• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.155-176
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• 2014

The previous researches of gambling have been rather focused on the legal gambling industry and gambling addiction and ignored the issue of illegal gambling. But, illegal gambling in Korea has been continuously growing in its volume and the numbers of the relevant mental and social problems such as gambling addiction, crimes, suicides, and etc. have been increasing rapidly. The present study investigated the psychological characteristics of illegal gamblers with comparing gamblers who never experienced illegal gambling (NE), who experienced illegal gambling but participate mainly in legal gambling (EIG), and who participate mainly in illegal gambling (MIG). 1317 NEs, 177 EIGs, and 37 MIGs were recruited and completed an online survey that measured individual dispositions (risk-taking tendency, regulatory focus, locus of control), attitudes towards gambling regulations, misconception of illegal gambling, motives (monetary, excitement, socialization), and emotions. First, EIGs and MIGs, compared to NEs, preferred risk-taking, and EIGs were more promotion focused than NEs. Also, EIGs perceived illegal gambling as less illegal and tended to hold more misconceptions about illegal gambling, compared to NEs. Furthermore, EIGs and MIGs had stronger monetary and excitement motivation than NEs. Finally, MIGs were more likely to feel anxious than other groups. Focusing on the illegality of gambling, the characteristics of illegal gamblers are discussed and political implication on illegal gambling is suggested.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.385-410
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• 2018

Materialistic values can be a important variable to understand Koreans' psychological well-being and mental health. This study aimed to validate the Korean version of the Material Values Scale (K-MVS)(Richins & Dawson, 1992). In study 1, we performed confirmatory factor analysis(CFA) to ascertain the three factor model of the original MVS using 417 Korean undergraduate student data(sample 1). The CFA confirmed the three-factor model of the MVS. Yet, three items that yielded low factor loadings in this study as well as in other MVS validation studies were excluded from the final model. In study 2, content, construct, and concurrent validity of the K-MVS were examined with 650 undergraduate student data(Sample 2). We also tested measurement invariance across two groups(i.e., college student group of Sample 2 and employee group of Sample 3). The result revealed that the three-factor model of the K-MVS hold true across the two groups. Lastly test-retest reliability was calculated with 408 female college student data(Sample 4) that filled out K-MVS twice within 6 months. These findings suggest that the K-MVS is a reliable and valid measure for assessing materialistic values in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1-19
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to examine the family perception according to abused children's sex, age, and abusive type. The subjects were 45 abused children including 15 physically abused, 15 neglected, and 15 physically and emotionally abused children from age 7 to 14. The results were that boys showed more noncomplient behaviors to their parents, more concerns and more rejective behaviors to examination. Girls perceived their mothers as stressors more than those of boys. School-aged children perceived their mothers as allies than those of adolescents. Adolescents showed more rejective behaviors to examination and more anger. Physically and emotionally abused children experienced more family conflicts and showed more negative resolutions, and more noncomplient behaviors than those of abused children. Neglected children showed more depressive mood than those of abused children.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2008

The present study was to investigate the developmental change of adolescent's theory of mind. In addition, the relations between theory of mind and the social competence were investigated. Sixty students in each the 6th and 8th grade group were participated in this study. Adolescents' understanding of mind were measured by four kinds of mindreading tasks; the second-order false belief tasks, understanding the ambiguous social behaviors tasks, understading the hidden meaning of a figurative statement tasks, and the "faux pas" tasks. Social skills were measured by social skill scales. Eighth graders performed better than the 6th graders on the understanding the ambiguous social behaviors tasks and faux pas tasks but not on the second-order false belief tasks and understanding the hidden meaning of figurative statement tasks. The results suggests that the mindreading ability continues to develop during the adolescence, especially the ability to interpret others' ambiguous social behaviors by reading their mental states and the ability to understand that a person says a faux pas it is due to a mistaken belief. In addition, the understanding the ambiguous social behaviors tasks was found to be the best task to predict social behaviors. The results suggests that the mindreading ability would be a significant explanatory factor on social competence.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.339-357
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• 2009

