• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.69-98
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• 2009

We investigated what factors motivate gamers to participate in a guild and why they continue to be engaged as members of the guild. We find that, based on the result of focus group interviews with MMORPG gamers, social support and self-esteem factors play important roles. Considering both prior research and the focus group interviews we have conducted, we define social support and character control as independent variables. Character identity, guild identity, and self-esteem are proposed as mediating variables while guild flow and game loyalty as dependent variables. Accordingly, we develop the research model and hypotheses, and verify them empirically. Based on our experiences of playing the WoW game, we proposed a research model and conducted focus-group interviews (FGIs). FGIs involve formulating a hypothesis and then collecting some relevant data. FGIs were conducted face-to-face with students of C University in Korea. We formulated structured interview schedules, and the questions were based on our research variables and personal experiences. The questions for the interviews encompassed the following areas: (a) the demographic characteristics of the focus group; (b) the number of years for which respondents had played online games; (c) the motive for starting a game; (d) the number of game-characters assumed by each gamer; (e) the type of game played; and (f) other issues such as the reasons for involvement in the play, the willingness to reuse the game in case new versions were released, etc. On average, it took two hours to interview each of three groups. A primary set of FGIs was conducted with three groups on the premise that there would be some differences caused by character race (Horde vs. Alliance) or by playable server (Normal vs. Combat). With respect to the manner of playing, we found that guild members shared information, felt a sense of belonging, and played computer games for quite a long time through the guild; however, they did not undergo these experiences when playing alone. Gamers who belonged to a specific guild helped other players without expecting compensation for that, freely shared information about the game, gave away items for free, and more generous with other members who made mistakes. The guild members were aware of the existence other members and experienced a sense of belonging through interactions with, and evaluations from, other players. It was clear that social support was shown within the guild and that it played an important role as a major research variable. Based on the results of the first FGIs, a second set of in-depth FGIs was carried out with a focus on the psychology of the individual within the guild and the social community of the guild. The second set of FGIs also focused on the guild's offline meetings. Gamers, over all, recognize the necessity of joining a community, not only off-line but also online world of the guild. They admit that the guild is important for them to easily and conveniently enjoy playing online computer games. The active behavior and positive attitudes of existing guild members can motivate new members of the guild to adapt themselves to the guild environment. They then adopt the same behaviors and attitudes of established guild members. In this manner, the new members of the guild strengthen the bonds with other gamers while feeling a sense of belonging, and developing social identity, thereby. It was discovered that the interaction among guild members and the social support encouraged new gamers to quickly develop a sense of social identity and increase their self-esteem. The guild seemed to play the role of socializing gamers. Sometimes, even in the real world, the guild members helped one another; therefore, the features of the guild also spilled over to the offline environment. We intend to use self-esteem, which was found through the second set of FGIs, as an important research variable. To collect data, an online survey was designed with a questionnaire to be completed by WoW gamers, who belong to a guild. The survey was registered on the best three domestic game-sites: 'WoW playforum,' 'WoW gamemeca,' and 'Wow invent.' The selected items to be measured in the questionnaire were decided based on prior research and data from FGIs. To verify the content of the questionnaire, we carried out a pilot test with the same participants to point out ambiguous questions as a way to ensure maximum accuracy of the survey result. A total of 244 responses were analyzed from the 250 completed questionnaires. The SEM analysis was used to test goodness-of-fit of the model. As a result, we found important results as follows: First, according to the statistics, social support had statistically significant impacts on character control, character identity, guild identity and self-esteem. Second, character control had significant effects on character identity, guild identity and self-esteem. Third, character identity shows its clear impact on self-esteem and game loyalty. Fourth, guild identity affected self-esteem, guild flow and game loyalty. Fifth, self-esteem had a positive influence on the guild flow. These days, the number of virtual community is rising along with its significance largely because of the nature of the online games. Accordingly, this study is designed to clarify the psychological relationship between gamers within the guild that has been generally established by gamers to play online games together. This study focuses on the relationships in which social support influences guild flow or game loyalty through character control, character identity, guild identity, and self-esteem, which are present within a guild in the MMORPG game environment. The study results are as follows. First, the effects of social support on character control, character identity, guild identity and self-esteem are proven to be statistically significant. It was found that character control improves character identity, guild identity and self-esteem. Among the seven variables, social support, which is derived from FGIs, plays an important role in this study. With the active support of other guild members, gamers can improve their ability to develop good characters and to control them. Second, character identity has a positive effect on self-esteem and game loyalty, while guild identity has a significant effect on self-esteem, guild flow and game loyalty. Self-esteem affects guild flow. It was found that the higher the character and guild identities become, the greater the self-esteem is established. Contrary to the findings of prior research, our study results indicate that the relationship between character identity and guild flow is not significant. Rather, it was found that character identity directly affects game players' loyalty. Even though the character identity had no direct effect on increasing guild flow, it has indirectly affected guild flow through self-esteem. The significant relationship between self-esteem and guild flow indicates that gamers achieve flow, i.e., a feeling of pleasure and excitement through social support. Several important implications of this study should be noted. First, both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to conduct this study. Through FGIs, it was observed that both social support and self-esteem are important variables. Second, because guilds had been rarely studied, this research is expected to play an important role in the online community. Third, according to the result, six hypotheses (H1, H5, H6, H7, H8, and H11) setup based on FGIs, were statistically significant; thus, we can suggest the corresponding relationships among the variables as a guideline for follow-up research. Our research is significant as it has following implications: first, the social support of the guild members is important when establishing character control, character identity, guildidentity and self-esteem. It is also a major variable that affects guild flow and game loyalty. Second, character control when improved by social support shows notable influence on the development of character identity, guild identity and self-esteem. Third, character identity and guild identity are major factors to help establish gamers' own self-esteem. Fourth, character identity affects guild flow through self-esteem and game loyalty. The gamers usually express themselves through characters; the higher character identity is, the more loyalty a gamer has. Fifth, guild identity, established within the guild, has clear effects on self-esteem, guild flow and game loyalty. Sixth, qualitative and quantitative methods are employed to conduct this study. Based on the results of focus group interviews and SEM analysis, we find that the social support by guild members and psychological factors are significant in strengthening the flow of guild and loyalty to the game. As such, game developers should provide some extra functions for guild community, through which gamers can play online games in collaboration with one another. Also, we suggest that positive self-esteem which is built up through social support can help gamers achieve higher level of flow and satisfaction, which will consequently contribute to minimizing the possibility for the players to develop negative attitude toward the guild they belong to.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.89-102
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• 1990

