• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2002

Purpose: This study was done to describe the correlation among the older Korean American adults's health-promoting behavior, life satisfaction and self-esteem. Method: The subjects consisted of 183 community-dwelling Korean immigrant elderly living in the state of Washington, USA. The instruments for this study were Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile(47 items), Life Satisfaction Scale(20 items) and Self-Esteem Scale(l0 items). Frequency, percentage, t-test, ANOVA, Duncan test and Pearson's correlation coefficient with SAS program were used to analyze the data. Result: 1) The average item score for the health-promoting behavior was 3.51; the highest score on the subscale was nutrition(M=3.63) with the lowest being exercise(M=3.07). 2) The average item score for the life satisfaction was 3.11. 3) The average item score for the self-esteem was 3.12. 4) Health-promoting behavior was significantly different according to educational level and participation in society circles. 5) Life satisfaction was significantly different according to age, religion and participation in society circles. 6) Self-esteem was significantly different according to age, marital status, religion and participation in society circles. 7) Health-promoting behavior was positively related to life satisfaction and self-esteem. The life satisfaction was positively related to self-esteem. Conclusion: It follows from this study that there is a very correlation among the older Korean American adults's health-promoting behavior, life satisfaction and self-esteem. Therefore health promoting programs that increase life satisfaction and self-esteem should be developed to promote a healthy lifestyle of the older Korean American adults.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.213-220
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• 2007

Purpose. The purpose of this review is to explore cultural influences on the experiences of Korean, Korean American, and Caucasian American family caregivers caring for frail older adults in terms of the selection of a primary caregiver, caregiving motivation, support/help-seeking, and negative emotional responses (depression and burden). Methods. Seven electronic databases were searched to retrieve studies from 1966 to 2005. Thirty-two studies were identified. Results. This review supported cultural influences on the selection of primary caregiver, caregiving motivation, and support/help-seeking among the three caregiver groups. In Korean caregivers, the major primary caregivers were daughters-in-law while among Korean American and Caucasian American caregivers, the major primary caregivers were daughters or spouses. As a major caregiving motivation, Caucasian American care￢givers reported filial affection while Korean caregivers and Korean American caregivers reported filial obligation. Korean caregivers reported higher extended family support, while Caucasian American caregivers reported higher utilization of formal support. Korean caregivers showed the highest levels of depression followed by Korean American caregivers and Caucasian American caregivers. Conclusion. In order to develop culturally appropriate interventions and policies, more research is needed to further explain these differences among the three groups, especially regarding support/help-seeking and negative emotional responses.

• 한국노년학
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.33-54
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• 2017

This narrative-based study explored the extent to which acculturation level, health condition and SES influence depressive symptoms mediated or moderated by perceived respect of Korean-American older adults in the Chicago metropolitan and its suburban area. For the purpose of the study, qualitative interviews were performed and obtained robust data from 2 focus groups, 2 in-depth interviews. This study produced results by ATLAS. ti,. Qualitative analysis revealed that acculturation could influence depressive symptoms and that depressive symptoms could also be associated with hope and communication. These findings suggested that services given by service providers need to focus on communication and respect of the older Korean-American immigrants' self-determination, for they depend on it greatly when faced with the sufferings from various depressive mood changes in adjusting to new residences.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.147-152
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• 2006

This study was conducted to define dietary patterns among 227 Korean American adults and 151 teenagers living in California using frequency of intake of major food groups and to examine associations of dietary patterns with selected demographic and acculturation variables. Three dietary patterns, 'healthful', 'Korean', and 'western', were identified using factor analysis. For both groups, 'healthful' pattern was characterized by high loading on milk/milk products, fruit, fruit juice, and bean/bean products. 'Korean' pattern had high loading on rice and kimchi. 'Western' pattern was characterized by high loading on meat/meat products, soda, and noodle/pasta. Among Korean American adults, women tended to have higher scores of 'healthful' pattern but lower scores of 'western' pattern, while there was no association of 'Korean' pattern with gender. The older adults were likely to have higher 'Korean' pattern score. Length of stay in the US and English levels were negatively associated with 'Korean' pattern. Korean American female adolescents had lower 'western' pattern scores than did male adolescents. Age was inversely associated with 'healthful' pattern in adolescents. The adolescents who had felt more proud of being a Korean descendant had higher scores on 'Korean' dietary pattern. The study findings support that dietary patterns are associated with acculturation variables such as length of residence in the US, English fluency, and particularly pride in ethnicity for adolescents. Further studies are needed to understand associations of dietary patterns and acculturation with health risk of ethnic groups.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.22 no.6 s.72
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• pp.191-199
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• 2004

The main purpose of this study was to examine the impact of religious participation on the depression of elder adults in USA. Specifically, this study examined how the influence of religious participation varied according to continuity or discontinuity of participation. Data from N=1,658 adults aged 65-90 who were respondents to two waves of the U.S. National survey of Families and Households 1987-1993 were used for these analyses. Depression was measured with a 12-item (of the original 20) modified version of the CES-D (Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression). Multivariate regression models controlling for several demographic variables were estimated. Some clear evidence was found supporting activity theory and continuity theory That is, participating in a religious organization role at Time 2 but not Time 1 (T1 No - T2 Yes) and being continuously involved in religious organizations both at Time 1 and Time 2 (T1 Yes -T2 Yes) were associated with reduced depression, compared to continuous nonparticipation in religious organizations (71 No -72 No).

