Earticle

Purpose: Few studies have attempted to explain the childhood's sociality issue in Korea. This study was conducted to investigate the association between obesity stress and sociality factors. Methods : The study subjects were 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students from the elementary schools in Kwangju, Anyang, and Hwasung city. The cross sectional study was carried out through the self-reported questionnaire survey about obesity stress, sociality, and socio-demographic characteristics. The data was analyzed by multiple regression analysis using SPSS 12.0 version. Results : Overall, the findings of this study were consistent with previous studies. The measures of obesity stress showed significant negative relationships with measures of childhood sociality. Specifically, the association between mental stress from obesity and socialization was more higher than other variables. In addition, multiple regression analysis found that the effect of mental stress from obesity on childhood sociality was more higher than the effect of stress from physical discomfort and the effort to overcome the obesity stress. Conclusion : Findings provide evidence for the notion that the measures of obesity stress is significantly associated with childhood sociality.

Purpose : This study investigated the relationship between body type, subjective symptoms and health awareness in female high school students Methods : The subjects were 393 students at the female high school in Taejon City by self-recorded questionnaires in May, 2006. Results : In the classification of body type based on the degree of obesity, low weight group was 20.9%, normal weight group was 58.0%, over weight group was 11.7% and obesity group was 9.4%. In the level of body type wareness, those who consider themselves to be obesity type 13.7%, standard type were 43.8%, and leptosomic type 8.1%, but there was a clear tendency to be leptosomic type that the rate was 76.3%. In the complaint rates of subjective symptoms, “fatigue” was the highest, followed by “neck pain(stiffness)”, “dizziness”, “stomachache” in the descending order. In the complaint rates of subjective symptoms by the degree of obesity, dizziness, irregular menstruation and anorexia were higher according to the lower obesity, but constipation and wearied eyes were the higher the more obesity. Conclusion : The study results showed that the recent female high school students were clear tendency to be leptosomic type, and leptosomic and obesity type were related with subjective symptoms. Considering these findings, it appeared that being excessively thin is related to symptoms and young women's thinness-oriented attitudes are unhealthful.

Purpose: Internet is one of the essential tools in South Korean adolescent life. Recently, researchers suggest that Internet use is positively associated with teens' mental health problems such as depression and suicide. Thus, this study explored a relationship between Internet use and suicide ideation among South Korean adolescents. Methods:　Secondary data, the three-wave Korean Youth Panel Survey, were analyzed. First, in terms of the levels of Internet use and suicidal ideation, t-test was used for examining a gender difference, and Analysis of Variance were used for examining differences across three points in time(waves 2 - 4). Second, logistic analysis was performed to examine the significant association between Internet use and suicide ideation after controlling for the other factors' effects. In this analysis, Fixed Effect Regression Method(FERM) was incorporated as well. FERM was useful in adjusting for the effects of time-invariant factors even without measuring them. As a result, it was possible to obtain more accurate findings. Results: Adolescent depression was an important factor influencing the association between Internet use and suicide ideation. After controlling for the effect of depression, the relationship between Internet use and suicide ideation was no longer statistically significant. Conclusion:　As a proxy to identify teens who are obsessed with suicide ideation, levels of Internet use do not seem useful. Instead, it is necessary to examine teens' access to websites related to suicide.

