Mediating Effect of Digital Information Utilization Ability and Interpersonal Contact on the Relationship between Cognitive Function and Depression in Korean Older Adults.

Background: As Korea rapidly enters a super-aged society, interest in depression, a change in psychological function that occurs with aging, is increasing. Although previous studies have suggested a relationship between depression and cognitive decline in older adults, they have not clarified how cognitive decline leads to depression. We aimed to examine the mediating effects of digital information utilization ability (DIUA) and interpersonal contact (IC) in the relationship between cognitive function and depression in older adults. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study used data from the 2020 Korean Elderly Survey. The participants were 9,920 seniors aged 65 years and older. Descriptive statistics, t-test, and one-way ANOVA correlation analysis were performed using SPSS 24.0 and the dual mediation effect was analyzed using PROCESS Macro for SPSS v.3.5 model 6. Results: Depression had a negative correlation with cognitive function (r=-.26, P<.001), DIUA (r=-.20, P<.001), and IC (r=-.13, P<.001). Cognitive function was positively correlated with DIUA (r=.40, P<.001) and IC (r=.08, P<.001). There was a positive correlation between DIUA and IC (r=.10, P<.001). Finally, the mediating effect of cognitive function on depression through the dual parameters of DIUA and IC was also statistically significant (B=.-001, 95% CI [-.002, -.001). Conclusion: The depression caused by cognitive decline can be reduced by improving older adults' ability to use digital information and interact with others. Therefore, social interventions to increase the interpersonal contact of older adults is required, and education programs for improving older adults' ability to utilize digital information may be developed to increase indirect contact using digital devices as well as direct contact.

Factors Related to Obstructive Sleep Apnea According to Age: A Descriptive Study.

This descriptive study aimed to identify the factors influencing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by age between middle-aged and elderly people. These groups have not been evaluated separately until now. This study is a secondary analysis of data from the Eighth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2021. Of the 3942 participants with OSA in this study, 2397 were middle-aged and 1545 were elderly, and 2509 had low risk and 1433 had moderate-high risk. Age-specific factors related to their OSA were identified using complex sample logistic regression. Factors associated with OSA in middle-aged individuals included the number of household members, smoking, subjective health, and subjective body image. Smoking and subjective health were significantly related to OSA in elderly people. Not smoking was 0.23 times less likely than smoking to be associated with OSA, and 0.3 times less likely when participants were healthy than when unhealthy. Hence, influencing factors differed depending on the age of individuals with OSA. Therefore, to develop public health measures, it may be more effective to establish intervention strategies to improve symptoms and prevent complications in middle-aged and elderly patients with OSA by distinguishing and applying influential age-specific factors.

Factors Related to Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents According to Types of Stress.

Background: We aimed to identify the factors associated with suicidal ideation by classifying adolescents into three groups: no stress, interpersonal stress, as well as academic and career stress. Method: Using the data from the 16th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (2020), 15,343 adolescents were included in the study, and their socio-demographic characteristics as well as physical and psychological factors were assessed. A complex sample logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with suicide. Results: The following factors were significantly associated with suicide: fatigue recovery by sleep, body mass index, physical activity, and depression in the no stress group; current school, academic grade, drinking, depression, loneliness, and anxiety in the interpersonal stress group; and gender, current school, academic grade, father's educational level, drinking, fatigue recovery by sleep, depression, loneliness, subjective health, smartphone overdependence, as well as anxiety in the academic and career stress group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: To prevent suicide among adolescents, it is necessary to consider these factors when developing educational policies.

Factors Related to Depression According to the Degree of Loneliness in Adolescents with Severe Friend-Relationship Stress.

This study attempted to identify factors affecting depression in relation to loneliness among adolescents. The study participants were 2668 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years who felt stressed and lonely. The variables in this study were classified into sociodemographic and psychological characteristics based on the 16th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey items. Results revealed that sex, smoking, suicidal ideation, suicide planning, and anxiety were significantly related to depression (p < 0.05) in the group that reported less loneliness. Economic level, alcohol consumption, suicidal ideation, suicide planning, subjective body type, and anxiety were significantly related factors (p < 0.05) in the group that reported feeling very lonely. This study is significant in providing basic data for developing evidence-based strategies to ameliorate depression in adolescents.

