• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.181-190
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• 2019

Objectives : Epidemiological studies in other countries show that a low intake of omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) increases the risk of depression or suicidality. However, no studies have investigated the associations of suicidality with omega-3 FAs in Korea. Hence, this cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the effects of omega FAs on suicidality in the general South Korean population. Methods : The data in this study were sourced from adults (n=215,860) who completed the Sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VI), and the associations between omega FAs and suicidality were analyzed using multivariate logistic regressions. Results : Our results demonstrated that high omega-3 FA intake was associated with a decreased risk of suicide (OR=0.83, 95% CI : 0.71-0.98) and the high omega-6 to omega-3 FA ratio was associated with an increased risk of suicide (OR=1.25, 95% CI : 1.02-1.54). Additionally, a high intake of omega-3 FAs was associated with a decreased risk of suicide in men, but not in women (OR=0.72, 95% CI : 0.59-0.88). Conclusions : Overall, our findings suggest that a lower intake of omega-3 FA is associated with the increased risk of suicidality in the general Korean population, especially in men.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.158-172
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• 2021

Background: Metabolic syndrome has been known as a risk of cardiovascular disease. Meanwhile, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is used as a predictor of cardiovascular disease. In this paper, we aimed to investigate the association between hs-CRP and metabolic syndrome. Method: A total of 7,633 were chosen as the study population from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey dataset (2016-2017). Our dependent variable was whether an individual had metabolic syndrome or not, and the independent variable of interest was hs-CRP which was categorized into three groups. The chi-square tests and hierarchical logistic regression analyses reflecting survey characteristics were conducted. All analyses were stratified by gender. Results: According to the adjusted model with all covariates, compared to individuals having the low risk of hs-CRP, those having its average risk were more likely to have metabolic syndrome in men (odds ratio [OR], 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-1.76) and women (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.33-2.16). Individuals having the high risk was not significantly different in men; however, they were more likely to have metabolic syndrome in women (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.28-3.23). Conclusion: In an upcoming aging society, it is important to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome to improve population health. This study suggests that hs-CRP may be used as a marker of the risk of metabolic syndrome in a gender-specific way, thereby contributing to enhancing awareness of the risk of metabolic syndrome among the general public.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 2011

Objectives: This study investigated the gender and age differential effect of major chronic diseases on activity of daily living (ADL) disability. Methods: Surveyfreq and Surveylogistic regression analyses were employed on the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) with a sample of 3,609 persons aged 65 - 89. Results: After adjusting for potential covariates, stroke, among elderly men more so than women, had a 2-3 times greater odds of engendering ADL disability in the 65-69 (p < 0.05) and 70-79 age groups (p < 0.01). In comparison to elderly women, cancer, diabetes, and incontinence in elderly men was associated with a higher risk of ADL disability in the 70 - 79 age group (p < 0.05), and this association was also observed for pulmonary disease in the 80-89 age group. Among elderly women, however, a significant association between incontinence and ADL disability was identified in all three age groups. In addition, this association was found in pulmonary disease and diabetes in elderly women aged 70 - 79 years. Significant gender differences were observed in the association between stroke in the 60 - 79 age group and cancer in the 70 - 79 age group. Conclusions: Age and gender differences were observed in the effect of chronic diseases on ADL disability.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.43-55
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was (a) to synthesize studies of condom use among South Korean college students, and (b) to appraise the quality of each article using Gough's weight of evidence. Methods: Studies published in English and Korean were searched in electronic databases using the terms "student or college student or university student or undergraduate", "condom", and "Korea*". Results: Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria, showed appropriate quality, and were therefore selected for review. The variables related to condom use were measured in terms of condom-related factors, factors related to non-condom-related knowledge and attitudes, and other factors. Knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy were associated with condom use, and there were differences in condom-related factors among men and women. Conclusion: Based on these findings, it was confirmed that sexual education is needed for both men and women to promote condom use. Education on condom use should not only focus directly on condoms, but should also address other aspects of knowledge and attitudes to influence health beliefs. In addition, developing educational programs targeting adolescents and parents will have a positive effect on college students' condom use.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.81-89
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• 2010

