• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.82-88
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• 2013

Objectives: Unprotected leisure time exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or artificial tanning beds is the most important environmental risk factor for melanoma, a malignant skin cancer with increasing incidences over the past decades. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of skin health information provided by several sources and different publishing issues on knowledge, risk perception, and sun protective behavior of sunbathers. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among Austrian residents (n=563) spending leisure time outdoors in August 2010. Results: Print media, television, and family were perceived as the most relevant sources of information on skin health, whereas the source physician was only ranked as fourth important source. Compared to other sources, information provided by doctors positively influenced participants' knowledge on skin risk and sun protective behavior resulting in higher scores in the knowledge test (p=0.009), higher risk perception (p<0.001), and more sun protection (p<0.001). Regarding gender differences, internet was more often used by males as health information source, whereas females were more familiar with printed information material in general. Conclusions: The results of this survey put emphasis on the demand for information provided by medical professionals in order to attain effective, long-lasting promotion of photoprotective habits.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.1-14
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• 2014

This study explored the determinants of smartphone addiction among mothers of infants, focusing on their socio-demographic characteristics, parental stress, and parental knowledge. A total 220 mothers of infants were surveyed and the collected data were analyzed by binary logistic regression. A considerable percentage (16%) of mothers of infants were observed to be at a risk of smartphone addiction, which was significantly higher than the percentage (8%) of adult population at risk of smartphone addiction reported by the Korean government. Parental stress from dysfunctional parent-child relationships was a risk factor and parental knowledge about infant development was observed to be a protective factor when it came to the smartphone addiction of mothers' with infants. However, socio-demographic characteristics (number of children, age, education, family income, and job) did not have statistically significant associations with their smartphone addiction.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.3-9
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• 2021

Objectives: It is hard to accumulate research data on adolescents' suicide, because friends and family of the suicide completers might be reluctant to share the experience. To overcome the lack of information on adolescent suicide victims, the authors examined the risk and protective factors for adolescents' suicide from a character in a novel. Methods: Krystal, an adolescent female in the novel The Casual Vacancy by Joanne Rowling, failed to overcome her unfortunate circumstances and committed suicide. The authors analysed Krystal's case based on the guideline for patients with suicidal behaviours to address the complicated situation of her death. Results: Krystal grew up in a poor and dangerous environment. Despite the environmental hardships, she developed ego maturation with affectionate help from Mr Fairbrother, an assistant coach of the Girls' Rowing Team and a parish councillor. The sudden passing away of Mr Fairbrother brought on a crisis of identity for Krystal. In addition, a villainous character raped her and her brother drowned to death, which brought her great sorrow. She felt helpless and committed suicide. Conclusion: In spite of many risk factors for suicide, Krystal was able to keep her life with a few protective factors, a younger brother in the home, and a sense of responsibility for the family. After the loss of her brother, however, she collapsed in a moment. Krystal's suicide might not only be a personal choice but a breakdown of the social protection system for the youth.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.263-280
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• 2023

This study examined four ecological systems, namely individual, family, school, and media environments. A series of moderator analyses were conducted to examine variations in effect size estimates across the study characteristics. The current study estimated that the effect size results were gleaned from 360 primary studies, including 90 journal articles and 270 thesis/dissertations, published between 2011 and 2022. The current meta-analysis results supported the ecological framework. That is, the impact of each ecological system on the development of positive and negative peer relationships varies depending on age groups and protective-risk factors. Specifically, for positive peer relationships, the largest effect size of the protective factor was found at the individual level for young and school- aged children, but at the school level for adolescents. Regarding the risk factors for positive peer relationships, the media was the ecological system with the strongest effect size for both young children and adolescents, while the individual-level demonstrating the strongest effect for school-aged children. Results from this meta-analysis allow us to identify some vital intervention areas in terms of healthy peer-relationship development, which should be of considerable interest to the educators and policymakers who are responsible for assessing and intervening with at-risk young children, school-aged children, and adolescents. From a practical standpoint, the current meta-analysis results are expected to contribute to developing effective prevention initiatives by targeting specific protective and risk factors for peer relationship development on the ecological system level.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.57-64
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• 2013

Objectives: Skin exposure to diisocyanates may be an important risk factor for respiratory sensitization to leading asthma. However little is known about the extent of worker's diisocyanates skin exposure and the effectiveness of personal protective equipments in polyurethane foam manufacturing companies. This study provides data on diisocyanates skin exposure, surface diisiocyantes contamination of foams and the effectiveness of personal protective gloves in five polyurethane foam manufacturing companies. Materials and methods Colorimetric SWYPE pads are used for the determination of diisocyanates on surfaces of workers skin and polyurethanes foams. Results: The forearms, necks and faces of workers in polyurethane foam manufacturing companies were found to be contaminated with diisocyanates. Heavy contamination with uncured diisocyanates at large block foams surfaces were found. Personal gloves of workers for skin protection showed significant penetrations by diisocyanates. Conclusions: We found that all workers in polyurethane foam manufacturing companies could be exposed to diisocyanates by skin exposure. Also further researches which would better quantify skin exposure are needed.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• no.39
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• pp.315-342
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• 2008