Factors Influencing Depression in Adolescents Focusing on the Degree of Appearance Stress.

This descriptive cross-sectional study examined the factors that affect depression in adolescents focusing on how stressed they are regarding their appearance (hereafter, degree of appearance stress). Data from 6493 adolescents from the 2020 Korean Youth Risk Behavior Survey were used. Using SPSS 25.0, a complex sample plan file was created, weighted, and analyzed. The frequency, chi-square test, independent t-test, and linear regression were used for the complex sample analysis. The results showed that among adolescents with low appearance stress, depression was significantly affected by the number of breakfast meals, weight control efforts, smoking, loneliness, subjective physical appearance, and smartphone overdependence. Among those with high appearance stress, depression was significantly affected by academic grades, weight control efforts, drinking habits, loneliness, subjective physical appearance, and smartphone overdependence. Furthermore, these factors differed according to the degree of appearance stress. Thus, while developing interventions for mitigating depression in adolescents, the degree of appearance stress should be considered, and a differentiated strategy should be used accordingly.

Factors Influencing Depressive Symptoms in Middle-Aged South Korean Workers by Job Type: A Population-Based Study.

Depressive symptoms can be influenced by different factors, including job types. In this study, we identified factors that affect depressive symptoms among South Korean workers by job type using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Examined respondents were between 40 and 69 years (N = 9375). A complex sample linear regression analysis revealed various significant factors based on job type. For office workers, the number of household members, health-related quality of life, diabetes, sitting time, subjective health, and stress were significant influencing factors for depressive symptoms (explanatory power of 23.2%) (p < 0.001). For service workers, gender, health-related quality of life, food intake, aerobic exercise, sitting time, subjective health, and stress were significant influencing factors for depressive symptoms (explanatory power of 49.6%) (p < 0.001). For labor workers, gender, type of living, health-related quality of life, BMI, weight change, weight control, aerobic exercise, diabetes, subjective health, and stress were significant influencing factors for depressive symptoms (explanatory power of 35.8%) (p < 0.001). These differences highlight the need for customized programs targeted at each job type to maintain and promote mental health among workers.

Influence of Diabetes Knowledge, Self-Stigma, and Self-Care Behavior on Quality of Life in Patients with Diabetes.

Globally, almost 9.3% of the population aged 20-80 years have been diagnosed with diabetes making diabetes management a global health problem beyond specific regions or races. This study aimed to determine the effect of diabetes knowledge, self-stigma, and self-care behavior on the quality of life of patients with diabetes. This descriptive research study evaluated 180 patients receiving diabetes treatment at the outpatient Department of Endocrinology at C University Hospital. Data were collected between 30 July 2019, and 30 August 2019. The study variables were general patient characteristics, disease-related characteristics, quality of life, diabetes knowledge, self-stigma, and self-care behavior. Factors affecting the quality of life were analyzed by hierarchical regression. Self-stigma (ß = -0.298), monthly income (ß = 0.270), and self-care behavior (ß = 0.140) significantly affected the quality of life, in that order. The higher the self-stigma, the lower the quality of life, and the higher the monthly income and the level of self-care behavior, the higher the quality of life. A psychosocial support program to positively change the attitude toward diabetes is needed to improve the quality of life among patients with diabetes.

Factors Influencing the Health-Related Quality of Life of Workers According to the Type of Work.

