• Journal of Labour Economics
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.1-34
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• 2016

We estimate the effect of an increase in the minimum wage on employment. In Korea, there is no exogenous variation in the minimum wage across regions or industries. One single minimum wage is applied to every worker in the whole country. In this paper, we exploit arguably exogenous variation in the proportion of workers affected by the minimum wage across worker groups defined by age, sex, education, tenure and establishment size. Using the data from the Survey on Labor Conditions by Type of Employment (SLCTE) from 2006 to 2014, we find that a 1% increase in the minimum wage decreases the full-time equivalent employment by about 0.14%. The effect is heterogeneous across workers; we find the effect is more adverse for female workers, low-educated, younger and older workers, workers with a shorter tenure, and workers in small- and medium-sized establishments.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.219-228
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• 1982

This study aimed at assessing the industrial workers' mental health status and identifing the relationship between mental health status and socio-demographic variables. We administered psychiatric self report rating scale (SCL-90)to 622 manual workers and 191 office workers in a textile .industry. The study began on 1 November, 1981 and lasted for 30 days The results were as follow: 1. Scores of symptom dimension were higher in female rather than male, younger than older, lower income group than higher one, lower educated group than higher one, manual workers than office workers and unmarried group than married one respectively. 2. The result of dimension scores of total samples showed that the score of Obsessive-compulsive scale was highest. The rest symptom dimension showed the order as follows: Interpersonal sensitivity, Depression, Hostility, Anxiety, Paranoid ideation, Somatization, Psychoticism and Phobic anxiety. 3. In order to identify the partial contribution of each socio-demographic variables on the mental health, multiple regression method was applied, and the result was as follows. 1) Sex was the most important one to explain the Somatization, Phobic-anxiety and Psychoticism scales among the 7 variables in the multiple regression equation. 2) Economic status was the most important variable to explein the Obsessive-compulsive, Depression and Hostility scales. 3) Marital status was the most important variable to explain the Interpersonal-sensitivity and Paranoid ideation scales.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.56-60
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• 1979

A survey was performed from April 1975 to Oct. 1978, on the high blood pressure of workers employed at industries in Busan area in order to seek for the environmental factors on blood pressure. The number of workers surveyed in the manufacturing industries occupied 72.4 percent of the total. By the age group of all workers, 39.9 percent belonged to the 20-29 year group. For the age distribution and sex of the workers, the highest frequency was found in the 20-29 year group in both sexes and was 36.8% and 46.1% in male and female, respectively. The prevalence rate of hypertension among the workers was 15.9. The industries showing the highest prevalence rate equivalent to wholesale, retail trades, restaurants, and hotels. This survey presented a tendency of increasing prevalence rate as the age increases.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.196-207
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• 2009

For the estimation of prevalence state of major chronic adult disease and their relationships with drinking and smoking habits in the Korean employees, we analyzed a medical check-up data of 155,799 subjects that was accumulated during the year of 2008. In age and sex distribution of the sample, male subjects were 106,229 and female 51,827 showing the ratio of 2:1 and the majorities were 30s and 40s covering 70.7% of the total. The prevalence rates of major chronic diseases were obesity 29.8% (male 38.3%, female 12.3%), hypertension 4.1%, HBV carrier inactive 3.3%, diabetes mellitus 2.9%, hypothyroidism 1.7% (male 1.3%, female 2.4%), hyperlipidemia 1.1%, hyperthyroidism 1.4% (male 1.1%, female 2.1%), osteoporosis 1.4% (male 1.4%, female 1.4%), anemia 0.9% (male 0.3%, female 2.0%) and renal disease 0.9%. The frequency of and volume of drinking in male group were 4.6 times and 7.5 times higher than female group respectively. The 33.8% of the workers were smoking currently. In the serological tests, all the items such as AST, ALT, ${\gamma}-GTP$, LDH for liver function, Cholesterol, TG, uric acid for hyperlipidemia and BP systolic, Fasting blood sugar, BMI for metabolic syndrome were significantly higher in the more drinking and more smoking groups than other groups (p<0.001). The higher prevalence rates in male group in the liver disease seems to be strongly related with the drinking and smoking habits in male employees. We suggest that employees should rather relying on leisure or hobbies than drinking and smoking for the stress relief.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.27-44
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• 2001