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.95-135
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• 1987

According to U.S. Bureau of Census (1984), the number of older adults (over the age of sixty) has grown twice as fast as the rest of the population over the past twenty-five years. It is predicted that between 1980 and 2020, their number will double again, In 1985, National Bureau of Statistics, Economic Planning Board, Republic of Korea reported that the number of older adults over 60 years of age was 2.7 million (6.7% of the total population). It is projected that their number will become 3.9 million (8% of the total population) by the year 2000.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.179-186
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• 2005

This study was conducted to find the gender and age differences in dietary behaviors and food consumption pattern of Korean American adults living in western parts of USA. The structured survey forms and self-administered food frequency questionnaire were used to assess dietary behavior and nutrient intakes. It was found that younger subjects kept their meal time more irregularly and skipped breakfast more often than older subjects due to lack of time. There were significant age differences in skipping meals, kind of skipping meals, and the reasons for skipping meals. Young subjects consumed more American type food while older subjects consumed more traditional Korean food. Nutrient intakes of males' except for the elderly were significantly higher in energy, protein, Fe and P than those of females'. Vitamin A and vitamin C intake were significantly higher in females. Energy ratio of carbohydrate: protein: fat was 56.2 : 16.8 : 27.0. Females consumed more plant food as their dietary sources of protein, fat, Ca and Fe, compared to males. Ca intakes of participants' were below $75\%$ of RDA except for the youngest male and $30\~49$ aged male and females. Futhermore, Ca intake was below $70\%$ after age 50 in both genders. Effective nutrition education program targeting Korean Americans in the community should be developed and implemented to increase Ca consumption.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.87-94
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 16-week Self-help Tai Chi for Arthritis (SHTC) combined with health education for Korean American older women. Methods: This research was a designed quasiexperimental pre-posttest. Forty one women aged 55~79 were recruited 20 in SHTC group 21 in control group and, but twelve in SHTC group and thirteen in control group were left after 16 weeks. SHTC group was educated for 1 hour health education and 1hour TCA, once a week during 16 wks. Measurements for comparison were taken three times, at baseline, 8 wks and 16wks. The effect were evaluated with self-efficacy, shoulder flexibility, back flexibility, both hand grip strength and standing balance with closed eyes. Results: All variables except for left hand grip strength at baseline had significant homogeneity between both groups. After 16 weeks intervention, there was a significant interaction effect of time and group on right hand grip strength by repeated measure of ANOVA (F=3.398, p=.044). No significant interaction effects were found on self-efficacy, shoulder and back flexibility, left hand grip strength and standing balance with closed eyes. Conclusion: I can suggest this self-help Tai Chi program may be effective partially, but further research is needed to establish the best times and periods to intervene for a better effect.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.828-839
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of present study was to explore relationship between physical activity (PA) behavior and self-efficacy among older Korean-Americans (OKAs) based on reviewing major theories that are used to understand PA behavior, particularly as they relate to older adults within sociocultural contexts. Methods: 151 OKAs, living in California, were recruited and interviewed once. Self-efficacy and PA level were measured by Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale, Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors (K-CHAMPS) questionnaire, respectively. Results: 82.8% of OKA women and 72.4% of OKA men had relatively low ($38.8{\pm}29.3$) self-efficacy related to PA. Exercise self-efficacy was statistically significant and positively associated with frequency for moderate and greater PA (r = 0.25, p < .01), frequency for all listed PA (r = 0.21, p < .05), caloric expenditure for moderate and greater PA (r = 0.23, p < .01), and caloric expenditure for all listed PA (r = 0.31, p < .01). Conclusion: Social Cognitive Theory including self-efficacy can provide insight about how to shape strategies that encourage OKAs to adhere to regular PA because it focuses on environmental as well as personal factors. Increased efforts are needed to understand the other factors associated with being active in OKAs.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.256-266
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• 2019

In this study, obese adults were compared for their ability to predict obesity and lipid related variables and their optimal cutoff values to predict metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. In this study, 9,256 adults aged 20 years or older and less than 80 years old, who were in the Gyeonggi region from January 2014 to December 2016 and who were examined at a general hospital, were enrolled. The diagnostic criteria for obesity were WHO (World Health Organization), and BMI $25kg/m^2$ or more presented in the Asia-Pacific region. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed based on the criteria of American Heart Association / National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (AHA / NHLBI). According to the results of receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, Triglyceride / HDL-cholesterol (TG / HDL-C), Triglyceride and Glucose (TyG) index, lipid accumulation product (LAP) and visceral adiposity index (VAI) showed high predictive power for diagnosing metabolic syndrome. The diagnostic accuracy of LAP (AUC: 0.854) for males and VAI (0.888) for females was the highest. The optimal cutoff value of LAP was 42.71 for male and 35.44 for female, and the cutoff value of VAI was 1.92 for male and 2.15 for female. In addition, WHtR (waist to height ratio), TyG index, and LAP were used as predictors of insulin resistance in obese adults. Therefore, LAP and VAI were superior to other indicators in predicting metabolic syndrome in obese adults.