The research is a comparative study of death attitudes between male and female elderly people. There is no doubt as to the inevitability of death. And yet, there is a vast conspiracy involved in the word of dead or death. The aged are considered to be nearer death than are people in other age groups. Kalish(1976) emphasized that for the aged two meanings of death have significance for evaluating their life ; first, that older people are known to have a limited life time and face death ; second that older people are known to have suffered many death-imposed losses that are often associated with the dying process. In considering these implications, the level of anxiety regarding death and dying is a crucial factor in determining mental health. In the study, 152 male elderly and 145 female elderly residing in Seoul, Korea was compared on the four dimensions of death anxiety and assigned personal variables. Therefore, the purpose the research was (1) to examine the characteristics of subjects on the independent variables(age, marital status, family relationship, social activities, religiousity etc.) ; (2) to examine the relationship between the independent variables and each dimension of death axniety ; (3) to determine the proportion of variance in the respective of death anxiety which is accounted for by the respective independent variables ; (4) to examine whether a significant difference between the respective independent variables and each dimension of death anxiety has ; (5) to determine the combination of variables which is the most successful in explaining the variance in death anxiety. Finding from this study support the following conclusions; 1. There was a significant differences between the male and female subjects in the level of death anxiety. In turn, the male older adults had lower death anxiety than did the female elderly. This implies that male tend to look forward to death rather than deny it. 2. As there was evidences from several studies, this research found that fear of death decreases as age increases. 3. The following two variables that correlate best with dying anxiety of others in both male and female older adults : 'marriage life', 'social interaction'. 4. The variables 'age' and 'children' for both female and male elderly accounted for the most variance in death anxiety of self. The findings of the study lend this investigator several suggestions, implications and recommendations for future research. There can be no death without life, and conversely, no life without death. Psychologists and health-related professionals may be learn as much about death as they can in order to develop more healthy attitudes and in order to be able to better aid and comfort dying people and their familities. Perhaps most importantly, professionals may be help those who are not faced with death at present to develop an understanding of it and healthy attitudes toward it. The programs of death education are needed for dedication to the evitability of death and the preparation of life for the older adults. More seminars, symposiums and research on death attitudes are needed. Finally, study for female older adults has been negelected topic in the areas of women's study and health education. Future study, for female elderly, have to deeply investigate where those problems come from and how to cope with in order to the female elderly segment can live the rest of their lives in satisfaction with well-being.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.2598-2606
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• 2011

