, due to an increase in international marriage, foreign workers and transcultural immigration. In addition, the number of North Korean defectors entering South Korea has increased and now, there are approximately 25000. Therefore, this review have focused on a research that pertains to adaptation and mental health concerns of their children. Children who have immigrated themselves or whose parents have immigrated, might experience language barriers, difficulties in school adjustment, identity confusion and mental health problems. However, their academic performance and developmental status are known to be variable and be affected by socioeconomic status and their parents' educational level. Studies that evaluated the psychological problems of North Korean adolescent refugees' indicated the need for interests in both emotional and behavioral problems. The risk factors of North Korean adolescent refugees' mental health are suggested to be past traumatic experiences, long duration of defection and short period of adaptation. When mental health professionals provide assessment and treatment, they should consider the pre- and post-migration experiences & cultural background that affect the illness behaviors and attitudes toward mental illnesses. Lastly, the majority of children with multi-cultural background are still under an adolescent period and we should follow up with long-term perspectives.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.287-297
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to identify variables influencing the psychosocial adjustment of North Korean adolescent refugees in order to establish a structural equation model and design an intervention strategy to improve psychosocial adjustment. Methods: The subjects included 290 North Korean adolescent refugees aged 16~24 years who were enrolled in alternative schools or regional adaptation centers. They were surveyed using a structured questionnaire. Results: The goodness of fit measures of the model were as follows: $x^2=131.20$ (p<.001), GFI=.93, CFI=.91, TLI=.86, RMSEA=.08, and SRMR=.07. The results estimated from the structural equation model indicated a good fit of data to the hypothesized model, which proposed that stress and emotional intelligence are associated with psychosocial adjustment. The major variables influencing psychosocial adjustment were stress, emotional intelligence, which was a significant direct effect, whereas attitude of parenting showed an indirect effect on psychosocial adjustment through emotional intelligence. These variables account for 50.0% of psychosocial adjustment. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop a program and intervention plan that can enhance emotional intelligence and thereby relieve the stress of North Korean adolescent refugees. The program should also include parenting education so that parents have positive attitude of parenting.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제18권11호
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• pp.683-689
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• 2017

본 연구는 국내 입국탈북자들 중, 청소년 탈북자의 비율이 증가하고 있는 상황에서 탈북청소년에 대한 연구가 필요한 시점을 바탕으로 연구를 진행하였으며, 본 연구의 대상인 탈북청소년들은 한국 생활에서 경험하는 다양한 상황을 낯설어하고 소극적으로 대처하는 경향이 있고, 이러한 상황에서 적절하게 문제를 해결하는 것은 한국 사회 적응에 도움이 될 것이다. 본 연구에서는 연구대상 탈북청소년 213명을 대상으로 2017년 06월 14일부터 24일 동안 설문조사를 실시하여 탈북청소년의 사회적지지, 자아존중감, 문제해결능력 간의 관계를 구조방정식 모형을 통해 살펴보았다. 분석결과, 탈북청소년 사회적지지 유형인 정서적, 물질적, 정보적, 평가적 지지는 자아존중감에 정적인 영향을 미쳤고, 자아존중감은 탈북청소년의 문제해결능력에 정적인 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 탈북청소년의 사회적지지 4가지 유형과 문제해결능력 간의 관계에서 자아존중감은 매개효과가 있는 것을 검증하였다. 본 연구는 탈북청소년의 사회적 지지와 자아존중감을 통해 한국 사회 적응을 위한 문제해결능력을 향상시키기 위한 프로그램 개발이나 자기개발훈련 등의 실천적인 방안을 제안하였다.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.243-255
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to develop and examine the effects of a psychosocial adaptation program for North Korean adolescent defectors. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted with 28 North Korean adolescent defectors who were recruited through alternative schools. The experimental and control groups consisted of 14 participants each. A program was conducted across eight sessions, each lasting about 90-120 minutes. The data were analyzed using the x² test, t-test, paired t-test, and analysis of covariance. Results: No significant differences were observed in the score changes for psychosocial adaptation (t=0.25, p=.808), post-traumatic stress symptoms (t=0.32, p=.749), cultural adaptation stress (t=0.05, p=.957), and self-efficacy (t=0.35, p=.726) in either group before and after the intervention. No intergroup differences were observed for psychosocial adaptation (t=0.12, p=.902), post-traumatic stress symptoms (t=0.07, p=.946), cultural adaptation stress (t=0.01, p=.994), and self-efficacy (t=0.58, p=.570). Conclusion: These findings suggest that psychosocial adaptation, stress, and self-efficacy cannot be improved by a short-term intervention program alone. It was also determined that the cultural characteristics of the North Korean adolescent defectors were not sufficiently considered before implementing the program. Therefore, it is essential to provide an in-depth orientation for the participants before implementing the program.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제21권7호
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• pp.357-369
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• 2020

