• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.515-524
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• 2019

This study was conducted based on the fact that children in institutions for early childhood education located in cities lack the opportunity to experience nature. Therefore, urban parks are where it is possible to observe nature and natural environment, through which we examined the effects of nature activities on kindergarten children's curiosity and scientific problem-solving ability. The subjects of this study were 5-years old kindergarten children in attending public kindergartens in Cheonan and Asan and 42 children were randomly selected. The pretest and posttest were conducted on curiosity and scientific problem-solving ability before and after nature activities. The results showed that nature activities in urban parks had significant effects on improvement of kindergarten children's curiosity and scientific problem-solving ability (p <.05). Therefore, nature activities in urban parks had positive effects on preference for unknown and exploratory behavior, which are sub-factors of kindergarten children's curiosity. Nature activities also had positive effects on discovery and statement of the problem, creation and application of ideas, and conclusion to problem solving.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2022

A Care farm is known to have positive effects on various people in psychological, physical, and social aspects. However, care farm services for the disabled, transportation disadvantaged, and socially disadvantaged are limited. This study conducted a demand survey in order to provide basic data for development of the Agro-Healing Virtual Reality Therapy(AVRT) system. The respondents were the ordinary person(n=127) and the disabled person(n=72), and the survey items consisted of 4 categories and 20 items, including intention to use AVRT, requirements for use, factors to be considered when developing the system, and content and program preferences. The intention to use a AVRT was found to be at a high level of 80% or more by respondent characteristics. In addition, similar results were shown in all items such as virtual reality experience, willingness to use, appropriate use time, and willingness to pay by respondent characteristics, and correlation by item was determined through correlation analysis. As for the conditions of use, both sides preferred rural types and were found to have the purpose of healing. However, there were concerns about dizziness in common between system use, and in the case of the disabled person, there were difficulties in purchasing expensive equipment. In the development of the AVRT system, the part of sensory priority, important technology level, and color preference were evaluated, and the preference of content and programs to be developed in the system was identified. Fruit, vegetables, flowers, and animals preferred mandarin, tomato, tulips, and dogs first, horticultural healing preferred harvest management for the ordinary person, plant cultivation for the disabled person, and forest healing and animal education preferred walking and dog-related programs. However, agricultural work was found to be a program with high preference for making processed foods for the ordinary person and creating an animal breeding environment for the disabled person. The result of this study is expected to provide reference data that can be suggested for the development of Agro-healing Virtual Reality Therapy system.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.85-110
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• 2011

As Gangwon-do Province needs an environmental-friendly alternative tourism according to low carbon green growth, this study analyzes specialized fields in green health industry, selects seven specialized fields in green health industry that is fit to Gangwon-do Province, and suggests a development strategy by conducting recognition surveys on preference and impotence of the specialized fields. Surveys and interviews are conducted of 106 students at Green Health Industry Education Center which is operating by Kwandong University and 84 persons who work at medical institutions and tourism related companies in Ganwondo. The surveys and interviews were completed from November 5 to November 19 in 2010, determined factors through a factor analysis when they have many questions, and analyzed by using SPSS 14.0. Out of the seven specialized fields, rest & recuperation field is highly recognized. In order to have competitive edge compared to other self-governing provinces, Ganwon-do Province should prioritize rest and recuperation field. A healthcare program in the green health industry specific to Ganwon-do Province includes hot springs and spa programs as a priority. Gangwon-do's hot springs are deemed to be competitive resources as global medical tourists prefer spa and sauna healthcare programs, while the province promotes its spring resources and builds medical tourism infrastructures. Gangwon-do Province can promote a medical tourism industry that is well suitable for the strength and characteristics of the province. It might pursue oriental medicine therapy tourism, which is related to a recuperating medical service that uses both oriental and western medicine. It can also run such programs as forest bathing (oxygen road), spring and spa, and sea water treatment, which are the specialized fields in green health industry with respect to recreation and healthcare.

• The Journal of Economics, Marketing and Management
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.37-49
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to enhance understanding of multicultural families in South Korea by examining the impact of family functions on their quality of life and exploring how parenting attitudes in multicultural families influence the relationship between family functions and quality of life. Research design, data and methodology: This study obtained a total of 124 valid surveys with the assistance of the Cheonan and Asan Multicultural Centers. Using SPSS 24.0 and AMOS 24.0, the study conducted frequency analysis, descriptive statistical analysis, reliability and validity, and correlation analysis. To test hypotheses, the study conducted simple (multiple) regression and three-step mediation regression analysis. Results: The results revealed that family functions in multicultural families have a significant impact on parenting attitudes, and parenting attitudes have a significant impact on the quality of life. Additionally, except for autonomy and rational parenting attitudes, parenting attitudes were found to have partial mediating effects between family functions and the quality of life. Conclusions: It was empirically demonstrated that parenting attitudes, along with family functions, are crucial factors for improving the quality of life. The study suggests various methods at the levels of multicultural families, local communities, and the national level to enhance the quality of life in multicultural families.

