Factors Related to Depressive Symptoms Among Multicultural Adolescents in Korea.

This study aimed to compare related factors of depressive symptoms among multicultural adolescents in South Korea. Cross-sectional data were collected from 1,325 students studying in ninth grade (mean age: 14.97 ± 0.36 years) who had one Korean parent and one foreign-born parent. The score of depressive symptoms among girls (1.777 ± 0.550) was higher than boys (1.647 ± 0.512). The regression model-including demographic, psychological, and social factors-explained 38.3% of depressive symptoms among boys and 27.9% among girls. Body image satisfaction was the most powerful factor related to depressive symptoms in both boys and girls. Gender-differentiated factors identified in this study such as demographic, psychological, and social factors need to be studied while planning gender-tailored intervention programs to help relieve depressive symptoms among multicultural adolescents.

Risk Factors Related to Binge Drinking: A Comparative Study of American and South Korean Adolescents.

The characteristics of and risk factors associated with binge drinking among South Korean and American adolescents were identified in this study. Data on adolescents in the 9th to 12th grades were extracted from two nationwide data sets: the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey System and the U.S. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. Binge drinking was observed among 16% of American adolescents during the past month and among 11.6% of Korean adolescents during the past year. For adolescents from both countries, the following seven similar significant factors were associated with binge drinking: female gender, higher grade, fighting-related injury experience, current cigarette smoking, preteen smoking initiation, participation in team sports, and depression. Among Korean adolescents, higher or lower level of academic achievement and inadequate sleep were additional unique factors associated with binge drinking. These results could be useful for developing interventions for adolescents engaging in binge drinking in both countries.

Factors related to quality of life among middle-aged and older korean adults in 2006 and 2014: A nationally representative study.

Factors related to quality of life (QoL) were investigated using data from middle-aged and older Korean respondents to the 2006 and 2014 Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Respondents' QoL score in 2014 (6.03 ±â€¯1.69) was lower than in 2006 (6.20 ±â€¯2.12). All socio-demographic and health-related variables seemed to influence QoL in 2006 (R2 = 0.238) and 2014 (R2 = 0.234). Four factors significantly associated with QoL in both years were health, household income, depression, and regular exercise. Rural and mid-sized city dwellers were more likely to have a better QoL than residents of metropolitan areas; residential area had a greater influence on QoL in 2014.

Demographics and Health Profiles of Depressive Symptoms in Korean Older Adults.

This study examined the demographics and health characteristics of depressive symptoms of Korean older adults. Data were from the 2014 survey of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). Hierarchical logistic regression was conducted to identify risk factors of depressive symptoms. Model 2 including socio-demographics and health characteristics explained 19.2% of depressive symptoms. Significant risk factors of depressive symptoms were men, age of 53-60 years, mid-sized city and rural area residents, less than high-school education, adults without spouse, 1st (lowest) quintile of annual household income, body shape as underweight, ex-smokers, non-drinkers, no regular exercise, perceived health status as poor, limited activities of daily living, and the number of comorbidities. Interventions to reduce depressive symptoms in these populations should include strategies to change some of these modifiable risk factors.

Factors of Depressive Symptoms Among Elementary, Middle, and High School Students.

Little attention has been paid to the individual, family, friends, and school profiles of depressed children during the transition from childhood to adolescence. This study aimed to describe the evolution of factors associated with depressive symptoms among elementary, middle, and high school students. This was a secondary analytic study using three datasets of a cohort of Korean children or adolescents. Children or adolescents with depressed symptoms reported lower self-esteem, peer attachment, academic performance, and adaptability in school. Other risk factors for depressive symptoms that included gender, obesity, family conflict, and with whom they discussed personal issues showed different patterns from the elementary school years to high school years. A sex difference (female>male) of depressive symptoms was evident only among high school students. Influences including individuals, family, friends, and school factors for adolescents varied depending upon school years. Understanding the correlates/risk factors could guide the screening and management of depressive symptoms.

Risk factors for current smoking among American and South Korean adolescents, 2005-2011.