This study investigated the relationship between job stress and psychosocial stress among clerical public officers in Daejeon City. The self-administered questionnaire survey was administered to 386, during the period between June 1, 2010 and July 31, 2010. As a results, In terms of various levels of psychosocial stresses, 8.8% of the subjects were healthy group, 64.5% were potential stress group, and 26.7% were high risk stress group. On job specifications, the high risk stress group were significantly higher those with higher level of job demand, lower job autonomy and lower colleagues support than their respective counterparts. The level of psychosocial stress was positively correlated with job demand and negatively correlated with job autonomy and social support. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the factors of influence on psychosocial stresses included subjective status of health, satisfaction in work, smoking, leisure activities, past history of visits to medical clinics, social support from colleagues.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.455-463
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• 2017

Background/Objectives: The purpose of the study is to derive a goal usable in the field by exploring the case management success experiences of case managers. Civil case managers state that what is still important in case management practice is qualitative change made in the practice process. Therefore, the study will deal with detailed contents about case management that civil domain case managers consider to be important. Methods/Statistical analysis: For data collection, the study used focus group interview on 20 professional case management social workers and used Grounded theory method by Glaser for data analysis. The analysis of collected data consisted of a process of finding the categories and characteristics of the research problem. Findings: As a result of analysis, 4 categories, 10 subcategories, and 25 elements were derived for success experiences of case management practice. The categories were divided into satisfaction and ability improvement of client, case manager ability improvement, establishment of organization and environment function, and multilateral trust relationship strengthening. Improvements/Applications: The results of this study further clarified the goal of field case management practice and it was suggested as a plan to reflect on future case management related institutions evaluation.

• 한국노년학
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.883-903
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• 2016

The purpose of the study is examining the mediation effect of caregiver burden's segmentalized sub factors between dementia caregivers on the relationship between Symptom extent of dementia patients and Suicidal Ideation of dementia caregiver, and suggesting social welfare intervention methods for dementia caregiver The survey is targeted to demented elderly people and caregivers, and currently using medical care institution and day care center in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Pusan city. As a result of the survey, 415 cases were collected for the final analysis. In data analysis process, we used SPSS 21.0 for the mediation effect of conversational satisfaction and its significance, and the results are following. First, 21% of the caregivers responded that they had thoughts of suicide in the past year. Second, Symptom extent of dementia patients was positively related to caregiver burden. Third, worse in family relationships, which is sub factors of mediate variable, has partial mediate effect on the model. Based on these outcomes, we suggest the importance and necessity of improved approach about dementia elderly and caregiver between elderly couple as way to reduce caregiver burden and proposed social work-based intervention program for enhancing this.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.469-474
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to examine the satisfaction level of parents with elementary school students in some metropolitan areas with the pit and fissure sealing program in a bid to raise awareness of the importance of the preventive treatment and accelerate the spread of it. The subjects in this study were 231 parents who had school children and resided in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. After a self-administered survey was conducted in October and November 2008, the collected data were analyzed. The findings of the study were as follows; 1. As to places for receiving the preventive treatment, 111 respondents (48.1%) experienced pit and fissure sealing in dental clinics, and 88 respondents(38.1%) did that in dental hospitals. 177 people(76.6%) received that treatment from dentists, and 16 respondents(11.3%) did that from dental hygienists. 2. Concerning whether to be for or against the pit and fissure sealing program, more than half that numbered 143(61.9%) supported that program, and 88 respondents(38.1%) didn't. As for satisfaction level, they expressed the biggest satisfaction with the preventive effect of that treatment($3.92{\pm}.85$), and were least satisfied with the cost($1.91{\pm}.86$). 3. Regarding links between general characteristics and satisfaction level, they were statistically significantly different in satisfaction level with the cost according to residential area and the number of child, and age made a statistically significant difference to their satisfaction level with the preventive effect of it. 4. As for relationship between warranty term and whether to be for the pit and fissure sealing program or not, 45(31.5%) out of those who supported the program were provided with no warranty, and 32(36.4%) out of those who took a stand against it were provided with no warranty, either. Warranty was provided to 12(8.4%) respondents of the former group without a fixed term, but that's not the case for any of the latter. The warranty term made statistically significant differences to their agreement or disagreement to the program(p<0.05).

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.119-128
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• 2015

The role and importance of entrepreneurship is fast becoming recognized with the topic of creative economy in Korea. Especially, young generations having difficulties of finding a job choose to be an entrepreneur as a part of their career choice due to the changes in social awareness about entrepreneurship and the increase of entrepreneurship education opportunity. It is needed to approach with the analysis of young people's career choice reasons in order to provide effective entrepreneurship education to those who has the choice of career ahead. Each student has different desire to entrepreneurship lecture and education with the basis of their own motivation and goal of career choice reasons. The objective of this study is to examine career choice reasons with 1,651 science and engineering field students in universities to determine the sustainable needs of entrepreneurship education. As a result of the analysis, there is significant relationship between the satisfaction of entrepreneurship education and the intrinsic factors such as self-realization, innovativeness, role-model and independence. In addition, the satisfaction of entrepreneurship education is significantly related to the sustainable desire of entrepreneurship education. In other words, it is needed to enhance intrinsic value of the students' career choice reasons for sustainable entrepreneurship education due to successful start-ups requiring to have information and understanding process of business which comes from continuous entrepreneurship education.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.157-172
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• 2023