Purpose: This study was a part of preliminary survey for establishing Korean HPS(Health Promoting School) model which was originally suggested by WHO. Methods: Three elementary and middle schools were sampled in urban and rural area across three level of social-economic status, and survey was conducted on one class in each grade by random selection. To measure mental health and social and familial factors, self-esteem scale, self-efficacy scale, depression scale, family cohesion scale, parent-child communication scale, adolescent's mental health and problem behavior questionnaire(AMPQ), and other question items about family status and economic level were conducted. Students' mental health level was compared by region, sex, grade, and other familial and economic factors. Results: Familial and social factors such as economical and educational level of parents, number of family members were different between rural and urban area. Also, students of rural area got lower scores at self-esteem, self-efficacy, but higher scores at extroverted problem behavior than their urban counterparts. In pre-school students, high grade students' self-esteem, and family cohesion scores were lower than low grade students. And sexual differences were found across problem behavior domain and region in middle school students. Especially, the students of single-parent family and lower economic family got insistently low scores at various mental health related scales. Conclusion: These results should be considered, when the HPS model is designed and applied in Korea.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare Fast foods and Soft drinks consumption of Korean adolescents in a large city, a medium city, and a rural area. Methods: This was a descriptive comparative survey using a convenience sample of 2,261 8th and 11th grade students. The data were analyzed by X2-test and ANOVA using SPSS 10.0 statistical program. Results: For fast food consumptions, the higher in a large city than in a medium city and a rural area(p=.000). For soft drinks in a school, cafeteria or vending machines was higher in a large city and a medium city then in a rural area(p=.000). For eating snacks including cookies and popcorns was higher among students in a rural area than those in a medium city and large city(p=.008). Conclusions: 1. Overall, the health information among rural students is lower than those among other areas, as well as taking a health education course among rural students is also lower. Thus, the health inequality by regional differences should be considered. To decrease health inequality among different regions, health professionals who can systematically teach a health education course for middle and high school students and undertake students' health are needed. 2. Soft drinks sold in schools are higher in a large city and medium city than in a rural area. Therefore, there is a need of strong regulations and policies about the restriction of soft drinks sold in vending machines or school cafeterias.

Purpose: Several health behavior factors affect the incidence of type 2 diabetes. Especially, obesity, which causes insulin resistance, is the most important determinant of diabetes. Therefore, we expect the risk factors associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes are affected by obesity and, additionally, the related factors with diabetes caused by obesity can be controlled. Methods: This study used data collected from the 2001 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). A stratified multistage probability sampling method was applied and the final sample included 5,500 subjects over 30 years old who had completed necessary health examinations and health behaviors survey. Results: The risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes are affected by obesity. According to logistic regression model stratified by body mass index (BMI) and sex, abdominal obesity and age were the significant risk factors of diabetes regardless of sex and BMI. However, drinking, smoking, total energy consumption, and protein consumption were risk factors for women with normal BMI, while carbohydrate consumption was a risk factor for man with normal BMI. Sleeping hours affected diabetes for women with obesity and fiber consumption was a risk factor for both women and men with obesity. In addition, statistically the family history of diabetes was a significant risk factor only in the group with normal weight, not in the group with obesity. Conclusion: The study results will provide information for implementing a regional initiative of type 2 diabetes prevention by BMI.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the contraceptive knowledge, self-efficacy according to the career tract of high school female students. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional, correlational design using an exploratory survey methodology through self-reported questionnaires. The questionnaires were administered to 369 high school female students using a convenience sampling. Results: In the experience of sexual behaviors(grasping hand, hugging, petting, deep petting, sexual intercourse), technical female high school students showed more experiences than female high school students. In the contraceptive knowledge, the score of high school students' contraceptive knowledge was higher than technical female high school students. In the contraceptive self-efficacy, there was not a significant difference between the technical female high school students and female high school students. In the female high school students, there were significant differences in the contraceptive knowledge according to grade, academic record, sex education experience and there were significant differences in the contraceptive self-efficacy according to grade, academic record, parents' attitude about acquaintance of the opposite sex. In the technical female high school students, there was not significant difference in the contraceptive knowledge according to demographic, sexual behavior, and contraceptive related characteristics but there were significant differences in the contraceptive self-efficacy according to grade, parents' attitude about acquaintance of the opposite sex, contraceptive education experience at school. There was positive relationship between contraceptive knowledge and contraceptive self-efficacy. Conclusion: Further research is needed to identify the prevalence rate of contraceptive attitude using more reliable variables. A sex education program should be developed for promoting use of contraceptive measure and formation of positive contraceptive attitude among high school female students.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the heavy metal pollution of playgrounds of elementary schools in the Ulsan Metropolitan City. Soil pollution is one of the most dangerous problems of the utmost concern to both children and teachers. The result of this study would be an educational datum for improving children's health and establishing educational policy. Methods: For the analysis, fifteen representative schools were selected from five sample areas such as Dong-gu, Nam-gu, Jung-gu, Buk-gu and Ulju-gun of the Ulsan city. And from each school playground, soil was extracted from five spots and mingled into one sample. These fifteen samples were pretreated by the microwave extraction method, and the extracted heavy metals(As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Cr⁶⁺, Zn and Hg) were quantified by the ICP(Inductively Coupled Plasma) system. Results: The results of the analysis shows that the level of heavy metal pollution of elementary school playgrounds in Ulsan city did not exceed the permitted limit of each heavy metal. This means that the soil pollution of playgrounds in the Ulsan Metropolitan City is not so serious as it is expected. But it should be added that the soil is not too safe to be ignored.

