Earticle

Purpose: To examine the effects of appearance satisfaction on school adjustment among adolescents and, further, the mediating effects of self-efficacy between appearance satisfaction and school adjustment. Methods: Conducted a self-report survey of 640 students consisting of sixth, eighth, and tenth graders in the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. The collected data were analyzed through the independent-sample t-test, the One-way ANOVA, the Pearson's correlation analysis, and the hierarchical multiple regression analysis using the SPSS WIN 18.0 statistical program. Results: First, boys and girls showed statistically significant differences. Boys reported higher levels of appearance satisfaction, school adjustment, and self-efficacy than girls. Second, there were no significant differences in appearance satisfaction and self-efficacy according to the school level. However, statistically significant differences were observed in school adjustment between sixth and eighth graders. Third, students who thought they belonged to the upper class in terms of academic performance and family economy showed the highest level of appearance satisfaction, school adjustment, and self-efficacy. Fourth, there were positive correlations between appearance satisfaction, self-efficacy, and school adjustment Fifth, self-efficacy proved to have mediating effects between appearance satisfaction and school adjustment among adolescents. In particular, it had a full mediating effect on the relation between appearance satisfaction and adjustment to school life, one of the subfactors of school adjustment. Conclusion: The results suggest that appearance satisfaction is a factor which influences adolescents' school adjustment and that self-efficacy is an important means of mediating between appearance satisfaction and school adjustment. The study is significant in that it highlighted the importance of self-efficacy as one of the important variables to consider when planning various educational programs to help adolescents adjust to their school. In the light of the findings, in an effort to enhance adolescents' self-efficacy and help them lead a harmonious school life in Korea's so-called 'lookism' society, it is necessary to develop and implement counseling programs and character education materials that help adolescents develop a positive perception of their appearance and build self-esteem and self-confidence.

Purpose: This study is a descriptive correlation study to identify how factors such as motivation to learn, school adaptation, self-control, and self-esteem influence the degree of Internet game addiction and to provide basic data for nursing interventions for male middle school students. Methods: The subjects of this study were 418 male students in lst, 2nd and 3rd grade at three middle schools located in Ulsan. Data were collected from May 1, 2011 to May 31, 2011 and analyzed through descriptive statistical methods, such as the t-test, ANOVA, Sheffe’s test, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis, via SPSS 18.0 program. The study’s structured questionnaire was composed of 25 items of ‘the Motivation to Learn Scale’, 41 items of ‘the School Adaptation Scale’, 20 items of ‘the Self-Control Scale’, 10 items of ‘the Self-esteem Scale’, and 20 items of ‘the Internet Game Addiction Scale’. Results: 163 students (39.0%) belonged to the non-addiction group while 255 students (61.0%) fell into the addiction risk group. The addiction risk group showed a higher degree of addiction than ones in the non-addiction group. The addiction risk group’s average scores for motivation to learn, school adaptation, self-control, and self-esteem were lower than those of the non-addiction group. The statistically significant factors (p<.05) that increase the chance of addiction were grade, family atmosphere, self-control, trading of online game items, and the amount of time playing online games. Conclusion: On the basis of the findings of this study, it is suggested that; qualitative research on the routes of addiction be conducted to find out ways to prevent and nurse addicted students; considering the fact that the average age of Internet users is getting lower and lower, a study targeting primary school students be implemented; since the influences of the variables covered in this study turned out to be relatively low, other factors, especially environmental factors, should also be investigated.

Purpose: The mental health during the elementary school years is important to develop overall healthy behaviors and well adapt to society. So as to provide basic data for comprehensive health education programs, we investigated the state of mental health problems and health promotion behaviors among rural elementary school students, along with the relationship between the two factors. Methods: In total, 421 5th and 6th grade students were recruited to answer a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was composed of questions about general demographic characteristics, 4 items over mental health-interpersonal vulnerability, depression, anxiety, hostility-, and 5 items over health behaviors-general health habits, computer addiction, accident prevention, infection prevention, and mental health-. The participation rate was 96%(407/421). Results: 1) The mean and the standard deviation of mental health problems were as follows; interpersonal sensitivity 2.06±0.70, hostility 1.88±0.73, depression 1.74±0.69, anxiety 1.72±0.66. 2) The mean and the standard deviation of health-promoting behaviors were as follows; prevention of infectious diseases 3.37±0.47, hygiene and daily-life habit 3.09±0.41, mental health 2.81±0.51, accident prevention 2.79±0.57, computer usage and health 2.61±0.56. 3) Students with high academic performance, good relationships with friends and teachers, high household economic status, and good family relation, showed higher scores in health-promoting behaviors. 4) Higher scores in mental health problems were significantly correlated with lower scores in health-promoting behaviors. Conclusion: In developing comprehensive school health programs, it is necessary to find ways to improve both health promoting behaviors and mental health problems.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between school adjustment and stress-coping styles among adolescents. Methods: This is a descriptive correlation survey using a convenience sample of 701 middle school students in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, Jeonbuk, and Gangwon province, Korea. The study's questionnaire included a scale of school adjustment and a scale of stress-coping style. The data analysis, using the SPSS 19.0 program, involved frequency, the mean and standard deviation, the t-test, ANOVA, the scheffe test, and the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: Positive correlations were identified between positive stress-coping styles and the adjustment to school life of adolescents. The degree of school adjustment varied significantly according to the region, grade, attending private educational institutes after school or not, academic performance, daily study hours after school, and the hours students spend on gaming and Internet use a day. With regard to the behaviors to cope with stress, teenagers with a higher sense of life-satisfaction tended to show active coping behaviors, and female students were more likely to show positive or negative coping behaviors than mystic coping behaviors. Since adolescents' stress-coping styles showed connection with their adjustment to school, it is necessary to develop stress management programs to help middle school students adjust to school life. Conclusion: Based on the study's findings, it is important to develop programs which can help students adjust to school and learn how to cope with stress positively.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between smartphone usage time and university students' physical and mental health. Methods: A survey of 320 university students in Ulsan was conducted from Nov. 26 to 28, 2012, using a self-report questionnaire. The structured questionnaire consisted of questions regarding socio-demographic characteristics, the amount of time spent using smartphones, physical health, and mental health. The collected data were analyzed by the t-test, ANOVA, and the pearson correlation coefficient, using the SPSS 18.0 Program. Results: The mean of the time spent using smartphones was 154.94±93.97 minutes. Female university students tend to spend significantly longer time using smartphones than male university students (p<.01). Smartphone usage time had a significant positive correlation with the students' score of smartphone addiction (r=.26, p<.001). Conclusion: The findings of this study can be utilized as a basic material to prevent physical and mental health problems caused by smartphone usage.