Hyunchun Park

A Study of Predictive Factors Affecting Health: Promoting Behaviors of North Korean Adolescent Refugees

Objectives: The present study aimed to analyze the factors that could affect the health-promoting behaviors of North Korean adolescent refugees residing in South Korea. Methods: Questions about their sociodemographic variables, subjective health status, healthy living habits, and health-promoting behaviors were asked. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in religion (t=2.30, p<0.05), having family members in South Korea (t=2.02, p<0.05), and subjective health status (t=4.96, p<0.01). Scores on health-responsible behaviors were higher with higher age (t=2.90, p<0.01) and for subjects without family or friends (t=2.43, p<0.05). Higher physical-activity behaviors were observed in males (t=3.32, p<0.01), in those with better subjective health status (t=3.46, p<0.05) and lower body mas index (t=3.48, p<0.05), and in smokers (t=3.17, p<0.01). Nutritional behaviors were higher in those who followed a religion (t=2.17, p<0.05). Spiritual growth behaviors were higher in those who followed a religion (t=4.21, p<0.001), had no family in South Korea (t=2.04, p<0.05), and had higher subjective health status (t=5.74, p<0.01). Scores on interpersonal relationships and stress-management behaviors were higher for those with higher subjective health status. A multiple regression analysis showed greater effects on health-promoting behaviors when subjective health status was better. Older people and non-smokers exhibited more health-responsible behaviors, while more physical-activity behaviors and spiritual growth activities were observed when subjective health status was better. Interpersonal relationship behaviors had positive effects on those with good subjective heath status and on non-smokers. Conclusions: Based on the results of the current study, an alternative was suggested for promoting health in North Korean adolescent refugees.

A Study of Mental Health Literacy Among North Korean Refugees in South Korea

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate North Korean refugees’ knowledge of mental illnesses and treatments and analyze the factors affecting this knowledge. Methods: Subjects were selected via a snowball sampling method, and the survey outcomes of 152 North Korean refugee participants were analyzed. The factors affecting knowledge of mental illnesses were analyzed via a regression analysis by constructing a multivariate model with mental illness knowledge score as the dependent variable. Results: The North Korean refugees’ mental illness scores ranged from 3 to 24 points, with an average score of 13.0. Regarding the factors that influence mental illness knowledge, the subjects with South Korean spouses and those who had spent more time in South Korea had higher knowledge scores. Furthermore, the subjects who considered the mental health of North Korean refugees to be a serious issue revealed lower knowledge scores than those who did not believe it was a serious issue. The subjects who visit psychiatric clinics showed higher knowledge scores than those who do not. The South Korean subjects who had at least a college education exhibited higher scores than did those without advanced education. The subjects who are satisfied with life in South Korea manifested a higher mental illness knowledge score than those who are not. Conclusions: This study is significant as being the first study to ever measure and evaluate the level of North Korean refugees’ knowledge of mental illnesses. In addition, the evaluations of North Korean refugees’ mental illness knowledge and influencing factors while residing in South Korea created basic data that formed the foundation of an effort to enhance mental health literacy and provide proper mental health services. The results of this study can be utilized to solve mental health problems that might frequently occur during the unification process of North and South Korea in the future.

Gender Differences in Suicidal Ideation and Related Factors among North Korean Refugees in South Korea

Objective According to previous social survey, a high number of North Korean refugees (NKRs) in South Korea had suicidal ideation. The purpose of this study is to examine the related factors for suicidal ideation among NKRs by gender in South Korea. Methods We examined the sample of NKRs, 701 subjects (men=160, women=-541) residing in South Korea, the participants were enrolled from October 2008 to May 2014. The related factors with suicidal ideation in NKRs were analyzed via a logistic regression analysis. Results Refugee women were more likely to have suicidal ideation than men were. Although thoughts of suicide do not necessarily mean that they will follow through, however, there is an association that the higher rate of suicide also results in a higher rate of attempted suicide. In both genders, they tended to think more frequently about suicide who had stayed in South Korea for more than 5 years. In addition, higher frequencies of suicidal ideation also associated with higher level of perceived stress in both genders. Conclusion The gender difference should be addressed when designing suicide prevention interventions among the North Korean population in South Korea.