In this study, I investigate the drinking behavior and related factors among white collar workers in seoul. Examination was executed with questionnaire to 520 white collar workers. Drinking behavior involves frequency of drinking, amount of alcohol consumption in a drinking situation and alcohol-related problem. Related factors involves the general characteristics, the knowledge about alcohol, the allowable attitude about drinking, work stress and stress copying. This was analyzed with percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, ANOV A and pearson's correlation. The results are as follows: Data shows that about 96.3% of the respondents drink at least during the last year and 89.8% of the respondents drink at least during the last month. 59.4% male respondents drink 3-8 times a month, 44.8% female respondents drink 1-2 times a month. High prevalence rates were found in male, married person and those with low-religious spirit in a usual amount of drinking(p〈0.05), male in the latest amount of drinking(p〈0.05), male, forties, married person and those with the highest monthly family income and those with low-religious spirit in frequency of drinking during the latest month(p〈0.05). The score of alcohol-related problem(ARP) was as follows: male workers-2.61, female workers-1.61 out of 35. The score of ARP was statistically significantly different according to sex(p〈0.05). A positive correlation was observed between amount of drinking, frequency of drinking and ARP(p〈0.01). The score of knowledge about alcohol was 3.6 and any correlation and statistically significant difference were not observed between the knowledge about alcohol and drinking behavior. The score of allowable attitude about drinking was statistically significantly different according to sex(p〈0.05), age(p〈0.05). A positive correlation was observed between attitude about drinking and amount of drinking, frequency of drinking, ARP(p〈0.01). The work stress and stress copying had no significant relations with drinking behavior. Most respondents do not drink at stress situation.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.338-344
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• 2024

Background: Sickness presenteeism (SP) has gained attention in occupational health. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between SP and depressive symptoms by occupation and employment type during the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea. Methods: Community Health Survey data (August 16 to October 31, 2020-2021) were used to assess depressive symptoms and SP among workers (n = 221,241; mean age 46.0; 53.5% male). Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and SP was defined by the ability to rest at home when exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of depressive symptoms were estimated using multiple logistic regression analyses for each sex and year stratum. The interaction between SP and occupation on depressive symptoms was assessed using relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI). Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was higher in individuals with SP than in those without SP (4.22% [n = 696] vs. 1.89% [n = 3861], respectively). After adjusting for demographic and occupational variables, the association between SP and depressive symptoms was significant in both sexes in 2020 and 2021 (OR [95% CI]: 2.18 [1.82-2.62], 2.41 [1.97-2.93], 2.05 [1.77-2.38], 2.47 [2.11-2.88] for male-2020, male-2021, female-2020, and female-2021, respectively). A marginally significant interaction between service workers and SP on depressive symptoms was observed among male workers in 2021 (RERI = 2.37, 95% CI = [-0.04-4.78]) but not in other strata. Conclusion: SP is significantly associated with depressive symptoms in Korean workers across employment and occupational types, with a prominent association in service workers.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.240-247
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• 2022