As quickly becoming an ageing society in Korea, this study aims to investigate how family caregivers' burden with demented patients and social supports are related to their health and quality of life, and the interaction of caregiving burden and social supports on caregivers' health and quality of life. The participants were 207 family caregivers (106 females) of demented patients lived in Seoul, Kyunggi, and Chungcheong areas, whose average of age were 51.62 ( SD=9.25). The psychological tests used in this research included the following: Multidimensional Caregiver Burden Inventory, Chon's Physical Symptom Questionnaire, Hahn & Jang's Perceived Health Inventory, Negative Affect Self-Statement Questionnaire, and the Korean Version of Cambell's Subjective Well-being Scale, Social Support Survey in Medical Outcomes Study, and Kwon's Questionnaire for Maladjusted Problems of Demented. Results indicated that caregivers' burden with demented patient related to physical symptoms and depression positively, and perceived health and subjective well-being negatively. Social supports showed moderate effects on influences of caregiving burden in perceived health, depression, and subjective well-being of family caregivers with demented patients. It was identified the possibility of their buffering effect on negative results of caregiving burden with demented patients. Since caregiving burden accounted for the 34% of the variances for family caregivers' physical symptoms and depression, researchers discussed the promotion and intervention of their health and quality of life. Beside of different effects of social supports with level of caregiving burden, with previous studies it was discussed some saliant findings such as family caregivers with patients who showed severe dementia symptoms were perceiving even less supports from others.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2010

This study examines the characteristics of traffic accidents involving elderly pedestrians by analyzing relevant data vis-à-vis fatal pedestrian accidents and proposes solutions to reduce such accidents. We analyzed 3,853 cases of fatal accidents involving elderly pedestrians and 1,786 cases involving younger pedestrian (these cases reflect accidents that occurred from 2005 to 2008). The results show that accidents involving the elderly occur more frequently in rural areas than urban areas, especially in autumn; this condition applies even in situations where the elderly exhibit compensation behaviors such as walking on safer roads. We found that elderly pedestrians exhibit a defective behavior in crossing roads, especially in complicated road conditions where intersections and turning/reversing vehicles represent a menacing threat. These characteristics could be explained by the degenerated physical/mental ability of the elderly and by psychological factors such as reduced level of self-confidence.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.14 no.1_spc
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• pp.427-468
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• 2008

This article examines the role and influence of educational achievement on Korean society and its future. Four major factors that associated with and influence educational achievement in Korea (i.e., trust, efficacy beliefs, quality of life, and societal transformation) are reviewed. First, the role of educational achievement on establishing a basis for trust in Korean society is examined. By reviewing studies of perception of Korean society, people and institutions, the importance of establishing trust in Korean society is outlined. Second, the role of efficacy belief in promoting educational achievement is examined. The importance of collective efficacy, at the adolescent, adult and political levels is emphasized. In addition, the concept and application of self-efficacy for teachers and parents is reviewed. Third, the role and influence of educational achievement on quality of life is outlined. Studies indicate that educational achievement plays an important role in improving the quality of life. The pressure to achieve, however, can have negative impact on stress and mental health and support systems need to be developed to alleviate their impact. Fourth, the future and prospects for Korean society through educational achievement is discussed. Through education, the importance of bridging the divide with North Korea is an important agenda for the future of Korean society. Finally, the importance of indigenous psychological perspective in understanding Korean society and providing direction for the future is discussed.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.739-747
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• 2024

The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between nursing students' COVID-19-related knowledge, perception of infection risk, and health beliefs and infection prevention behaviors, and to identify the factors influencing COVID-19 prevention behaviors, and to provide the necessary basic data for the preparation of measures to improve the infection prevention behaviors of nursing students. Data were collected from 161 nursing students 4th in G city. Data analysis was analyzed by descriptive statistics, Independant t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis using the SPSS 21.0 program.. AS a result of this study, Preventive Behaviors was found to have significant positive correlations with COVID-19 Risk Perception(r=.217, p=.006), Health Belief Model of Perceived benefit(r=.206, p=.009) and negative correlations with Perceived barriers(r=-.219, p=.005). The most influential factors the Preventive Behaviors of nursing students were the Perceived benefit (β=.17, p<.001), mental health status after COVID-19(β=.188, p=.014), and these factors explained 58% in Preventive Behaviors(F=9.686, p=.000). In conclusion, it is expected that nursing students' health belief promotion programs, infection-related curriculum, and emotional support programs can be developed and applied to improve the degree of infection prevention behaviors.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.75-99
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• 2023

