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Purpose: This study performed a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to map the structural characteristics and identify critical gaps in alcohol-related literature regarding Korea over the past two decades, providing directions for future research. Methods: A total of 6,710 articles published from 2005 to 2024 were retrieved from seven major international and domestic databases. Keyword co-occurrence and network analyses were conducted, comparing international and domestic research trends based on language and scholarly domain. Results: International literature primarily focused on alcohol as a biomedical and epidemiological risk factor, forming a centralized network around general keywords. Domestic literature centered on specific psychosocial themes within unique Korean contexts, exhibiting a specialized network structure. A significant gap in macro-level policy and structural research was identified in both literature streams. Conclusions: The structural divergence between international and domestic perspectives limits the formation of a comprehensive evidence base. To effectively address alcohol-related harm, future research requires the integration across these trends and a prioritization of macro-level policy studies.

This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing suicidal ideation among underutilized workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, using the stress process model as a framework. Data from 717 underutilized adults in South Korea were purposively sampled through an online survey and analyzed using multiple logistic regression to examine the sequential impact of labor underutilization context, cognitive appraisal, negative life experiences during the pandemic, psychological factors (such as depression and embitterment), and coping resources. The analysis showed that 30.7% of respondents reported suicidal ideation. Elevated levels of depression and embitterment were significantly associated with suicidal ideation, with embitterment showing a stronger and relatively independent association. Additionally, more negative life events, perceived difficulty in reemployment, and low self-efficacy were also associated with a heightened risk of suicidal ideation. Our study highlights the importance of effective emotion and stress management strategies to reduce suicide risk among the unemployed, taking a broader perspective on labor underutilization.

Objectives: This study examined the association between self-determination in reproductive health decision-making and contraceptive use and healthcare-seeking behaviors among married female adolescents in rural Bangladesh. Methods: This study utilized data from an independent samples baseline-endline survey conducted with 591 married female adolescents (291 at baseline in 2020 and 300 at endline in 2022) participating in a community-based reproductive health intervention program in Badarganj, Bangladesh. Self-determination was measured using a composite index of five core decision-making domains (marriage timing, contraceptive use, spouse selection, pregnancy timing, and pregnancy termination), after excluding two domains with high missing rates to minimize bias. Participants were classified into high and low autonomy groups based on the median of the summed autonomy scores. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to examine associations between self-determination level and health behaviors, adjusting for age, survey round, education level, number of living children, and age at marriage. Results: The high autonomy group had significantly higher odds of visiting healthcare facilities in the past 3 months compared to the low autonomy group (aOR=1.73, 95% CI: 1.08–2.78, p=.023). However, no significant associations were found between self-determination level and current use of any contraceptive method (aOR=1.03, p=.890) or antenatal/postnatal care utilization among ever-pregnant adolescents (aOR=1.40, p=.434). Conclusion: Self-determination significantly increased healthcare facility visits but did not affect contraceptive use among married female adolescents. These findings suggest that while individual autonomy facilitates physical access to healthcare, it may be insufficient to overcome structural barriers regarding contraception. Therefore, a dual approach is required: empowering individual autonomy for healthcare access and implementing structural interventions targeting family and social norms to improve family planning practices.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze multi-level data on the impact of individual and regional urban environmental factors on adult obesity using representative nationwide data. Methods: The study included 158,203 urban adults who participated in the 2023 Community Health Survey. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the influence of individual and community-level urban environmental factors on adult obesity. In this research, individuals with a BMI of at least 25 kg/m² were considered obese, in line with the WHO Asia–Pacific classification and the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity’s clinical guidelines. Results: At the individual level, gender, education level, age, residence, subjective health status, chronic diseases, alcohol consumption, walking, and smoking were found to influence obesity. At the regional level, higher park area ratio (OR=0.994, 95% CI: 0.991-0.998) and public transportation use (OR=0.997, 95% CI: 0.996-0.999) were associated with a lower risk of obesity, while higher numbers of bars (OR=1.015, 95% CI: 1.002-1.029) were associated with a higher risk of obesity. Conclusions: Obesity is a multidimensional problem influenced not only by an individual's lifestyle and health, but also by the physical and social environment of the community. This suggests that obesity prevention and management policies should expand beyond individual behavioral modification to a comprehensive approach that includes improving the urban environment and expanding community health infrastructure.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the longitudinal effects of regional alcohol accessibility factors on adolescent drinking rates in Korea. Specifically, it analyzed how entertainment business density, perceived ease of purchasing alcohol, and stress recognition rates influenced changes in adolescent drinking behavior from 2010 to 2023. Methods: This research utilized data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBS) conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the National Business Survey by Statistics Korea. The data were aggregated at the level of 17 metropolitan cities and provinces, producing 231 valid observations after excluding missing and extreme values. A longitudinal multilevel model was employed to assess the effects of time, entertainment business rate, stress recognition rate, and perceived ease of alcohol purchase on adolescent drinking rates, as well as their interaction effects with time. Results: Between 2010 and 2023, the adolescent drinking rate decreased significantly from 21.1% to 11.4%. Stress recognition rate and perceived ease of alcohol purchase both showed significant positive effects on drinking rates (p<.001 and p<.05, respectively), indicating that higher stress and easier alcohol access were associated with increased adolescent drinking. While the entertainment business rate alone was not statistically significant, its interaction with time was (p<.05), suggesting that regions with higher densities of entertainment establishments exhibited a slower decline in drinking rates over time. Overall, the decreasing trend in adolescent drinking appeared moderated by environmental accessibility factors. Conclusions: Adolescent drinking in Korea has declined over the past decade; however, environmental accessibility—particularly the prevalence of entertainment businesses—continues to influence this trend. Stress levels and perceived alcohol availability remain consistent risk factors. These findings highlight the need for sustained, community-level interventions focused on regulating alcohol access, managing adolescent stress, and addressing environmental risk factors through long-term public health strategies.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine gender differences in healthy lifestyle behaviors and addictive behaviors, and to explore the relationship between Healthy Lifestyle Score (HLS) and two major addiction indicators—nicotine dependence (FTND) and alcohol use (AUDIT)—among adult men and women. The study sought to determine (1) whether HLS differs by gender, (2) whether FTND and AUDIT scores differ by gender, (3) how the association between HLS and addiction indicators varies by gender, and (4) which factors predict HLS in each gender group. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2024 using an online panel of U.S. adults aged 19 years or older. After data cleaning, 311 participants (122 men, 189 women) were included in the final analysis. Healthy lifestyle behaviors were measured using the Healthy Lifestyle Screening Tool (HLST), nicotine dependence using the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), and alcohol use using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlations, MANOVA, and multiple regression. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board. Results: Men demonstrated significantly higher HLS scores than women (p=.023), particularly in exercise, air quality, rest, and general health domains. However, FTND and AUDIT scores did not significantly differ by gender. Correlation analyses showed no significant association between HLS and addiction indicators for either gender, whereas FTND and AUDIT were positively correlated in both groups. Regression analyses indicated that among men, higher FTND predicted higher HLS, while higher AUDIT predicted lower HLS. Conclusions: The findings suggest that healthy lifestyle behaviors differ by gender, whereas nicotine dependence and alcohol use levels do not show strong gender distinctions. The relationship between lifestyle and addictive behaviors appears to be multidimensional rather than linear, influenced by psychological and sociocultural factors. Gender-specific approaches may be needed in addiction prevention and recovery interventions: men may benefit from behavior-oriented strategies emphasizing physical activity and self-efficacy, while women may require interventions focused on emotional regulation and social connectedness. These findings support the need for gender-responsive addiction treatment and contribute to a more nuanced understanding of how lifestyle behaviors relate to addiction indicators.