Gender Differences in Outpatient Utilization: A Pooled Analysis of Data from the Korea Health Panel

BACKGROUND This study aims to set itself apart from prior research by elucidating gender differences in outpatient service utilization among adults aged 20 years or older, using nationally representative survey data. METHODS Data from the Korea Health Panel (KHP) collected between 2010 and 2011 were used. In this study, all KHP participants who accessed outpatient service between 2010 and 2011 were included; 13,525 participants used outpatient services in 2010 and 12,991 in 2011. To analyze factors related to outpatient utilization, regression analysis was performed using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS The use frequency of outpatient service was significantly associated with age, education level, marital status, economic activity, health insurance status, drinking, presence of chronic disease, and self-rated health status in both sexes (p < 0.05). Annual household income significantly affected outpatient utilization only among women. CONCLUSIONS Unlike males, females with higher household incomes used outpatient services more. This suggests that females are at greater risk of medical inequality based on economic circumstances.

The Effects of Discrimination Experience on Life Satisfaction of North Korean Refugees: Mediating Effect of Stress

Objective This study investigated the mediation effect of stress between the experience of discrimination and life satisfaction among North Korean refugees who resettled in South Korea. The findings of the current study provide empirical evidence for the need of social interventions to mitigate adverse effects of stress on North Korean refugees who are subject to social discrimination on a daily basis. Methods In this study, we included 500 subjects among 2,138 North Korean refugees who took refuge in South Korea in 2007. The interview started from April 6th 2009 and finished on May 25th 2009. We conducted moderator effect analysis with Path analysis was conducted because we confirm the experience of discrimination was affected by life satisfaction and stress can affected life satisfaction as a moderator. Results The experience of discrimination significantly affects stress and stress significantly affects life satisfaction. However, the experience of discrimination was not directly related to life satisfaction. The more stress the study respondents experienced, the lower the life satisfaction they reported. Conclusion The present finding suggests that the effects of discriminating experiences on the life satisfaction of North Korean refugees in South Korea were mediated by their own perceived stress.

Health-Promoting Behavior and Influencing Factors in Young North Korean Refugees (NKRs) Living in South Korea

The number of young North Korean refugees (NKRs) entering South Korea to escape famine and poverty and improve their quality of life is drastically increasing. The aims of this study were to identify and compare health promoting lifestyle behaviors (HPLBs) of young NKRs, compared to South Koreans, and to investigate influencing factors related to HPLBs in young NKRs. Data were obtained from 150 NKRs residing in South Korea and 161 South Koreans. Respondents provided their psychological status (depression, stress, and life satisfaction) and HPLBs. The NKRs reported lower interpersonal relations scores and higher spiritual growth scores compared to the control group. Attendance in religious services, stress, and life satisfaction were significantly associated with HPLBs in young NKRs. Health education and/or promotion programs focusing interpersonal relations and spiritual growth may be beneficial. In addition, regular psychological health screening is proposed as part of health-checkup programs, potentially improving adjustment to South Korean society.

Social Network Changes of pre- and post- Retirement

은퇴 후 사회적 관계망은 삶의 만족도에 중요한 영향을 끼친다. 사회적 관계망은 개인을 중심으로 여러 사람들과 관계를 맺는 것으로 구조적/기능적 특성으로 구분될 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 이러한 두 가지 특징 에 의해 체계적으로 은퇴 후 사회적 관계망의 변화와 변화에 영향을 주는 요인을 검증하였다. 본 연구에는 「고령화연구패널조사」2008년도, 2010년도, 2012년도 자료를 활용하여, 45세 이상의 은퇴자 1,569명을 최 종분석대상으로 추출하였다. STATA 12.0을 이용하여 빈도분석, 기술통계분석을 실시하였으며, 은퇴자의 개인적 특성과 은퇴여부가 사회적관계망의 변화에 미치는 영향을 보기 위해 Panel logit model과 fixed effects regression model방식을 이용하였다. 마지막으로 은퇴 여부와 사회적 관계망의 관계에 영향을 미치 는 요인을 파악하기 위해 Multiple panel logit model과 fixed effects model의 within추정 방식을 통해 분석하였다. 분석 결과 구조적 특성에서는 친한 사람 접촉빈도와 사회활동 참여 정도가 더 줄어들었다. 기 능적 특성인 자녀로부터의 지원 유무는 은퇴자가 비은퇴자에 비해 지원이 더 적었다. 이에 본 연구는 은퇴 이후 사회적 관계망을 변화를 확인 하였으며 은퇴 후 노년기의 삶의 시작과 맞물린 현실에서 사회적 관계망 이 축소되는 은퇴자들을 위한 제도적 지원 필요성을 시사한다.