• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.355-365
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• 2020

Background: This study is aimed to verify individual and regional-level factors affecting the depression of Koreans and to develop social programs for improving the depressive status. Methods: This study used individual-level variables from the Korean Community Health Survey (2018) and used the e-regional index of the Korean Statistical Information Service as the regional-level variable. A multi-level logistic regression was executed to identify individual and regional-level variables that were expected to affect the extent of depressive symptoms and to draw the receiver operating characteristic curve to compare the volume of impact between variables from both levels. Results: The results of the multi-level logistic regression analysis in regards to individual-level factors showed that older age, female gender, a lower income level, a lower education level, not having a spouse, the practice of walking, the consumption of breakfast higher levels of stress, and having high blood pressure or diabetes were associated with a greater increase in depressive symptoms. In terms of regional factors, areas with fewer cultural facilities and fewer car registration had higher levels of depressive symptoms. The comparison of area under the curve showed that individual factors had a greater influence than regional factors. Conclusion: This study showed that while both, individual and regional-level factors affect depression, the influence of the latter was relatively weaker as compared to the first. In this sense, it is necessary to develop programs focused on the individual, such as social prescribing at the local or community-level, rather than the city and nation-level approach that are currently prevalent.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.12
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• pp.517-523
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• 2019

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of the five-sensory horticulture therapy on perceived stress and HRV in adults with depression. The participants were 26 (experimental group=13, control group=13) adult with depression and enrolled in the Regional C mental health welfare center from April to June 2018. The experimental group participated in a total of 8-session five sensory horticultural therapy once a week, and the control group provided horticultural therapy once to the desired subjects after the program. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test. There were statistically significant change in perceived stress (t = 3.11, p = .005), LF (t = -3.39, p = .002) and SDNN (t = -2.48, p = .025) in experimental group compared to the control group. Therefore, this therapy was effective for reduction of stress among individuals with the depressive disorder.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.84-93
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• 2019

Objective : The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between occupational stress and depression, as it is seen to be corresponding with the work characteristics of local government officials. Methods : The data of 671 local government officials who participated in this study from July to December 2015 as a part of an occupational stress management program, were analyzed retrospectively in this study. Likewise, the participants completed questionnaires, including a short form of the Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS), and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) the results of which were evaluated and reviewed. Results : The study noted that the subscales of occupational stress related to depression were varied, according to the work characteristics of the participants, after adjusting for age and job grade. It was found that the participant's variables of job insecurity, lack of reward, organizational system and occupational climate were significantly related to the development of a depressed mood in the participant in a general sense. Notably, the factor of interpersonal conflict was significantly related to depressed mood among the general administrative group; meanwhile, lack of reward in the welfare group and insufficient job control in the technical group were significantly associated with the likelihood of developing a depressed mood in participants reviewed. In the operation and maintenance of facilities group, job insecurity was significantly related with depressed mood, whereas job demand was related more with the incidence of depression in the field work group. Conclusion : This study revealed that the influence of occupational stress on depression varied according to the occupational characteristics experienced by the participants in the work environment. These findings may be used to enhance the occupational stress management program for local government officials according to their work characteristics, to bring awareness to this issue.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.49-58
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• 2021

This study examined the effects of antecedent variables on life satisfaction of elderly people who live alone and who live with others by comparing the levels of depression, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. Using the 15th data of the Korean Welfare Panel held in 2020, independent sample t-test and hierarchical regression analysis were conducted. Elderly people who live alone had a high sense of depression, low self-esteem, and low life satisfaction. For both of them, the older the age and the higher the income level, the higher the life satisfaction. The regression model, which added depression and self-esteem, had a significant effect on both of them, but the effect of self-esteem was higher (𝛽=.40, .41) than that of depression (𝛽=-.28, -.29). The effects of depression and self-esteem on life satisfaction were higher in elderly people who live alone (R²=.409) than in elderly people who live with others (R²=.398). Based on the research results, this study suggested appropriate policies and practice directions to enhance self-esteem and improve life satisfaction of elderly people who live alone.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.1721-1731
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• 2011

This study was performed to determine the levels of depression symptoms among community elderlies and to reveal its related factors, specifically aimed at revealing social and family supports. The interviews were performed, during the period from July 1, to August 31, 2010, to 412 elderlies in urban areas. As a results, significantly higher level of depression symptoms was laid on those with lower social supports and family supports(p=0.000), and the subjects' depression was a negative correlation with social and family support. On multiple regression analysis, the level of depression symptoms was influenced by the variables of social and family support, with or without disability of visual acuity, sense of satisfaction in daily life, number of friends, educational level, with or without spouse, activity of hobbies and urinary incontinence. In conclusion, the level of depression symptoms was so complicatedly influenced by variable factors as well as socio-demographic characteristics, health-related behaviors, health status, social support net-work and social activities. Especially, the level of depression symptoms was more influenced by social supports and family supports.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.92-98
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• 1989