This paper describes a descriptive cross-sectional study that was conducted to identify and compare the factors affecting health-related quality of life (HRQoL) according to the type of work. The method involved a secondary analysis of 4131 workers who participated in the first year of the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019). In this study, a complex sample plan file was created and then weighted and analyzed. For the analyses, frequency, χ2-test, t-test, and linear regression analyses were used for complex sample analysis. Factors that significantly affected the HRQoL of daytime workers were educational background, living with a spouse, regular work, depression for two consecutive weeks, and suicidal thoughts. The explanatory power was 18.9% (p < 0.001). The factor that significantly affected the HRQoL of shift workers was whether they took dietary supplements for 2 weeks or more during the past year, and the explanatory power was 17.6% (p = 0.007). This study confirmed that the factors affecting HRQoL differ according to the type of work. Based on the results of this study, when developing a program to improve the HRQoL of workers, it is necessary to establish a differentiated strategy according to the type of work.

Do Adults Who Practice Aerobic Physical Activities Have Different Influencing Factors for Depression: A Secondary Data Analysis.

Practice in aerobic activities can positively impact depression. This study aimed to identify differences between adults who do and do not practice aerobic activities in terms of general, physical, and psychological factors that influence depression. This study comprised a secondary analysis of data from the 6th (year 2) and 7th (years 1, 3) editions of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Data from 12,891 adults were analyzed, of whom 7148 reported no practice in aerobic physical activities and 5743 reported practicing such activities. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25. Among those who did not perform aerobic activities, gender, family income, marital status, obesity, frequency of drinking, subjective health, subjective body weight, and stress were found to influence the level of depression. For those who practiced aerobic activities, gender, age, family income, education level, marital status, blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia status, frequency of drinking, subjective health, subjective body weight, and stress influenced the level of depression. This study found that the factors affecting depressive symptoms differ depending on whether individuals practice aerobic activities. Thus, to reduce depressive symptoms among adults, it is necessary to consider their level of physical activity and target the influencing factors associated with this level.

Factors Influencing Suicide Attempts of Adolescents with Suicidal Thoughts in South Korea: Using the 15th Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (KYRBS).

Background: Adolescence is a period of physical and psychological change that causes adolescents to experience anxiety, stress, and loss of control. These experiences can lead to thoughts about suicide. However, not all adolescents with suicidal thoughts attempt suicide. This study aimed to identify the factors that influence suicide attempts among adolescents with suicidal thoughts, and to prepare a theoretical basis for a method to prevent suicide among adolescents. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, the 15th Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (2019) was used. The participants were 7,498 adolescents aged 12-18 yr with thoughts of suicide. Factors influencing suicide attempts among adolescents with suicidal thoughts were analyzed using a complex sample logistic analysis. Results: Gender, age, academic performance, and economic level were the general factors associated with suicide attempts of adolescents with suicidal thoughts. Physical and psychological factors included smoking, alcohol use, drug use, sex-related experience, experiencing violence, efforts to reduce weight, level of physical activity, and depression. Conclusion: Age and gender should be taken into consideration when designing suicide prevention activities. In addition, in order to lower the suicide rate of adolescents in Korea, an effective system of prevention and intervention strategies should be implemented, which attend to the issues of adolescents from low-income families, adolescent weight and body image concerns, and adolescent depression.

Validity and Reliability of the Korean Version of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-Stigma (AAQ-S-K).

This study investigated the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-Stigma (AAQ-S-K) in people with diabetes. A total of 208 patients with diabetes participated in the study. After performing forward and backward translation of the original version of the AAQ-S into Korean, its validity (construct and concurrent validity) and reliability were assessed. Construct validity measured using confirmatory factor analysis showed a good fit. Concurrent validity was confirmed through the significant correlation between the AAQ-S-K, acceptance and action, diabetes self-stigma and diabetes distress. The AAQ-S-K was positively correlated with acceptance and action and had a negative correlation with diabetes self-stigma and diabetes distress. The reliability of the AAQ-S-K ranged from 0.82 to 0.88. The AAQ-S-K can be applied to assess stigma acceptance and action in Korean patients with diabetes and to compare the level of psychological flexibility of patients with diabetes internationally.

Distorted body weight perception and its gender differences in middle-aged adults: population based study.

