• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.104-111
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• 2022

Background: The IMPPAC cohort (Implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychosocial aspects and work ability among Brazilian workers) seeks to understand the impact of the pandemic on Brazilian workers. This article describes the occupational profile, psychosocial aspects, and work ability determined during the baseline and follow-up measurements of the cohort. Methods: Workers were invited to participate through media advertisements, social networks, and emails. From June to September 2020, 1211 workers were included in the cohort. Follow-up measurements finished on October 2021 with 633 workers. Data were collected through standardized questionnaires using Google Forms. Psychosocial aspects were assessed using the COPSOQ II-Br. Work ability was assessed using the Work Ability Index (WAI). Results: At baseline and follow-up, high proportion of workers were in the risk zone with regard to work pace, emotional work demands, influence on work, work-family conflict, burnout, and stress. Approximately 75% of the workers reported good to excellent work ability at baseline and follow-up. Conclusion: The occupational profile, psychosocial aspects, and work ability of Brazilian workers from the IMPPAC cohort were described. Psychosocial aspects and WAI were similar at baseline and follow-up.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.165-176
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• 2017

Objective: Delinquent peers are important predictors of adolescent delinquent behavior. Few studies have classified individuals into groups based on patterns of delinquent behavior among youth and their peers. This study identified latent groups based on adolescent-peer delinquency and examined psychosocial characteristics of each latent group. Methods: First, the study employed latent class analysis based on a nationally representative data of South Korean middle school students (N = 2,277). Both adolescent and peer delinquent behaviors comprised 13 items in the questionnaire that was self-reported by adolescents. Second, the study used multivariate regression models to analyze psychosocial symptoms of latent groups and conducted Wald tests to compare differences among latent groups. Results: Patterns of adolescent-peer delinquency were classified into six latent groups. "Mutual total delinquent group (1.2%)" showed high rates in most delinquent experiences. "Mutual status delinquent group (5.7%)" mainly experienced status delinquency, "Mutual violence delinquent group (5.3%)" showed high rates of violent delinquency. "Peer-only total high delinquent group (3.8%)" reported friends to have engaged in all types of delinquency and "Peer-only total medium delinquent group (11.8%)" reported peer involvement in multiple status and few violent delinquency. Finally, "low risk group (72.2%)" reported low rates of delinquency for themselves and their friends. Regression analysis showed that every "mutual" delinquent group presented significantly worse psychosocial problems than the "low risk group." Conclusion: Using person centered latent class analysis, this study classified six latent classes while considering both delinquent agents and various types of delinquency and investigated specific groups with greater risk of psychosocial problems.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.413-421
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• 2023

Objectives: This study explored the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on psychosocial stress in prime working-age individuals in Korea, focusing on gender inequalities. We hypothesized that the impact of COVID-19 on mental health would differ by age and gender, with younger women potentially demonstrating heightened vulnerability relative to men. Methods: The study involved data from the Korea Community Health Survey and included 319 592 adults aged 30 years to 49 years. We employed log-binomial regression analysis, controlling for variables including age, education, employment status, marital status, and the presence of children. The study period included 3 phases: the period prior to the COVID-19 outbreak (pre-COVID-19), the early pandemic, and the period following the introduction of vaccinations (post-vaccination). Results: The findings indicated that women were at a heightened risk of psychosocial stress during the early pandemic (relative risk [RR], 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.98 to 1.05) and post-vaccination period (RR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.10) compared to men. This pattern was prominent in urban women aged 30-34 years (pre-COVID-19: RR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.10; early pandemic: RR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.25; post-vaccination period, RR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.31). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted unequal impacts on psychosocial stress among prime working-age individuals in Korea, with women, particularly those in urban areas, experiencing a heightened risk. The findings highlight the importance of addressing gender-specific needs and implementing appropriate interventions to mitigate the psychosocial consequences of the pandemic.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.119-136
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• 2002

This study examined teacher's perceptions of the psychosocial adjustment and problem behaviors of institutionalized children compared with home reared children. Data were collected from the teachers of institutionalized children in elementary and secondary schools. The majority of institutionalized children were regarded as not very much different from home reared children. Still, findings from this study lead to conclusions that institutionalization is likely to elevate children's risk for adjustment problems such as social withdrawal, peer violence, and academic failure. Findings that the ratio of institutionalized children attending school decreased with age lead to speculation that failure in psychosocial adjustment may lead to to dropping out of school. Finally, a practical framework for the optimal development of institutionalized children is provided, with emphasis on school-community based interventions.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.57-67
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• 2009

The psychosocial stress and musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs) have been one of major health problems for hospital workers. This study tried to understand the relationship between symptoms associated with MSDs and risk factors such as working posture, job stress, psychosocial stress and fatigue. A total number of 655 hospital workers participated in this study. Specifically, REBA was applied for evaluating working posture and a checklist prepared by KOSHA(Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency) was used for symptom survey. A questionnaire from KOSHA was also used for collecting data associated with job stress, psychosocial stress and fatigue. All these data were formulated and modeled by path analysis which was one of major statistical tools in this study. Specifically, path analysis for the data we collected came up with several major findings. As a result, as for body part(neck), (waist) and (arms) the degree of risk of work posture measured with the use of job stress(KOSS), psycho-social stress(PWI-SF) and REBA is significantly more affected by fatigue than muscular skeletal disease related consciousness symptom. However, regarding bod(wrist), the degree of risk of work posture measured with the use of job stress(KOSS) and REBA is directly affected by muscular skeletal disease related consciousness symptom. This study is meaningful in that the study clarified the causal relations of the degree of risk of work posture, degree of fatigue, and muscular skeletal disease related consciousness symptoms by each body part measured with the use of work stress(KOSS), psycho-social stress(PWI-SF) and REBA.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.390-402
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• 2009

