Ick-Joong Chung

Gender Differences in Factors Influencing Smoking, Drinking, and Their Co-occurrence among Adolescents in South Korea

INTRODUCTION This study aimed to examine gender differences in the influence of social, attitudinal, and intrapersonal factors on the onset of smoking, drinking, and the co-occurrence of tobacco and alcohol use among adolescents in South Korea. METHODS Using time-dependent Cox regression, the study analyzed the Korean Youth Panel Study conducted by the Korean National Youth Policy Institute. The study sample was middle-school second-graders (n = 3,188) in South Korea. RESULTS This study found gender differences between Korean male and female adolescents in models of smoking and alcohol uptake; the co-occurrence model was identical, however. At first, parental supervision, attachment to friends, drinking friends, self-control, and aggression were common factors in the onset of drinking among Korean adolescents. Stress was shown to be significantly correlated with the onset of male adolescent drinking, whereas family income was a significant factor just for females. In the smoking model, attachment to friends, smoking friends, stigma, and self-control were identified as common factors related to the onset of smoking in both male and female adolescents. Attachment to parents was found to be a significant factor for male adolescents and aggression for females. CONCLUSIONS The study findings indicate influences on the commencement of smoking, drinking, and concurrent tobacco and alcohol use among Korean male and female adolescents. Culturally sensitive interventions focusing on common risk factors with several differentiated strategies for both boys and girls should be developed and provided for Korean adolescents.

Co‐occurring Patterns of Smoking and Alcohol Consumption among Korean Adolescents

This study seeks to assess the transition probabilities between smoking and alcohol consumption trajectories for ages 13-17 using data from the Korea Youth Panel Survey (KYPS). Four smoking trajectories were identified-noninitiator, late-onsetter, experimenter, and escalator. Similarly, four alcohol consumption trajectories were identified-noninitiator, late-onsetter, experimenter, and chronic user. Those in the chronic group of alcohol consumption were most likely to be smokers. Those who fell into a particular group for use of one substance were most likely to fall into the corresponding group for use of the other substance. Implications for smoking and alcohol prevention are discussed.

Bidirectional Associations between the Negative Emotionality of 0-to 3-year-old Children and Maternal Warmth / Reactivity

The purpose of this study was to examine the bidirectional relationship between the negative emotionality of 0-to 3-year-old and maternal parenting styles, focusing on warmth and reactivity. Four waves of panel data from the Korean Children Panel Study(KCPS) were analyzed in this study by means of autoregressive cross-lagged modeling. The results of this study were as follows. First, negative emotionality and maternal parenting styles were consistently stable for 0-to 3-year-old. Second, a bidirectional relationship between negative emotionality and maternal warmth parenting styles was confirmed according to the appearance of both parent and child effects. In other words, higher levels of negative emotionality was associated with lower maternal warmth parenting styles across time and in both directions. Additionally, the relationship between negative emotionality and maternal reactivity parenting styles were partially identified as being bidirectional in nature, whilst also being related to age. These findings suggested that parent education aimed at strengthening parenting skills, and programs designed to relieve negative emotionality of 0-to 3-year-olds are clearly needed. Korean J. of Child Studies Vol. 36, No. 4, 1-16, August 2015 DOI:dx.doi.org/10.5723/KJCS.2015.36.4.1 www.childkorea.or.kr pISSN1226-1688 eISSN2234-408X 2 Korean J. of Child Studies Vol. 36, No. 4, 2015 2

Factors associated with perceived health among Korean adolescents.

This study examined the influences of personal, social, and environmental-structural factors on the perceived health of Korean adolescents. Using a two-stage generalized hierarchical logistic linear multilevel model, this study found that general high school enrollment, younger age, normal weight, and frequent exercise increased the likelihood of a positive self-perception of health. Higher levels of parental concern and quality of school life also contributed to the likelihood of students perceiving themselves as healthy. In contrast, psychological symptoms and negative self-esteem decreased the likelihood that students perceived themselves as healthy. The results provide implications for disease prevention and health promotion programs.

Linking Traumatic Childhood Experiences to the Physical Health of Korean Adolescents in Out-of-Home Care through Depression and Anxiety

The main purpose of this study is to assess whether the physical health of Korean adolescents in out-of-home care is affected directly by traumatic childhood experiences and/or indirectly through depression and anxiety. Study participants are 460 adolescents who are included in the first and second wave of the Panel Study on Korean Children in Out-of-Home Care. The data are analyzed using structural equation modeling. Our structural model finds no direct effects of traumatic experiences on physical health. Among the two types of trauma experiences, namely, family instability and violence experiences, only violence experiences affect physical health indirectly through depression and anxiety. Based on the results, practice implications for Korean adolescents in care are discussed.

Economic and Psychosocial Impact of Problem Gambling in South Korea

The study examined the harmful effects of casino gambling in Korean society from economic and psychosocial perspectives. Interviews with gambling addicts were conducted in order to gain insight into the impacts of pathological gambling. Using snowball sampling, 12 gambling addicts were recruited in Kohan, South Korea. Findings of the study suggest that gambling addicts suffer various harmful effects, including an increased susceptibility to financial and employment problems, such as debt and accumulated interest, bankruptcy, job loss, and decreased productivity. Participants in the study complained of physiological problems, including headaches, high blood pressure, arthritis, indigestion, a stomach disorder, and rapid weight loss. Common psychological problems reported included symptoms of high-level stress, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and suicidal ideation. For some interviewees who smoked and drank alcohol, consumption of these substances increased in response to their gambling. All participants reported disrupted relationships with their immediate family, relatives and friends. Moreover, they experienced stigma, discrimination, and feelings of alienation. With regard to criminal and legal problems, they were exposed to increased risk of litigation and violence. Clinical and political attention should be paid to the issue of gambling addiction in Korea, with a view to the prevention and treatment of gambling disorders. Management of gambling problems needs to consider economic and financial wellbeing, employment, physical and psychological health, interpersonal relationships, and the risk of criminal involvement and other legal issues.

How do physical health problems of Korean adolescents in out-of-home care affect their psychosocial adaptations? The mediation of bullying victimization experiences

•Children in out-of-home care are known to suffer from various physical health problems.•Poor health status would force the children in care into vulnerable positions of being bullied at school.•The study data are obtained from the Panel Study on Korean Children in Out-of-Home Care.•The study finds that physical health problems negatively affect self-esteem, depression and anxiety, and social withdrawal.•The influence of physical health problems is mediated on depression and anxiety through bullying victimization.