BACKGROUND: Increasing interest in appearance and the growing preference for a beautiful body can lead to physical and psychological problems due to an inappropriate body image perception. As such, there is a need to identify what factors may contribute to an inappropriate body image. The purpose of this study was to examine the presence of distorted body weight perception among middle-aged Koreans and identify gender differences and other factors that contribute to a distorted body image regarding body weight. METHODS: Data on 8363 middle-aged adults (aged 45-64 years) from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed using complex samples analysis considering weight, stratification variables, and cluster variables. The difference between perceived body image regarding body weight and actual body mass index was used to assess distorted body weight perception. Socioeconomic status, health behaviors, daily energy consumption, and psychological status (depression and stress) were assessed for their relationship to distorted body weight perception. RESULTS: Results showed that a distorted body image regarding body weight was more prevalent among middle-aged men (45.3%) than women (25.7%). Age, income, perceived health status, and health behaviors were significantly associated with distorted body weight perception in middle-aged men, whereas psychological factors were associated with distorted body weight perception in middle-aged women. CONCLUSIONS: Further research on distorted body weight perception is needed to gain understanding of the gender differences between middle-aged men and women in Korea. Furthermore, to the results of the study can be used as a basis for developing various education, health mediation, and public health promotion interventions and programs to address body weight perception in middle-aged adults.

Factors Influencing the Quality of Life of Korean Elderly Women by Economic Status.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine whether there are differences in the factors affecting the quality of life (QOL) of elderly women in South Korea according to their perceived economic status. Methods: Data were extracted from the Seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2016. The participants were 879 women over the age of 65 years, who were divided into three groups: high, medium, and low based on their perceived economic status. The study variables were classified into three categories: general characteristics, physical factors, and psychological factors. General characteristics included age, education level, employment, activity restriction, frequency of breakfast/week, frequency of lunch/week, and frequency of dinner/week. Physical factors included disease status, weight change, consumption of alcohol, number of days of walking per week, duration of walking at a time, body mass index (BMI), and discomfort due to changes in hearing. Psychological factors included stress, subjective body awareness, subjective health status, depressive symptoms, and QOL. Complex sample crosstabs and chi-square tests were conducted, and regression was performed to examine the association between the variables by economic status. Results: The factors that influenced the QOL of elderly women with low economic status were arthritis, alcohol consumption, subjective health status, and depressive symptoms, with an explanatory power of 54.3% (F = 14.94, p < 0.001). The factors that influenced the QOL of the medium economic status group were activity restriction, frequency of dinner/week, arthritis, number of days of walking per week, BMI, stress, subjective health status, and depressive symptoms, with an explanatory power of 48.6% (F = 9.82, p < 0.001). For the high economic status group, influential factors were age, restricted activity, arthritis, number of days of walking per week, stress, and depressive symptoms with an explanatory power of 49.0% (F = 69.76, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study identified different factors that contributed to the QOL of elderly women by economic status.

Factors Associated with Adolescents' Internet Use Duration by Suicidal Ideation.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the factors associated with Internet use duration by distinguishing between individuals with suicidal ideation and those without. Methods: Data were obtained from the 14th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (2018), which is a nationwide survey. Respondents aged 12-18 years (N = 60,040) who answered "yes" or "no" to the question about having suicidal ideation were included in the analysis. Study variables were general characteristics, physical and psychological factors, and Internet use duration. A complex sample logistic regression was performed to determine the influential factors. Results: Significant factors associated with weekend Internet use among those with suicidal ideation were sex, economic status, residence type, physical activity, sedentary duration, recovery after sleep deprivation, and stress, with an explanatory power of 20.0% (p < 0.001). Significant factors associated with weekday Internet use among those with suicidal ideation were sex, frequency of eating breakfast per week, sedentary duration, and weight control efforts, with an explanatory power of 15.9% (p < 0.001). Significant factors associated with weekend Internet use among those with no suicidal ideation were breakfast frequency and frequency of alcohol consumption per month, with an explanatory power of 10.9% (p < 0.001). Significant factors associated with weekday Internet use among those with no suicidal ideation were frequency of eating breakfast per week, frequency of eating fast food per week, sedentary duration, and suicide attempt, with an explanatory power of 13.6% (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The findings indicated significant differences in Internet use duration between adolescents with suicidal ideation and those without, suggesting the need for customized prevention programs focusing on adolescents' psychological state.