Background: Although insomnia and constipation are highly prevalent worldwide, studies examining a possible association between them are lacking. We examined the relationship between insomnia and constipation in shift workers who have a high prevalence of insomnia and other diseases. Methods: This study had a multicenter cross-sectional design and conducted using health examination data including self-reported questionnaires. In total, 12,879 and 4,650 shift workers were enrolled in Severance Hospital and Wonju Severance Hospital, respectively, during 2015-2017. Multivariate logistic regression models and subgroup analysis were performed in each center with the same protocol, using a common data model. Results: The mean age of the total population was 44.35 (standard deviation = 8.75); the proportion of males was 56.9%. Female sex, being underweight and non-smoker were strongly associated with an increased risk of constipation symptom (p < 0.001). Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using ORs of both centers with weights; there was a significant dose-response relationship (sub-threshold 1.76 [95% confidence interval [CI] 1.62-1.91]; moderate 2.28 [95% CI 2.01-2.60]; severe 4.15 [95% CI 3.18-5.41] in the final model, p for trend < 0.001). Subgroup analysis performed by stratifying sex and pooled ORs showed a similar trend to that of the entire group. Conclusion: We observed a strong correlation between insomnia and constipation in this population. Our findings may help in formulating guidelines and policies to improve quality of life in shift workers through the management of sleep quality and proper bowel function. This study is the first to report this relationship among people working in shifts.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.859-869
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the subjective oral health awareness, oral health knowledge, oral health behavior and OHIP-14 in industrial workers. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was filled out by 243 workers in Jeonbuk May 7 to June 10, 2014. Except incomplete answers, 230 data were analyzed. The questionnaire consisted of general characteristics of the subjects(sex, age, career, marital status, abd family), oral health recognition characteristics(oral health attention, subjective oral health status, and oral health concern), oral health knowledge, oral health behavior, and oral health related quality of life. The instrument was 14 questions od OHIP-14 including functional restriction(2 questions), physical pain(2 questions), psychological discomfort(2 questions), physical ability decease(2 questions), psychological function decease(2 questions), social activity decrease (2 questions), and social discomfort(2 questions). Cronbach's alpha was 0.949 in this study and it was reliable. Results: Oral health interests showed that 57.8% of the workers had concern for oral health interests and 50.4% perceived that their subjective oral health was moderate status. 55.6% of the workers answered that their oral health status was very worried. Women had more knowledge about the oral health. Those who were in fifties tended to have more knowledge of oral health than the other age groups. Those who had more concern for oral health included female workers, married workers, and workers above 21 years. The concern for oral health made the workers keep good oral health. Higher score of OHIP-14 means good oral health. Conclusions: Good oral health-related quality of life is proportional to continuous management of oral health and subjective oral health status. It is necessary to develop the tailored oral health education program for the workers.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.34-48
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to analyse the factors associated with regular exercise in office workers based on the health belief model such as health belief, self efficacy and barrier among office workers. For the study, we surveyed 253 office workers and analysed using SAS package program. That results obtained were as follows; 1. There were significant differences in sex, age, marriage status. 2. Exercise showed a significant association according to 5-6 days/week exercise, used to fitness center in company, exercise before the attendances. 3. The health belief showed a significant association according to 20-29 years old, unmarried and non exerciser. 4. The self efficacy showed a significant association according to female, nondrinker, nonsmoker, regular exerciser, motivation of exercise is maintain health and weak exerciser. 5. The barrier of exercise was high in non exerciser. 6. A negative correlation was observed between the health belief, the self efficacy and the barrier of exercise. In conclusion, this study suggests that the effective exercise program to reinforce the factors based on health belief and self efficacy, have to be developed.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.305-312
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• 1974

Studies on 66 industrial accidents happened in a battery manufacturing industry during a year of 1973 were carried out. The results obtained are follows, 1. Majority of employees of this industry was occupied by yong woman aged between 20-24. 2. Incidence rate, frequency rate and severity rate of the accidents was 36.8 per 1,000, 12.8 per 100,000 labour day and 0.3% respectively. Anual average days of lost due to accidents was 18.0 days. 3. Accidents happened more frequently in male than female, and happened most frequently in age between 30-34. 4. As to type of work, 47.9% of the accidents happened on hand operating workers. This was the same in both sex. 5. Accidents happened mainly during 2-3 hours latter from work starts in both morning and afternoon work, 6. 63.6% of the accidents happened on hands in both sexes and followed by lower extremities. 7 Surface wounds like as laceration, cut and abrasion were the main types of injury occupying 31.8% and followed by burn at 24.2%. 8. 54.5% of accidents needed 1-2 weeks to heal the injury and heavy injury needed more than 5 weeks was only 9.1%. 9. Accidents happened most frequently in employees who served between 2-3 years in this industry, but observing of sex difference. it was most frequent in male who served more than 4 years whereas less than 6 months in female.