• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.357-369
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• 2020

This study examined the influential relationship between self-differentiation, interpersonal relationships, and social support of adolescent North Korean defectors as well as the mediating effects of social support in the relationship between self-differentiation and interpersonal relationships. For this study, the participants were selected among student North Korean defectors aged between 9 and 24 years. With these participants, a survey was conducted from November 4 to December 14, 2019. Two hundred eighteen questionnaires were used in the analyses, which were conducted with SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 23.0. The analyses yielded the following findings. The self-differentiation of the adolescent North Korean defectors had a positive impact on interpersonal relationships. The self-differentiation of adolescent North Korean defectors had a positive impact on social support, and the social support of adolescent North Korean defectors had a positive impact on interpersonal relationships. In the relationship between self-differentiation of adolescent North Korean defectors and their interpersonal relationship, social support had a mediating effect. This study showed that by improving the level of social support and self-differentiation of adolescent North Korean defectors, it would be possible to improve their interpersonal relationship issues.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.683-689
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• 2017

Given that the ratio of adolescents among North Korean refugees is increasing, it is the right time to study the present situation of juvenile North Korean defectors. North Korean adolescents tend to find themselves in an uncomfortable situation as they experience unfamiliar lives in South Korea, and act passively in various situations. A proper resolution of such problems in this situation will help them adapt smoothly to South Korean society. This study investigates the relationship between social support, self-esteem, and problem-solving abilities of North Korean adolescent refugees based on a survey on 213 North Korean teens which was performed for 24 days beginning on June 14 2017. The study results show that emotional, material, informational, and evaluative support for North Korean adolescent defectors, which is a type of social support, had a positive effect on their self-esteem, and self-esteem in turn had a positive effect on their problem solving ability. In addition, self-esteem had a mediating effect on the relationship between the four types of social support and problem solving ability of North Korean adolescent defectors. This study suggested a practical plan to improve the problem solving ability of North Korean adolescent defectors for their smooth adaptation to South Korean society, through social support and improved self-esteem of North Korean adolescents, such as program development or self - development training.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.27 no.3
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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.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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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.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.395-402
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• 2017

This study examinedthe adaptive flexibility of North Korean adolescent defectors in order to examine how they should see themselves and cope with various situations, and analyzedthe effect of their resilience on their self-esteem and social problem-solving ability. The study subjects were 223 North Korean adolescents (10 - 25 year olds) living in South Korea. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 23.0 statistical programs. The study results showed that the resilience of North Korean adolescents had a statistically significant effect on their self-esteem and social problem-solving ability. In particular, resilience had a high correlation with self-esteem, and self-esteem had a high correlation with social problem solving ability. In addition, self-esteem was the mediating factor between resilience and social problem-solving ability. The self-esteem of North Korean adolescent defectors played a particularly important role. Therefore, professional protection and support should be provided with the help of related experts such as youth leaders and counselors who would be able to enhance the self-esteem of North Korean adolescent defectors.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.467-486
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• 2012

By identifying the state of adjustment regarding mathematical education for adolescents who escaped from North Korea and analyzing the relevant factors from multiple perspectives, this study is aimed at finding improvement methods for their math education adoptability. To fulfill such objective, this paper-reviewed the existing literature and research, conducted participatory observation, collected and analyzed survey research on math education adoptability for 43 students who are currently attending an alternative school for North Korean defectors. The results of this research are as follows: There is a serious pattern of maladjustment concerning math education of adolescents who defected from North Korea. The lack of basic skills in mathematical principles due to the gap in their studies results in poor academic performance, particularly in the advanced stages of learning. In the process of defection, environmental challenges, such as the loss of basic study skills which naturally results from the gap in their studies and differences in the educational curriculum between North and South Korea, are posing difficulties for these students.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.55-78
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• 2000

The purpose of this project was to provide social adjustment programs for North Korean residents who might migrate into South Korea when free transmigration is allowed in the process of reunification. This study was composed of three parts. First, present social adjustment programs for defectors from North Korea were reviewed. Second, South Koreans attitude toward social adjustment programs for migrated North Koreans in the future was identified based on empirical survey research. Third, the social adjustment programs for migrated North Koreans were discussed from results of the depth interviews which were carried out with 10 North Korean defectors. To support migrated North Koreans' social adjustment in South Korea, this study proposed the first stage village which would have characteristic of group home. Education programs to support social adjustment of migrated North Koreans were developed according to their social adjustment stages. In the middle stage of adjustment model, education programs on living culture in South Korea could be adopted. Education programs related to the various aspects of living culture including consumption, clothing, food, housing, family, child rearing, adolescent education were specified and discussed in detail.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.6 no.1
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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 Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.501-513
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• 2019

In this study, which is based on the findings of the preceding studies, the researchers determined social support and Career Decision Self-efficacy as the key influencing variables for the successful Career Preparation Activities, to analyze the relationship between Career Preparation Activities and these variables, while identifying the mediating effect of Career Decision Self-efficacy in the relationship between social support and Career Preparation Activities. In addition, there is an objective to provide effective career counseling materials. For this study, a total of 174 North Korean adolescent defectors, who were in their middle and high schools, were interviewed and the resultant data were analyzed the data based on the questionnaire data of 204 copies from March 12 to 19, 2019. For the analysis of the data, SPSS and AMOS statistical suites were used to verify the hypothesis. The result of the analysis showed that, first, in the relationship between the social support, Career Decision Self-efficacy, and Career Preparation Activities of the North Korean adolescent defectors social support, Career Decision Self-efficacy, and Career Preparation Activities were all positively related. Especially, Career Decision Self-efficacy has been identified as the variable that is highly related to Career Preparation Activities. Second, rather than social support(${\beta}=.107$), Career Decision Self-efficacy(${\beta}=.388$) turned out to have more profound direct influence on Career Preparation Activities. Third, social support did not influence Career Preparation Activities directly(${\beta}=.107$, p>.05) but completely intermediated Career Decision Self-efficacy to influence Career Preparation Activities(Indirect effect=.307, p<.05, Z-value=2.924, p<.01). The findings of this study show that, in order to enhance the Career Preparation Activities of the North Korean adolescent defectors, it is necessary to examine how they perceive the emotional, informational, material, and evaluative supports from the surrounding environment are perceived and identify the abilities, values, and career desires of themselves through a behavioral planning that can establish a professional and value system in accordance with them.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.387-395
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• 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate effects of socio-demographic, household, social support, health-related factors on adolescent internet use time. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to examine factors affecting adolescent internet using time, and this study used the 2014 10th Korean Youth Health Risk Behavior On-line Survey data by Centers for Disease and Prevention. Results show that as for socio-demographic factors, being male, lower economic status, being middle school student, and having poor academic grade were; as for household factors, youth-led, one-parent, grandparent(s), multicultural, and North Korean defectors family were; as for social support factors, the absence of family support, the absence of friend support and the absence teacher support were; and as for health-related factors, less exercise, higher level of stress, and lower level of subjective happiness were associated with increased internet using time. Based on these results, convergent implications about effective intervention strategies that adolescents can use internet appropriately were discussed in the section of conclusion.