Effects of recognition of flexible work systems, organizational commitment, and quality of life on turnover intentions of healthcare nurses.

BACKGROUND: It is necessary to adjust and mediate environmental, personal, and structural aspects to reduce the turnover rate among healthcare nurses, and awareness of flexible work systems, organizational commitment and quality of life are factors contained in this category. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of awareness regarding flexible work systems, organizational commitment, and quality of life on turnover intentions among healthcare nurses. METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-six healthcare nurses participated in the study. Data were collected from September 1 to October 1, 2018, and analyzed using SPSS/WIN 23.0 version. RESULTS: The results in the first analysis revealed that being dissatisfied with work (ß= 0.287) and having poor subjective health (ß= 0.197) were significant influencing factors with a combined explanatory power of 14.9% (p< 0.001). In the second analysis, dissatisfied with work satisfaction (ß= 0.143), organizational commitment (ß=-0.389), and quality of life (ß= 0.256) were significant influencing factors with a combined explanatory power of 29.5% (p< 0.001). CONCLUSION: It is necessary to reflect awareness of flexible work systems, organizational commitment and quality of life in interventions to reduce the turnover intention of healthcare nurses.

Revision of the Measurement Tool for Patients' Health Information Protection Awareness.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the importance of the protection of patients' health information in clinical settings, little is known about the awareness of this concept in nursing students due to the lack of a suitable measurement tool. Hence, this study attempted to redevelop the Patients' Health Information Protection Awareness Scale, and evaluate its construct validity and reliability for nursing students. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted. Nursing students who were in their 3rd and 4th year were recruited from 10 universities in Korea to assess the construct validity, and 30 experts (27 nurses and 3 faculty members) participated in the content validation process. RESULTS: The content validity assessment indicated that 23 items were ideal. The assessment of construct validity using exploratory factor analysis revealed three factors: communication, management, and referrals. They together accounted for 54.1% of the variance in scale scores. The three-factor scale had good fit in the confirmatory factor analysis. Scale reliability was confirmed, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.94 for all items. CONCLUSIONS: This study was the first attempt to redevelop the Patients' Health Information Protection Awareness Scale for student nurses. The 23-item scale was shown to be a reliable and valid tool. It facilitates the assessment of nursing students' awareness of patient information protection. Academic nursing programs and health organizations can use its scores to implement adequate education plans to safeguard information in nursing students.

Effect of the Group Music Therapy on Brain Wave, Behavior, and Cognitive Function among Patients with Chronic Schizophrenia.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of group music therapy on brain waves, behavior, and cognitive function among patients with chronic schizophrenia. METHODS: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was used with nonequivalent control group. The potential participants were recruited from inpatients in a psychiatric facility in a metropolitan city, assigned either to the experimental group (n = 28) or to the control group (n = 27) according to their wards to avoid treatment contamination. The experimental group participated in the group music therapy for 13 sessions over 7 weeks while continuing their standard treatment. The control group only received a standard treatment provided in the hospitals. The outcome measures include brain wave by electroencephalography, behavior by Nurses' Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation, and cognitive function by Mini-Mental State Examination. RESULTS: After participating in 13 sessions of the group music therapy, alpha waves measured from eight different sites were consistently present for the experimental group (p = .006-.045) than the control group, revealing that the participants in the music therapy may have experienced more joyful emotions throughout the sessions. The experimental group also showed improved cognitive function (F = 13.46, p = .001) and positive behavior (social competence, social interest & personal neatness) while their negative behaviors was significantly less than those of the control group (F = 24.04, p < .001). CONCLUSION: The group music therapy used in this study was an effective intervention for improving emotional relaxation, cognitive processing abilities along with positive behavioral changes in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Our results can be useful for establishing intervention strategies toward psychiatric rehabilitation for those who suffer from chronic mental illnesses.