PURPOSE: Population data concerning smoking rates of adolescents and adults in the United States and Korea (South Korea) has highlighted the need for attention to this age group. This study compared the risk factors related to smoking and examined the gender differences with other risk factors in smoking among American and Korean adolescents between 2005 and 2011. ORGANIZING CONSTRUCT AND METHODS: Participants were students in grades 9-11 selected from nationally representative surveys conducted in 2005 and 2011. FINDINGS: In 2011, similar risk factors for current smoking were identified in American and Korean adolescents. These included male gender, school grade, depression, experience of alcohol drinking, current use of alcohol, use of glue or other inhalants, and experience of sexual intercourse. Among Korean adolescents, weight perception and weight control were unique risk factors for current smoking. Interactions with gender and other risk factors in each nation were revealed. CONCLUSIONS: These risk factors, their change from earlier years, and gender differences should be recognized in the screening of vulnerable individuals for smoking and formulating effective intervention programs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These results will provide information for the design and implementation of cessation programs for adolescents in these countries.

Risk factors for smoking behaviors among adolescents.

Many students in Korea begin to use tobacco and develop a regular smoking habit before they reach adulthood. Yet, little is known about various signs contributing to the transition of the student smoking behaviors. This study used a national sample to explore and compare risk factors for smoking behaviors. Three types of smoking behaviors were defined: never smoking (in their lifetime), history of experimental smoking (ever tried but not within the last 30 days), and current smoking (at least 1 day during the last 30 days). Risk factors for experimentally starting and not continuing smoking were identified as gender, perceived health status, and friend-related stress. School type, academic performance, alcohol use, perception of harm of smoking, and close friends' smoking increased the risk of progressing from never smoking to the history of experimental smoking and current smoking. Our findings may be valuable in school health care settings in planning cessation programs.

Post-partum blues among Korean mothers: a structural equation modelling approach.

The objective of this study was to propose the post-partum blues (PPB) model and to estimate the effects of self-esteem, social support, antenatal depression, and stressful events during pregnancy on PPB. Data were collected from 249 women post-partum during their stay in the maternity units of three hospitals in Korea using a self-administered questionnaire. A structural equation modelling approach using the Analysis of Moments Structure program was used to identify the direct and indirect effects of the variables on PPB. The full model had a good fit and accounted for 70.3% of the variance of PPB. Antenatal depression and stressful events during pregnancy had strong direct effects on PPB. Household income showed indirect effects on PPB via self-esteem and antenatal depression. Social support indirectly affected PPB via self-esteem, antenatal depression, and stressful events during pregnancy.

Risk factors related to suicidal ideation and attempted suicide: comparative study of Korean and American youth.

Suicidal trends and related characteristics such as sociodemographic factors, psychological factors, and health behaviors can differ between countries. This study investigated the predictors of suicidal ideation and attempted suicide including health behaviors among American and Korean youth from two national representative data sets. In both countries, depression was the most predominant predictor to suicidal ideation and attempted suicide. Unique predictors of suicidal youth in each country were also found. In America, attempted suicide was predicted by poor body image, whereas in Korea attempted suicide was predicted by medical diagnosis such as asthma, concern about weight, and alcohol consumption. The value of our approach lies in the comparative analysis of analogous and unique characteristics of suicidal youths in these two huge data sets from different countries. These results should be helpful for school and mental health care providers to plan interventions for youth at risk of suicide to prevent suicidal completion in these nations.

Predictors of growth in children based on 2007 Korean National Growth Charts.

BACKGROUND: Postnatal growth patterns in children are associated with various factors within the birth and infancy periods. The aim of the present study was to examine the correlation between growth patterns and parameters including gestational age (GA), birthweight (BW), sex, and feeding method in the records of 61,631 children aged 6-72 months. METHODS: The data were obtained from the 2007 Korean National Growth Charts provided by the Korean Centers for Disease Control. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: BW and sex were highly correlated with weight and height by 72 months (P < 0.01), with BW being the primary predictor (P < 0.001). Sex was the second predictor of weight and height in children by 66 months (P < 0.01). Feeding method was the predictor of weight in children aged 12-48 months and 60 months (P < 0.05), and was also influential in the height of children by 48 months (P < 0.05). GA was the predictor of weight at 12 months and from 30 to 42 months (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: GA, BW, sex and feeding method were the predictors of weight and height among children at different times. Therefore, the present population-based study strengthens the consideration of these factors for routine monitoring of growth patterns in Korean children.