• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 2011

Objectives: The present study aims to investigate the effects of physical illness on depression in North Korean Defectors. Methods: One hundred forty-four North Korean Defectors(20 males, 124 females) and 376 South Koreans 133 males, 243 females) in Incheon Metropolitan areas participated the present study. Face-to-face interview was conducted for demographic information including presence of physical illnesses. To investigate depressive symptoms, all participants were required to complete the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale (CES-D). Results: After controlling gender, age, marital status, educational year, employment status and physical illness, North Korean Defectors showed higher CES-D score than South Koreans(${\beta}$=0.449, p<0.001). Within North Korean Defectors, the presence of physical illnesses independently was related to higher CES-D score(${\beta}$=0.243, p<0.001). However, within South Koreans, the presence of physical illnesses did not significantly predict CES-D score. North Korean Defectors with physical illness have higher CES-D score than North Korean Defectors without physical illness($26.8{\pm}13.8$ versus $19.7{\pm}12.7$). However, there was no significant differences of CES-D score between South Koreans with physical illness and South Koreans without physical illness($10.3{\pm}9.8$ versus $9.3{\pm}8.8$). Conclusion: Compared to South Koreans, North Korean Defector showed higher depressive symptoms independently from gender, age, education, employment, marriage. In addition, only North Korean Defectors showed the relationship between depression and physical illness. Our study suggests that depression should be assessed when North Korean Defectors have physical illness.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.416-429
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• 2020

Objectives: This study examined the personal, interpersonal and community factors related to food sufficiency and variety among Korean adults using data from the 2017 Community Health Survey. Methods: A total of 228,310 adults aged ≥ 19 years were classified into three groups: food sufficiency with variety, food sufficiency without variety and food insufficiency. Personal factors included sociodemographic characteristics, health behavior and health status. Interpersonal factors included social networking and social activities, and community factors included safety, natural environment, living environment, availability of public transportation and health care services. The association of food sufficiency and variety with interpersonal and community factors was assessed using multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results: Of the total sample, the food-sufficiency-without-variety group and food insufficiency group accounted for 31.5% and 3.2%, respectively. The sociodemographic factors associated with food insufficiency and non-variety were women, ≥ 65 years of age, with low education level, low household income, unemployed, single, and living in areas of small population sizes. There were significant differences in health behavior and health status, interpersonal and community factors among the three groups. Multivariable logistic regression analyses conducted after adjusting for confounding factors showed that lack of social networking and social activities and lower satisfaction derived from community environments were associated with the risk of food insufficiency and non-variety. Conclusions: Our results showed that interpersonal and community factors as well as personal factors were related to food sufficiency and variety. Therefore, public policies to help build social networks and participation in social activities, and improve community environment are needed together with food assistance to overcome the problems of food insufficiency and non-variety.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2011

This study not only investigates emergency medical personnel's posttraumatic stress(PTS), social support, work burden, and coping style but also identifies related factors which were exerted influence on PTS and active coping method of emergency medical personnels among the firefighters. The data were gathered from 143 emergency medical personnels who were receiving training. The data were collected by IES-R, consisting of twenty-two questions that determine the level of PTS, method used in Cho's research(2000) that deal with work burden, method used in Oh's article (2006) relating to social support, and sixty-two questions that deals with coping methods. Then the data gathered were analyzed using SPSSWIN 14.0 program. PTS of general characteristics showed significant difference in age, marriage status, education, and position. High risk group of PTS was 74(51.7%). Work burden, active and passive coping method, and three symptoms in PTS are significantly high(p=0.000) in high risk group. PTS was correlated with work burden(r=0.508, p=0.000), active coping method(r=0.375, p=0.000), and passive coping method(r=0.505, p=0.000) but not with social support. Related factors of PTS were work burden(0.371) and passive coping method(0.366). Also related factors of high risk group of PTS were work burden(odds ratio=1.064, 95% confidence interval:1.031-1.103) and passive coping(odds ratio=1.050, 95% confidence interval:1.022-1.080). Related factors of active coping method were PTS(0.392) and social support(0.158). To minimize the PTS of emergency medical personnels, the new policy should decrease their work burden and passive coping method and strengthen the social support to encourage active coping method.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.217-226
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the nutrient intake and dietary habits based on breakfast consumption in Korean adolescents. Methods: The data of the 2013 ~ 2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) were used in this study. The analysis included 1,281 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years. The subjects were divided into two groups (EBF: eating breakfast, n = 911; SBF: skipping breakfast, n = 370). Results: The EBF group was significantly younger than the SBF group. In addition, the EBF group had a significantly lower frequency of skipping dinner than the SBF group. The EBF group consumed significantly higher levels of most nutrients except for vitamin A than the SBF group. The percent of nutrient intake under the EAR (estimated average requirements) in the EBF group were also significantly lower than that in the SBF group. Moreover, the NAR (nutrient adequacy ratio) and MAR (mean adequacy ratio) of the EBF group were significantly higher than those of the SBP group. The intake of cereal, sugars and sweeteners, vegetables, and eggs in the EBF group was significantly higher than that in the SBF group. Conclusion: The habit of skipping breakfast in adolescents leads to a decrease in the total nutrient intake and imbalanced dietary habits. Breakfast consumption in adolescence is very important. Therefore, more studies will be needed to develop nutrition education systematically in Korean adolescents.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.39-53
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• 2021