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between experience of hunger in childhood or adolescence and diabetes mellitus in old age. Methods: Stratified national samples of 421 men and 554 women aged 60-89 in South Korea were analyzed. Diabetes diagnosed by a doctor was used as the dependent variable. Experience of hunger in childhood was assessed with the question, "In your childhood, have you ever gone hungry with skipping a meal?" and "In your childhood, have you ever eaten porridge or some bran cake as main dish instead of rice because of lack of food?" Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated by multiple logistic regressions. Results: ORs of diabetes by experience of hunger in childhood were 1.64(95% CI 0.95-2.83) for men and 1.58(95% CI 1.01-2.47) for women. Significant association of experience of hunger in childhood with prevalence of diabetes persisted in men after adjustment for adulthood and old age socioeconomic position indicators and other risk factors(OR 1.88(95% CI 1.04-3.41)). The effect of experience of hunger in 10-19 years was more prominent than that in less than 10 years in both gender. Conclusion: Experience of hunger in childhood or adolescence may increase the risk of diabetes in Korean elders.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.53.1-53.15
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• 2023

Background: Plastics are high-molecular-weight materials composed of long carbon chains. They are prevalent in daily life, present in various items such as food containers and microwavable packaging. Phthalates, an additive used to enhance their flexibility, are endocrine-disrupting chemicals. We utilized the data from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) cycle 3, representing the general South Korean population, to investigate the relationship between the use of plastics in refrigerator food storage and phthalate exposure. Methods: We assessed 3,333 adult participants (aged ≥ 19 years) including 1,526 men and 1,807 women, using data from KoNEHS cycle 3. Using the 75th percentile concentration, urine phthalate metabolites were categorized into high and low-concentration groups. χ² test was conducted to analyze variations in the distribution of each variable, considering sociodemographic factors, health-related factors, food intake, the use of plastics, and the concentration of urine phthalate metabolites as the variables. To calculate odds ratios (ORs) for the high-concentration group of urine phthalate metabolites based on the use of plastics in refrigerator food storage, logistic regression analysis was conducted. Results: In men, the use of plastics in refrigerator food storage had significantly higher adjusted ORs compared to those using the others. The adjusted ORs were calculated as follows: mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP) had an OR of 1.35 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.72), mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) had an OR of 1.48 (95% CI: 1.16-1.88), mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP) had an OR of 1.32 (95% CI: 1.04-1.66), ∑di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (∑DEHP) had an OR of 1.37 (95% CI: 1.08-1.74) and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) had an OR of 1.44 (95% CI: 1.13-1.84). Conclusion: The concentrations of urine phthalate metabolites (MEHHP, MEOHP, MECPP, ∑DEHP, and MnBP) were significantly higher in men who used plastics in refrigerator food storage compared to those using the others.

• Journal of Bone Metabolism
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2015

Background: There has been lack of epidemiology of proximal humerus fracture using nationwide database in Asia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of proximal humerus fracture and its mortality following proximal humerus fracture in Korean over 50 years of age. Methods: The Korean National Health Insurance data were evaluated to determine the incidence and mortality of proximal humerus fracture aged 50 years or older from 2008 through 2012. Results: Proximal humerus fracture increased by 40.5% over 5 year of study. The incidence of fracture increased from 104.7/100,000 in 2008 to 124.7/100,000 in 2012 in women and from 45.3/100,000 in 2008 to 52.0/100,000 in 2012 in men, respectively. One year mortality rate after proximal humerus fracture was 8.0% in 2008 and 7.0% in 2012. One year mortality rate were 10.8% for men and 7.0% for women in 2008 and 8.5% for men and 6.4% for women in 2012. Conclusions: Our study showed that the proximal humerus fracture in elderly was recently increasing and associated with high mortality in Korea. Considering proximal humerus fracture was associated with an increased risk of associated fractures and an increased mortality risk, public health strategy to prevent the proximal humerus fracture in elderly will be mandatory.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.175-184
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• 2017