Purpose : To investigate major characteristics influencing on adolescent smoking in Korea. Method : The subjects were 431 students (298 male and 133 female) enrolled in the non smoking program at Seoul School Health Promotion Center from March 2006 to February 2007. The survey was done about motivation of smoking, the way of getting cigarettes and frequency, chi-square test, and t-test by SAS package 8.1 were used to analyze the data. Result : Total 431 subjects were composed of 49.2% middle school students, 50.8% high school students. The middle school students who smoke 1 to less than 10 cigarettes per day were 56.1% and 10 to less than 20 cigarettes per day 26.7%, while high school students were 46.8% and 44.1%. 73.1% of male, and 76.9% of female students selected the cigarettes depending on taste and fragrance. The places of buying cigarettes were supermarkets 67%, convenience stores 19.4%, small stores 11.8%. A high percentage of students answered they did not have to show ID when they bought cigarettes(“rarely checked the ID” 25.2% of male and 30.8% of female, ”did not checked at all” was 10.9% male and 9.6% female). The ratio of spending money on buying cigarettes was 38.8% and 35.6% in male and female middle school, and 37.9% and 27.2% in male and female high school. Conclusion : Findings of this study suggests the constituting of strong social regulations to protect youth from smoking.

Purpose: To investigate the utilization of medical care benefits of school personnel on duty in Seoul. Method: The subjects were 551 workers under Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education(male 301, female 250) who got medical care benefits from March 2000 to February 2005. To analyze the data, frequency, chi-square test, and t-test by SAS package 9.12 were used. Result: The results show that elementary school personnel got the highest ranking, 314(57.0%). Among subjects, 57.2% personnel got accident when they were working on their own duty, 21% during school events and 13.5% were during commutes. They got medical care from orthopedics 75.9%, neurosurgery 7.6%, dental 4%, and 8 male and 2 female died during these days. The most frequent diseases of males and female were fracture and joints related disease. The reason of most health problem was due to injury(92.3%). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the continuous health care services like regular health check for school personnel, or social safety network to prevent injury are needed.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand a variety of intervention studies to prevent smoking by adolescents in U.S. and find out implications for Korea. Methods: This study reviewed articles found in the internet and analysed the data of US DHHS and CDC. Results: The School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) is a national survey periodically conducted to assess school health policies and programs of U.S. The main components of SHPPS are health education and physical education, health services, mental health and social services, school policies, and school environments. The CDC guidelines for school health programs to prevent tobacco use and addiction are composed of policy, instruction, curriculum, training, family involvement, tobacco-use cessation efforts, and evaluation. School-based interventions to prevent smoking can be classified into the categories of information-giving curricula, social competence curricula, social influence approaches, combined methods draw on social competence and social influence approaches and multi-modal programmes and Youth Empowerment study. The key programs for adolescent smoking prevention are ALERT Project, HSPP, TNT Project, MPP, NC YES. Conclusions: As smoking is often the first step of unhealthy behaviour such as alcohol drinking, illegal drugs, and violence, smoking prevention programmes for adolescents in U.S. have been comprehensive school-based health programs. In smoking prevention programs for adolescents, CDC plays a critical role by supporting survey, research, policy, and funds. The effectiveness of the programs was high when it was based on school and involved parents, community, and mass media. As the effect of each programme is not expected to last for a long time, consistent repetition of these interventions is essential. Current smoking prevention programs for adolescents are exploring the empowerment approach focused on the active involvement of participants rather than traditional approaches using order and discipline.