Concept analysis is a formal linguistic exercise to determine certain defining attributes. The basic purpose of concept analysis is to clarify ambiguous concepts in a theory, and to propose a precise operational definition which reflects its theoretical base (Walker, 1983, 27~28). In later life, elderly people are faced with various psychological problems such as depression, and lowered self-esteem for these psychological problems of the elderly. Reminiscence has been studied as an effective therapeutic measure by gerontologists and psychologists. It is considered to have potential as an effective nursing intervention with geriatric clients. The purpose of this paper was to explore the feasibility of adopting reminiscence as a nursing intervention through analysis of the concept. The concept can be defined as follows : Reminiscence is thinking and talking about one's past with or without a specific purpose. It is a composite mental process which involves psychological, emotional, and social interactional aspects. The defining attributes of reminiscence are : 1. Thinking about past experiences which are meaningful to oneself. 2. It includes the emotional aspect of past experiences. 3. It occurs with or without specific purposes. 4. It is communicated to others by means of language and the subject has the feeling of being heard. In regard to the consequences of reminiscence, it is expected to contribute to psychological adaptation by providing a sense of self-fulfillment and self-achievement, promoting the discovery of the meaning of life, decreasing depression, and overcoming guilt feelings and conflict about one's past. However, if the past is regarded as a total failure, it may be harmful to the psychological well-being of the subject.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.181-197
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to measure how English immersion classes affect students. This study seeks to answer two questions. First, will the young learners gain an international sense? Second, will the students learn English naturally without having to be sent abroad to an English speaking country? Several kinds of immersion programs have been designed and implemented in Korea. However, many students have felt great stress and mental pressure in the immersion programs. Students find the programs stressful because English must be used at all times. In this paper, two groups of elementary school students are compared: one being the control group and the other being the experimental group, an immersion class. The results show that the mental health problems, sensitivities, and rates of depression in the immersion group are greater than those of the students in the control group. Therefore, the immersion students' overall mental health is substandard. The negative effects of lethargy and depression are made worse when they are placed in English only environments. The results indicate more attention should be focused on respecting and understanding the students' overall mental health when teaching them English.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.103-112
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• 2017

PURPOSE: Regular physical activity in the elderly population has significant benefits for health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aquatic group exercise on body composition and mental health of the elderly females. METHODS: This study included 40 elderly women. The aquatic group exercise program was performed for an hour a day, 3 times a week for 12 weeks with moderate-intensity level. The body composition, physical fitness mental health instruments were used to measure the outcome variables before and after the program. Data was analyzed with SPSS using descriptive statistics and the t-test. RESULTS: It was found that the 12 week aquatic group exercise program had effects on body mass and BMR were significantly improved after the intervention of this study. In health related physical fitness, flexibility and sense of balance were significantly increased in the participants. In the mental health of the female elderly participants were evaluated in areas such as depression, sense of isolation, interpersonal anxiety, and sociality. They showed significant change in a positive way. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that aquatic group exercise should be activated and encouraged to enhance physical and mental health of elderly women and various types of manuals should be developed according to characteristics of programs to operate this exercise more effectively.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.940-950
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• 1999

One hundred two high-risk women(HRW) and 115 low-risk women(LRW) were studied at post-partal hospitalization and at 1, 4, and 8 months after giving birth to determine whether they would differ in the achievement of perceived maternal acquisition and whether predictors of maternal acquisition would differ for the two groups over time. The subjects were 102 HRW and 115 LRW, all in the above 27 weeks, admitted to two hospitals and to two clinic in the Kyoungnam area between July 1, 1998 and May 4, 1999. The data were analyzed by a SPSS program and the results are as follows ; 1) Predictors of Maternal role acquisition in the HRW were fetal attachment, maternal attachment, state anxiety, relationships of partner, social support in the early postpartum, maternal attachment, relationships of partner, depression, infant's health status in the postpartal 1 month, relationships of partner, self-esteem, educational degree in the postpartal 4 month, and maternal attachment, social supports in the postpartal 8 month. 2) Predictors of Maternal role acquisition in the LRW were fetal attachment, social supports, perceived experience about labor and delivery in the early postpartum, maternal attachment, sense of mastery in the postpartal 1 month, sense of mastery, experience with infants, relationships of partner in the postpartal 4 month and maternal attachment, experience with infants, social supports in the postpartal 8 month. 3) The hypothesis that HRW would score significantly lower on maternal competency than LRW was rejected. 4) The hypothesis that maternal acquisition would be significantly related to maternal attachment was accepted.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 2019

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in the satisfaction levels and mental health among North Korean defectors over two years. Methods : At the beginning of the study, the subjects were comprised of 300 North Korean defectors registered with a regional adaptation center (the Hana Center) in South Korea. Participants reported self-questionnaires including socio-demographic variables and self-rating scales for satisfaction levels, depression symptoms, trauma-related symptoms, resilience and alcohol use behavior. In the follow up study after two years, 189 North Korean defectors participated in an online survey, responding to the same questionnaires as at baseline. Results : The self-rated scores for satisfaction with one's overall life (p=0.008), sense of autonomy (p=0.001), sense of physical health (p<0.001), and expected life satisfaction five years later (p<0.001) had all decreased significantly at follow-up after two years. Depression symptoms (p<0.01) and trauma-related symptoms (p<0.001) increased significantly over two years, and the resilience score (p<0.01) decreased significantly during the same period. No significant differences in alcohol use behavior (p=0.059) were observed at follow-up. Conclusion : Satisfaction levels among North Korean defectors gradually decreased over the follow-up period, and this may be due to the difficulties encountered in the process of assimilating to daily life in South Korea. Economic, medical, and psychological support is needed for successful assimilation of North Korean defectors.