Despite growing interest in Korean foods, South-east Asian consumers' perception and acceptance of Korean foods have not been well elucidated. This study was conducted to understand South-east Asian Muslim consumers' perception and acceptance of Korean foods and the association with their food neophobia level. Ninety-three Muslim consumers (mean ages 25.2, men 35.5%, women 64.5%) from Malaysia (72%), Indonesia (16.1%), and Singapore (11.9%) rated their degree of food neophobia as well as recognition and acceptance of representative Korean menu items. Background data such as duration of stay and Korean food consumption habits were collected. Overall, participants perceived Korean foods positively (4.04 on a 5-point hedonic scale). Most well-recognized Korean foods were gimbap and bulgogi, whereas less-known spicy foods such as ojingoe deopbap were most liked among items that were actually consumed. A neophobic group rated Korean foods less favorably than neutral and neophilic groups (p<0.05). Future studies are required to identify whether or not South-east Asian Muslim consumers' food neophobia is formed under the influence of religious regulations or reflect individual consumers' personal traits.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.1286-1297
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• 2002

This study was aimed at conducting a survey and analyzing its results on the purchase and wearing conditions and design preference of sports casual wear among women and men in their twenties and thirties according to region, gender, age and income. The survey was administered using a website and was conducted among the persons who purchased sports casual wear more than once a year. The statistical results were analyzed from 497 questionnaires of respondents residing in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, six metropolitan cities and other cities and provinces. The results of this study were summarized as follows. 1) Results of wearing conditions and preference of sports casual wear : The respondents of the survey answered that they had purchased 1 or 2 clothing items for a year and the order of buying the popular wear ranked sport shirt, jacket, trousers respectively. They chose mostly shades of gray, and the most favored design type were a chin collar, a set-in sleeves, a mixed type of band cuffs and elastic band, side zip-pockets, a full-zip front fastener, alight warm-up hood, and a small front upper chest type logo; 2)Analysis of the differences in purchase and wearing conditions in accordance with region, gender, age and income : The largest proportion of respondents who answered thar had purchased 4 or more clothing items for a year were Seoul residents and in particular the residents south of the Han river. The customers under thirty usually obtained their information about sports casual wear by visiting stores in person. The men obtain a variety of information through printed materials and related Internet sites; 3) Analysis of preferential differences of the detailed partial design : The purchasers in their 20's preferred black white, and gray patterns, however that preference shifted for those in their late 20's and the preference for pastel colors increased. The purchasers in their 20's and mid 30's had a preference for a chin collar and an eight-shaped zip type pockets. The men preferred a band cuff and a detachable hood type but women favored an elastic band and a light warm-up hood type.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2019

Purpose: Alcohol use in South Korean women, particularly college students, is increasing. Women are more vulnerable than men to alcohol use, which puts them at greater risk of physical and psychosocial problems. Some studies have reported that on failing to find meaning in life, many South Korean college students experience depression, subsequently using alcohol as a coping mechanism. This study aimed to develop a logotherapeutic program and identify its effects on meaning in life, depression, and problem drinking among female college students. Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental trial. The participants were female college students who scored over 8 in the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Twenty-four students were assigned to the experimental group and twenty-three to the control group. Three scales were used in this study: the Purpose in Life test, Beck Depression Inventory, and AUDIT. The data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test in SPSS/WIN 12.0. Results: After the conclusion of the logotherapeutic program, the level of meaning in life and depression were more greatly improved in the experimental group than the control group. Conclusion: The logotherapeutic program is an effective method to help female college students find meaning in life and reduce depression in this population.