본 연구는 북한이탈 청소년의 자아분화, 대인관계와 사회적지지의 영향관계를 분석하고 자아분화와 대인관계의 관계에서 사회적지지에 대한 매개효과를 분석하여 북한이탈 청소년의 대인관계 질적 수준 향상을 위한 시사점을 제공하고자 하였다. 연구대상은 탈북학생 중에서 9세 이상 24세 미만인 자로 정하여, 2019년 11월 4일부터 12월 14일까지 설문조사를 실시하였다. 총 218부의 자료가 분석에 사용되었고, SPSS 23.0과 AMOS 23.0을 사용하였다. 분석결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 북한이탈 청소년의 자아분화는 대인관계에 유의한 정(+)의 영향을 미치는 것으로 확인되었다. 둘째, 북한이탈 청소년의 자아분화는 사회적지지에 유의한 정(+)의 영향을 미쳤다. 셋째, 북한이탈 청소년의 사회적지지는 대인관계에 유의한 정(+)의 영향을 미쳤다. 넷째, 북한이탈 청소년의 자아분화와 대인관계의 관계에서 사회적지지는 매개효과가 있는 것으로 확인되었다. 본 연구는 북한이탈 청소년의 대인관계에 영향을 미치는 변인을 확인함으로써 직접적인 관계를 규명하고, 자아분화와 대인관계 간에서 사회적지지의 매개관계를 밝힘으로써 대인관계의 어려움을 겪는 북한이탈 청소년에게 자아분화와 사회적지지 수준의 증진을 통해 대인관계문제를 개선할 수 있음을 검증하는데 의의가 있다.

• 대한불안의학회지
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.37-44
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• 2010

Objectives : This study investigated the influence of traumatic experience on the ego identity, self-esteem, and general psychopathology of adolescent North Korean refugees. Methods : The participants were 146 adolescents North Korean refugees who attended H High School for North Korean refugees. We divided the subjects into two groups according to the severity of their traumatic experience : the more-traumatic-experience group and the less-traumatic-experience group. Each group performed self-report assessments including an assessment to reveal demographic characteristics, the Traumatic Experiences Scale for North Korean Defectors, the Scale for Ego identity, the Scale for Self-esteem and the Symptom Check-90-Revision (SCL-90-R). Statistical analysis of t-test and multiple regression utilized SPSS 12.0 for Window for comparison between more-traumatic-experience group and less-traumatic-experience group. Results : The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder among adolescents North Korean refugees was 37%. The factor with the greatest influence on ego identity was length of time living in South Korea, while, for self-esteem the most influential factor was perception of health. The more-traumatic-experience group had lower self-esteem scores on some subscales of the Scale for Ego identity. They had higher scores on all SCL-90-R subscales than the less-traumatic-experience group. Conclusion : Adolescent North Korean refugees experienced high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder. The more traumatic-experience-group had lower self esteem and poorer ego identity and mental health than the less-traumatic-experience group.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.33-40
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• 2020

Objectives: There is an increasing number of North Korean adolescents in South Korea. These adolescents need clinical attention as they experience a high risk of suicidal behavior because of the childhood adversity and acculturative challenges that they face before and after arriving in South Korea. This study assessed the risk of suicide attempts among North Korean adolescents compared to South Korean adolescents, and investigated the contributing factors for each group. Methods: We used data from the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (KYRBS) spanning 2011 to 2018, in which 404 adolescents had a father and/or mother who was a North Korean native. Data on 1,212 propensity-matched South Korean adolescents were extracted from the 2011 to 2018 KYRBS. Prevalence was calculated and compared by group. Separate odds ratios were calculated by group. Results: The North Korean group had a significantly higher suicide attempt rate [unadjusted odds ratio (OR)=8.27; adjusted OR=8.45]. Multivariate analysis indicated that having a low or high socioeconomic status and depressive symptoms were significantly associated with suicide attempts in North Korean adolescents, while being female, having a high socioeconomic status, alcohol use, and depressive symptoms were significantly related to suicide attempts in South Korean adolescents. Conclusion: The results found similarities and differences in the factors associated with the likelihood of suicide attempts in the two groups. From these results, different approaches are needed when planning interventions for each group.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.39-41
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• 1993

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제48권5호
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• pp.231-238
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• 2015

Objectives: The present study aimed to analyze the factors that could affect the health-promoting behaviors of North Korean adolescent refugees residing in South Korea. Methods: Questions about their sociodemographic variables, subjective health status, healthy living habits, and health-promoting behaviors were asked. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in religion (t=2.30, p<0.05), having family members in South Korea (t=2.02, p<0.05), and subjective health status (t=4.96, p<0.01). Scores on health-responsible behaviors were higher with higher age (t=2.90, p<0.01) and for subjects without family or friends (t=2.43, p<0.05). Higher physical-activity behaviors were observed in males (t=3.32, p<0.01), in those with better subjective health status (t=3.46, p<0.05) and lower body mas index (t=3.48, p<0.05), and in smokers (t=3.17, p<0.01). Nutritional behaviors were higher in those who followed a religion (t=2.17, p<0.05). Spiritual growth behaviors were higher in those who followed a religion (t=4.21, p<0.001), had no family in South Korea (t=2.04, p<0.05), and had higher subjective health status (t=5.74, p<0.01). Scores on interpersonal relationships and stress-management behaviors were higher for those with higher subjective health status. A multiple regression analysis showed greater effects on health-promoting behaviors when subjective health status was better. Older people and non-smokers exhibited more health-responsible behaviors, while more physical-activity behaviors and spiritual growth activities were observed when subjective health status was better. Interpersonal relationship behaviors had positive effects on those with good subjective heath status and on non-smokers. Conclusions: Based on the results of the current study, an alternative was suggested for promoting health in North Korean adolescent refugees.