This study aimed to examine the general characteristics of individual workers, psychosocial working environment, and ergonomic risk factors which affect the status of musculoskeletal disorders. Self-report was carried out for musculoskeletal symptoms and ergonomic risks in working environment in 856 production workers in 16 small to medium sized manufacturing companies. Musculoskeletal symptoms were examined with a standardized questionnaire, and ergonomic risks were evaluated with a qualitative self-administered instrument for the tasks related to musculoskeletal disorders. Major findings were as follows: 1) Complaint rate for musculoskeletal symptoms was higher in female, aged, married workers with longer working hours, less leisure/hobby activity, longer household working hours and history of disease or accident. 2) Complaint rate for musculoskeletal symptoms was significantly higher in workers with dissatisfaction, difficult tasks, and no self-control at work. 3) Complaint rate for musculoskeletal symptoms was significantly higher in workers involved in tasks with major ergonomic risk factors, and handling heavy equipment. 4) Explanatory power increased the model with the musculoskeletal symptoms as dependent variable and demographic variables, psychosocial working environment and ergonomic risk factors included, and total explanatory power of 18.6% revealed the significant effect. Based on the results, we can conclude that musculoskeletal symptoms in manufacturing workers are associated with individual demographic characteristics, psychosocial working environment and ergonomic risk factors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.501-516
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• 2014

Background: Our aim was to identify gaps and limitations in the current literature and to make recommendations for future research required to address these. Materials and Methods: We reviewed occupational exposures and related factors associated with the risk of prostate cancer between 2000 and 2012. These included chemical, ergonomic, physical or environmental, and psychosocial factors which have been reported by epidemiological studies across a range of industries. Results: The results are inconsistent from study to study and generally this is due to the reliance upon the retrospectivity of case-control studies and prevalence (ecological) studies. Exposure assessment bias is a recurring limitation of many of the studies in this review. Conclusions: We consider there is insufficient evidence to implicate prostate cancer risk for ergonomic, physical, environmental or psychosocial factors, but there is sufficient evidence to implicate toxic metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). More research is required to identify specific pesticides that may be associated with risk of prostate cancer.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.301-312
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• 2015

This study was conducted to provide baseline database to develop intervention program by investigating the relationship among body image, general appearance management behaviors and psychosocial health of female undergraduates'. From Sep. to Oct. 2014, total 198 participants were enrolled in this study. The data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 program. The results were as follows: 1) The score of body image was $3.12{\pm}1.06$ in 5 points. Subjects had a lot of make-up and clothes behaviors, but exercise, food intake behaviors were lowerer than average. Also, psychosocial health score was $2.99{\pm}0.10$ point in 4 points. Whole 73.2% was latent risk group, and 25.8% was high risk group. 2) The relationship between the body image and general appearance management behaviors (p<0.001) and psychosocial health(p<0.001) revealed significant positive correlation. In general appearance management behaviors, there was a significant positive correlation between sub categories. And psychosocial health was positive correlation with body image and hair management behavior. 4) 14.4% of the psychosocial health was explained by 3 variables : body image, health interest and grade. Therefore, it would be utilized in developing programs for the positive body image building by interest own health, and being helped in the psychosocial health.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.269-290
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of psychosocial protective and risk factors on problem drinking among American adolescents. In addition, this study investigated the compensatory and buffering effects of psychosocial protective factors. The sample consisted 4,362 10th graders taken from the Monitoring the Future Study 2002. This study performed the hierarchical regression analysis for data analyses. The main findings provided that friend influence, sensation-seeking, and tolerance of deviance had significant positive relationships with problem drinking as risk factors. This study also revealed that negative perception on drinking, parental bonding, school bonding, and prosocial activity had significant direct impacts in decreasing problem drinking, which explains the compensatory effect of protective factors. Additionally, this study showed that negative perception on drinking had a significant buffering effect moderating friend influence on adolescents' opportunities exposed to problem drinking. The results of this study suggest some practical implications for preventive intervention programs that target adolescent problem drinking.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.438-444
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• 2023

Background: To examine the influences of psychosocial work conditions on mental health risk and intention to leave the public sector among workers of public health agencies in Taiwan. Methods: We surveyed 492 public health workers in March 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Information on job demands, job control, workplace justice, experiences of workplace violence and its type and origin, and mental health status (assessed by the 5-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale, BSRS-5) was obtained. Of them, 192 participated in a follow-up survey conducted in May 2023 that assessed mental health status, employment changes, and intention to leave. Results: In the initial survey, 32.93% of participants reported poor mental health status, defined by having a score of BSRS-5 ≧ 10, and 48.17% experienced some form of workplace violence over the past year. Notably, high psychosocial job demands (OR = 3.64, 95% CI = 1.93-6.87), low workplace justice (OR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.45-4.58), and workplace violence (OR = 2.38, 95% CI = 1.51-3.77) were significantly associated with increased risk of mental disorders. Among those who participated in the followup survey, 22.40% had persistent poor mental health, and 30.73% considered leaving or have left the public sector. Longitudinal analyses indicated that job demands predicted persistent mental disorders and intention to leave the public sector, and the experience of workplace violence added additional mental health risks. Conclusion: The public health workforce is crucial for effective and resilient public health systems. Our findings that public health workers were at high mental health risk and had a high intention to leave the job warrant attention and policy interventions.