The current study aimed to explore the suicidal behaviors and risk factors of completed suicides using psychological autopsy and use them as index variables to classify suicidal types. In addition, this study looked into the influential factors that affect each suicidal type. related to suicidal behaviors and suicidal risk factors by psychological autopsy. In addiction, the distinctions among the classes were analyzed. For this, psychological autopsies were conducted on the families and the close ones of 128 completed suicides. Then, the index variables were finally chosen for classifying suicidal types. The selected index variables for suicidal risk factors were mental disorders, suicide/self-harm, significant changes in physical appearance, marital conflict, adjustment and relationship issues at work/school, unemployment/layoff, jobless status and serious financial problems. The selected index variables for suicidal behaviors were expressing their suicidal attempts, writing suicidal notes, asking for help, the time/place/method of suicidal behavior, past suicidal/self-harm experience and the first person who witnessed the suicide. The Latent Class Analysis(LCA) and the 3-step method were used for classifying suicidal types. Then external variables(financial changes, cohabitation, existence of stressors, changes in stress level or relationships and family members with mental disorder/alchohol problems/ physical disorders, and work/school stisfaction) were applied for distinguishing classes. As a result, 5 classes(financial problems, adjustment problems, complex problems, psychiatric problems, and response to event[s]) were revealed on suicidal behaviors and 3 classes(residence- suicidal attempt- found by family, nonresidence- nonsuicidal attempt- found by acquaintances, residence- nonsuicidal attempt- found by family) were presented on suicidal risk factors. External variables such as gender, marital status, cohabitation, changes in relationships significantly differentiated among the 3 classes. Especially, class 3(residence- nonsuicidal attempt- found by family) tended to cohabit with others, were married, and had a significantly high level of interpersonal conflicts. When comparing the 5 classes of suicidal risk factors, auxiliary variables such as economic changes, cohabitation, stress, relationship changes, and family-related problems, and school/work satisfaction significantly differentiated the 5 classes. Especially class 3 (complex problems) experienced comparatively less family-related problems, but showed an aggravating level of personal stress. Suicial prevention strategies should be provided considering the characteristics of each class and the influential factors.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.227-252
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• 2015

This study was intended to examine child abuse experience, response to child abuse, perception of the cause of child abuse, and need for counseling to prevent and eliminate child abuse among 514 day care center teachers across the country. First, 17.9% (92) of the teachers had experience of witnessing child abuse at day care centers. After such witness, the teachers mostly "paid attention to abused children and provided them with warm treatment" when they were abused by other teachers and "took no actions" when they were abused by directors of the day care centers. The biggest reason of not taking any actions was: they "had no authority to intervene in child care of other teachers" in case of child abuse by other teachers and "were afraid of responsibilities or roles that could be placed on them after reporting" in case of child abuse by day care center directors. Second, the biggest reason of child abuse by teachers was job stress followed by excessive work and mental health of teachers. Third, necessary actions when child abuse cases were found and confirmed were suspension of involved teachers and psychological evaluation for involved children and parents. Fourth, 88.9% (457) of the teachers responded that they would use an organization specialized in child abuse if such organization was built and that the organization would help them to decide on whether to report child abuse and prevention of and intervention in child abuse. They also said that such organization should be installed in the Counseling Center in the Comprehensive Child Care Support Center. Fifth, 95.3% (490) of the teachers answered professional counselors specialized in development and counseling of infants and toddlers were needed to address child abuse at day care centers. They demanded that such counselors should be able to administer psychological evaluation for young children and assess child abuse cases. Qualification of the counselors was at least college graduates who majored in psychology and child care, three to five years of experience in the field, and appropriate certificates or licenses. Finally, the teachers said that training and professional counseling about child abuse were required to prevent and eliminate child abuse at day care centers. Implications and follow-up studies were provided and suggested based on these findings.