The aim of this study was to examine growth trajectories of delinquent behaviors during adolescence. In addition, the effects of protective and risk factors that might account for individual difference in the level of delinquent behaviors and in the rate of change were examined. Four waves of data in the Korea Youth Panel Survey(KYPS) were used to analyze the linear growth modeling. The sample consisted of 3346 adolescents who were assessed at 4 measurement waves with approximately 1-year intervals. The results showed significant individual differences in both final level of delinquent behaviors and in the rate of change across 3 measurement occasions. Adolescent gender, family's socioeconomic background predicted the final level and the rate of change of delinquent behaviors. The protective effects of positive parenting and self-control were significantly associated with problem behaviors and the risk effects of the association with deviant peers and negative stigma were significant on the final level of delinquency. Self-control and deviant peer affiliation had differential influences over time significantly. Practice and policy implications as well as further research topic were discussed in the light of searching for important factors in preventing adolescent problem behaviors.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.293-299
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• 2019

This study aimed to analyze the relationship between interpersonal problem, stress coping strategies and mental health for university students at risk of smartphone addiction using a structural equation modeling. Key results of the analysis were as follows. The interpersonal problem increased the severity of mental health. Stress coping strategies had partial mediating effects in the relationship between interpersonal problem and mental health. Passive coping strategy was risk factor and Active coping strategy was protective factor. Based on these results, various interventions for improving mental health for university students at risk of smartphone addiction were suggested.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2010

Obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that predominantly affects adult men than women. However, the prevalence in women increases with menopause dramatically. Menopause has long been described as a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea. Recent large well-designed population studies support that menopause increases the risk for sleep-disordered breathing. The mechanism of that hypothesis is not yet clear. But, the decline in progesterone has been thought to influence the development of obstructive sleep apnea because progesterone is a respiratory stimulant and plays a protective role against sleep apnea. Increased visceral obesity and hypertension as major symptoms of metabolic syndrome are also associated with menopause and place women at increased risk for obstructive sleep apnea and other serious health problem. Hormone replacement therapy has been associated with a lower prevalence of sleep apnea. But, relative risk and benefits of hormone replacement therapy compared with other treatment options will require thorough consideration for each individual woman. Finally, attention should be drawn to the need for obstructive sleep apnea evaluation in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2000

We carried out a case-control study to investigate protective effect of lactating against breast cancer in Korea. Cases (n=108) were the newly histologically identified breast cancer between December 1997 and August 1999. Hospital-based controls were selected by frequency matching method with age ($\pm$4 age) and menopausal status from the patients at the same hospital in the plastic surgery, general surgery and opthalmology department. Interviews included information on general characteristics of subjects, disease history, family history of breast cancer, vitamin supplementation, alcohol intake, food intake, and reproductive factors as well as lactation history. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were calculated by using unconditional logistic regression. Age distribution of case control subjects were similar. Late menarche age $\geq$ 17 in premenopausal women was related to the lower risk of breast cancer OR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.28-0.91. Family history of breast cancer was related to the higher risk of breast cancer only in premenopausal women (OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.35-2.71). Higher body mass index mass index (> 30) were associated with higher risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. For premenopausal women, women who had lactated $\geq$ 12 months to the first child had a significantly lower risk (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.24-0.97) than the women had no breast feeding experience. However, results from postmenopausal women did not show an association with decreased breast cancer risk. These findings suggest that lactation may be a protective factor of breast cancer in Korean women.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4327-4330
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• 2012

The mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) gene plays a key role in the p53 pathway, and the SNP 309T/G single-nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter region of MDM2 has been shown to be associated with increased risk of cancer. However, no consistent results were found concerning the relationships between the polymorphism and prostate cancer risk. This meta-analysis, covering 4 independent case-control studies, was conducted to better understand the association between MDM2-SNP T309G and prostate cancer risk focusing on overall and subgroup aspects. The analysis revealed, no matter what kind of genetic model was used, no significant association between MDM2-SNP T309G and prostate cancer risk in overall analysis (GT/TT: OR = 0.84, 95%CI = 0.60-1.19; GG/TT: OR = 0.69, 95%CI = 0.43-1.11; dominant model: OR = 0.81, 95%CI= 0.58-1.13; recessive model: OR = 1.23, 95%CI = 0.95-1.59). In subgroup analysis, the polymorphism seemed more likely to be a protective factor in Europeans (GG/TT: OR = 0.52, 95%CI = 0.31-0.87; recessive model: OR = 0.58, 95%CI = 0.36-0.95) than in Asian populations, and a protective effect of the polymorphism was also seen in hospital-based studies in all models (GT/TT: OR = 0.74, 95%CI = 0.57-0.97; GG/TT: OR = 0.55, 95%CI = 0.38-0.79; dominant model: OR = 0.69, 95%CI = 0.54-0.89; recessive model: OR = 0.70, 95%CI = 0.51-0.97). However, more primary studies with a larger number of samples are required to confirm our findings.