• The Journal of the Korean Institute of Forest Recreation
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.59-69
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• 2018

This is a cross-sectional study that suggests ways to activate forest welfare services (FWS) by investigating the infrastructure, service status, and perception on FWS in Korea. In August 2016, a structured email survey was conducted in nation widely. The respondents were mostly directors and general secretary (75.0%). The considerable number (16.3%) of nursing homes (NH) use some floors of the complex buildings that would be difficult to have FWS infrastructure and about 30% of those without forests near the facilities. The directors of NH recognize that FWS has positive effects on the elderly. However, FWS is not an requisite of the longterm care insurance benefit, and so costly and effort-intensive that FWS has not been activated so far. In order to activate FWS in NHs, it is necessary to develop and disseminate the guidelines on FWS that anyone can easily followed. In addition, when the National Health Insurance Corporation evaluates NHs, they should evaluate not only whether there is a wandering or walking space, but also whether it has forest healing factors such as forests. It is also necessary to create a barrier-free environment both inside and outside of NHs, increasing accessibility to the toilet in gardens, paving a passage for wheelchairs and lifts in forests near NHs. Through these efforts, it is expected that FWS will be activated to provide physical, mental rest and comfort, appropriate cognitive stimulation to the NH residents at the end of life.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.105-119
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• 2014

Objectives: This study investigates the factors influencing values on life-respect among middle school students. Methods: The participants in this study were 126 students from S middle school and Y middle school, both located in Gyeongnam province. The experimental group consisted of 40 students from S middle school, Control group-Iconsisted of 39 students from S middle school, and Control group-II consisted of 47 students from Y middle school. The experimental group was provided with 12 incidences of the life-respect education program from April 1st to June 29th. One period took 45 minutes and proceeded according to a structure of introduction, development, and consolidation. The experimental group received a life-respect education program, Control group-I received health teaching, but Control group-II didn't receive any special education except what was regularly part of their curriculum. The content of the life-respect education program included the following topics: value of life-respect, respect for human life and ethics, life-respect campaign, having a healthy mind, suicide prevention, dealing with crisis, prevention of school violence, abortion and life-respect, social weak minority consideration, death, brain death, euthanasia, life cycle and task, and forest activities. Questionnaires were administered as pre and post-tests which consisted of questions regarding death anxiety, suicide risk, and values on life-respect. The pre and post-tests were analyzed with t-tests, paired t-tests, ANOVAs, and factor analyses using SPSS 18.0. Results: 1. There was a statistically significant increase in the experimental group(p<.0001) and control group-I(p<0.05) in value and attitude about life-respect. On the other hand, it was shown that there was no difference between pre and post-test in control group-II. 2. The result of examining the differences between pre and post-tests after education on values and attitudes toward life-respect using ANCOVA showed, there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.001) among the three groups. Conclusion: the life-respect education program which was conducted over 12 meeting with middle school students had an positive effect, which can be used as basic data for fostering values on life-respect. These findings indicate that the life-respect education program this study used is effective for fostering value of life-respect and decreasing suicide risk.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.64-79
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• 2010

Students with intellectual disabilities typically have great difficulties communicating their needs and wants and may get frustrated, anxious or show signs of aggressive behaviour. They are often unable to understand the concept of relationships with other people as well. This lack of social communication and interaction leads to poor motivation which increases other areas of difficulty in their lives. Therefore, to teach students with intellectual disabilities, it is essential to find special teaching methods to support their positive behavior. This paper proposes that special educational curriculum for students with intellectual impairments utilize natural environments(forests) and materials. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Educational Programs Utilizing Forests on maladjusted behavior of students with mental retardation and to examine the positive effects of such planning practices. The subjects were middle school students who attended a special school for mentally-retarded students. They were divided into two separate groups- an experimental group and a control group. All subjects received the pre and post test using the same method. This program was applied to the formal educational process of middle school from March 1st to October 30th, 2009. In this experiment the results indicate that the effect of using a natural environment(forest) and the materials within a formal educational curriculum was positive as a type of horticultural therapy and that it supports positive behavior strategies in students with intellectual impairments. The usage of various natural materials including plants and flowers within the natural environments provide students with increased opportunities to participate. Teaching methods including natural materials help teachers engage with their students more easily during routine activities as their interest is already stimulated. This project will help students with intellectual impairments to build skills which enable effective participation and increase independence throughout their lives. This should be embedded into both routine and planned activities of the classroom Also, it offers a needed interior plan for the treatment space through an analysis of psychological factors of how the environment affects students.