Purpose: This study examined the dietary behavior, health status and nutrient intake by considering the level of household income of elderly people using data obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES VII) 2018. Methods: The study subjects were 1,355 elderly people over 65 years old (558 men, 797 women). Based on their household income, participants were classified into three groups: low-income, middle-income, and high-income. The variables consisted of general characteristics, dietary behavior, health status, health related behavior, and dietary intakes. Dietary data were estimated by the 24-hour dietary recall. Results: In men, the low-income group encompassed older, less educated, less employed, and living with family of first generation. However, in women, there were no differences in employment by the level of income, and women living alone had lower income than subjects living with family. Elderly men in the high-income group had a significantly higher level of nutrient intake (energy, protein, fat, phosphorous, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C). Men in the low-income group consumed a significantly lower intake of fruits, seaweeds and eggs, including total food. Women in the low-income group had significantly less intake of protein, fat, calcium, phosphorous, iron, vitamin A, riboflavin, and niacin whereas women in the high-income group had significantly higher intake of sugar & sweet, eggs, and beverages, including total food. Conclusion: These results suggest that the level of household income is an important factor that influences food and nutrient intake in the Korean elderly. The socioeconomic status needs to be considered differently among elderly men and women when implementing food assistant programs and designing nutrition education programs.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.676-687
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in portion size of 11 types of foods that Korean adults frequently consume, based on the parameters of eating place, gender, and age using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data. Methods: The dietary survey data from 2012-2016 KNHANES was used. A total of 19,779 subjects (8,034 male [40.6%], 11,745 female [59.4%]) were classified based on gender, three age groups (19-29 years old [15.7%], 30-49 years old [46.9%], 50-64 years old [37.4%]) and three eating places (home, institution, and restaurants/convenient stores etc.). Results: The portion sizes according to the eating places were calculated as per the median intake of Korean adults. Foods that showed the highest median intake in restaurants/convenience stores were boiled rice and kimchi stew. The median intake quantity of kimchi stew was the highest in restaurants/convenience stores in men across most age groups. Women in 30-49 years age group also consumed a lot of kimchi stew in restaurants/convenience stores. Men in the age groups 30-49 and 50-64 years consumed soybean paste stew the most in institutions compared to home and restaurants/convenient stores. Stir-fried pork was consumed the most at institutional meal places across all age groups. Conclusion: The portion sizes of kimchi stew and boiled rice were the highest in restaurants/convenience stores. As kimchi stew and soybean paste stew is high in sodium, the intake should be reduced in institutions and restaurants/convenience stores. Furthermore, it is necessary to reduce sodium intake through consumer nutrition education and the development of low-salt standard recipes for restaurants.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.14-26
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• 2020

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of therapeutic listening on task performance, auditory behavior problems, and attention in children with sensory modulation disorder. Methods : Sixteen children aged four to seven years who were classified as children with sensory modulation disorder were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n = 8) or the control group (n = 8). From July 1 to October 18, 2017, both groups participated in sensory integration programs, while therapeutic listening training was administered only to the experimental group. Sensory integration therapy was conducted in two sessions per week for six weeks (12 sessions); each session consisted of 40 minutes of therapy and 10 minutes of parent education. Therapeutic listening was conducted in three thirty-minute sessions per week for six weeks (18 sessions). We used the Canadian Occupation Performance Measure (COPM) to evaluate changes in the participants' occupational performance between pre- and post-intervention. We used Fisher's Auditory Problems Checklist (FAPC) to observe changes in behavioral problems related to hearing. The Child Attention Scale for Teacher (CAST) was used to evaluate changes in attention. Results : No significant differences pre- and post-intervention between the two groups were observed. The participants' auditory behavioral problems improved significantly in the experimental group, but no significant difference was found between the two groups. There was no significant difference in attention between the two groups, but there was a significant difference between the two groups in the "adaptability" and "emotion" domains (p < .05). Conclusion : The results suggest that therapeutic listening training has a positive effect on reducing problematic behaviors related to hearing and improving the occupational performance of children with sensory modulation disorder. This study provides a basis for improving the sensory processing ability of children with sensory modulation disorder by applying listening training in the clinical field and at home.

• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2020

The ASF, which originated in Africa and threatens the world, landed in Asia in 2018 in China, and became a stern threat to the security of the Korean Peninsula when North Korea officially reported the ASF to the OIE in May 2019. In 1921, Montgomery, a British veterinary pathologist, made headlines by naming the African swine fever "African Swine Fever," or ASF, a disease caused by a high fatality virus that existed in East Africa. The ASF, which was a pandemic of endemic diseases in Africa, landed in Portgal around 1957 and swept through farms in Lisbon, Portugal. The ASF continued to settle in Spain and Portugal, causing 40 years of damage until the end of the 1990s, and is now in progress after landing on the Italian island of Sardinia in 1978. The virus, which landed in Portiport of Georgia on the Black Sea coast of the Black Sea in 2007, spread to Russia and caused massive damage to China in 2018, then rapidly spread to Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar in May 2019 and spread across the country, causing massive damage to the pork industry and is now in progress. Just three months after confirming the outbreak in North Korea, the outbreak at farms in Paju and Yeoncheon was confirmed on Sept. 16, 2019, leaving South Korea with the stigma of ASF-causing countries, and although the ASF's nationwide expansion has been blocked, it is currently underway in wild boars. If the ongoing ASF in the two Koreas becomes indigenous, it would be a major disaster not only for the pork industry but also for the Korean Peninsula economy. Under the current circumstances, it is impossible to focus only on veterinary areas limited to South Korea, ruling out risk factors from the ASF outbreak. Currently, it is difficult to prevent damage to the pork industry due to the ASF outbreak due to the poor water defense reality in North Korea, and as it is adjacent to China, which has a high risk of developing various epidemic diseases, there is a need for the two Koreas to jointly conduct quarantine and quarantine on the border areas. First of all, I think rapid exchange of information and education on ASF and other diseases is necessary before establishing a joint defense system on the Korean Peninsula. It is important to conduct thorough quarantine and disinfection of ASF-generated areas in North Korea, and areas bordering China and Russia, and jointly conduct thorough quarantine and control of livestock and livestock products in circulation. Cooperation by the South and North Korean water defense industries to prevent the protracted ASF on the Korean Peninsula by all means and methods is essential.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.400-413
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• 2018

Purpose: This study examined the association between the antioxidant vitamin intake and obesity in Korean women. Methods: Adult women aged ${\geq}19years$ who completed a health examination and nutrition survey from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2007 ~ 2016 were selected for the study (n = 30,425). A BMI ${\geq}25kg/m^2$ and waist circumference ${\geq}85cm$ were defined as obesity and abdominal obesity, respectively. The individual antioxidant vitamin intake was estimated by linking the antioxidant vitamin composition database of commonly consumed foods and the subjects' 24-hour recall food consumption data. Carotenoids, retinol, vitamin A (retinol activity equivalent), vitamin C, tocopherols, and vitamin E (${\alpha}$-tocopherol equivalent) were included in the analysis. Each vitamin intake was converted to the nutrient density per 1,000 kcal. Odds ratio (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for obesity according to each tertile of the nutrient density was obtained from multiple logistic regression adjusted for age, household income, education level, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity. Results: The mean intake of ${\alpha}$-carotene, retinol, vitamin E, ${\alpha}$-tocopherol, and ${\gamma}$-tocopherol per 1,000 kcal was significantly lower in the obese group than in the normal group. A higher intake of lycopene was inversely associated with obesity (highest vs. lowest; OR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.83-0.96) and abdominal obesity (highest vs. lowest; OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.81-0.95). Higher intakes of ${\alpha}$-carotene, total carotenoids, vitamin A, and ${\gamma}$-tocopherol also had a negative relationship with abdominal obesity. The antioxidant vitamin intakes from eggs, milk and dairy products, seasoning, and grains were significantly lower in the obese group than in the normal group. Conclusion: This study showed that the dietary intake of antioxidant vitamins was inversely associated with obesity and abdominal obesity among Korean women. Further study will be needed to examine the causal relationship between the antioxidant vitamin and obesity.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.114-124
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• 1999

Purpose : To clarify the relation between psychosocial variables and cancer in Korea. Methods : Case-control study. Participants: 239 subjects in 2 university hospitals in Seoul completed a series of psychometric instruments(the Olson's FACES III and the Lee's 98-items life event scale). Results : In bivariable analysis, there were statistically significant difference in age and economic status(income): marginal significance in education status and marital status between the cases and controls. The family function type and stress score were not significantly different. The result of multivariable logistic regression, analysis showed that the risk of cancer was associated with economic status and marital status, but neither the family function nor the life event stress. Conclusion : In this study, we cannot prove the statistical association between the family function, life event stress and cancer. It is necessary to persevere in our efforts to clarify the relation between stress and disease and to develop the useful tools to measure the Korean family function and life event stress.