The recent Fourth Industrial Revolution is accelerating changes due to digital transformation. According to this trend, the existing start-up paradigm is changing, and new business models based on new technologies and creative ideas are emerging. In addition, the diversity of mentoring relationships and environments such as online mentoring, reverse mentoring, group mentoring, and multiple mentoring is also increasing. However, most mentors in their 50s and 60s, who are mainly active in the start-up field, have been able to help mentees a lot based on their own experience and expertise, but they are having difficulty responding to the changing environment due to a lack of understanding and experience of new technologies and environments. To cope with these changes well, mentors must constantly study, acquire and apply the latest technologies to improve their understanding of new technologies and the environment. In addition, it is necessary to have an understanding and respect for the diversity of mentoring relationships and environments, and to maximize the effectiveness of mentoring by actively utilizing them. Therefore, mentors should recognize that they directly affect the growth and development of mentees, constantly acquire new knowledge and skills to maintain and develop expertise, and actively deliver their knowledge and experiences to mentees. Therefore, in this study, was tried to empirically analyze the relationship between mentoring's influence on mentor's job satisfaction through mentor's personal learning and self-efficacy. The results of the empirical analysis were as follows. Among the functions of mentoring, career function and role modeling were found to have a positive effect on both personal learning and self-efficacy, which are parameters, and job satisfaction, which is a dependent variable. On the other hand, psychological and social functions have a positive effect on personal learning, but they do not have an effect on self-efficacy and job satisfaction. In addition, as a result of analyzing the mediating effect, all mediating effects were confirmed for career functions, and only the mediating effect of self-efficacy was confirmed for role modeling. Through this study, mentoring is an important factor in promoting job satisfaction, personal learning and self-efficacy, and this study can be said to be academically and practically meaningful in that it confirmed personal learning and self-efficacy as factors that increase mentor's job satisfaction, and the focus of mentoring research was shifted from mentee to mentor to study the impact of mentoring on mentors.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.367-372
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• 2024

It was intended to explore the relationship between motivation for participation in hair education, program satisfaction, and lifelong learning happiness index for adult learners at the Lifelong Education Center, and to provide basic data for revitalizing lifelong education programs. Today, universities have conditions as a comprehensive educational institution with practicality that can meet various and high-quality lifelong educational needs. The university-affiliated Lifelong Education Center plays a role in ensuring the right to learn for all citizens as well as fulfilling the social service function and greatly expanding educational opportunities, which is one of the essential functions of universities, by making good use of the excellent transfer material resources of universities. Adults should now seek professional self-identity through retraining, and respond flexibly to various social situations such as increasing roles, expanding responsibility, and uncertainty in the job and employment structure toward professional socialization in the professional world The subject of the study was to collect data by distributing 90 questionnaires to adult learner hair education subjects in G area, and 85 copies were finally used for SPSS 26.0 for Windows analysis, excluding questionnaires with insufficient responses. The survey period was from November 1 to December 27, 2023. First, it was found that adult learners' motivation to participate in hair education has an effect on the lifelong learning happiness index. Second, it was found that adult learners' satisfaction with the program of hair care workers has an effect on the lifelong learning happiness index. Through this study, it is judged that it is necessary to understand what can maximize the high lifelong learning happiness index, and to meet the learning needs of modern people living in the age of 100, increase their potential, help them design a second life, contribute to self-realization and society, and help them have steady, self-directed lifelong learning opportunities.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.277-301
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to examine those factors affecting Male Abusive Behavior on Intimate Female Partner Violence. The primary aim of this study is to determine the association between Intimate Partner Violence and coping strategies of male abusive behavior. The sample included 121 male abusive behavior who are referred by Counsel for Family Violence. For statistical analysis, descriptive statistical methods and hierarchical multiple regression were employed. Results indicated that male abusive behavior expressed more aggressive cognitive biases and irrational beliefs than nonviolent men. Both of problem-solving and avoidance coping to deal with relationship conflicts were related to abusive behavior of male. Specially, men who used higher levels of avoidance coping strategies was more likely related to physical abuse, less use of problem-solving coping was related to psychological abuse. Hostility and low marital satisfaction have also been associated with Intimate Partner Violence. Drinking is a risk factor for psychological abuse. Results are discussed implication for developing theoretical and interventional meanings of social welfare practice.