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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the intention of smoking cessation according to the level of cigarette price increase among adolescent smokers and to suggest a reasonable cigarette price to effectively reduce smoking prevalence. Methods: In 2007, subjects were selected from middle and high school students except twelfth graders using a complex sampling design which employs a two-stage cluster sampling method. In total, 1,001 current smokers were included in the study. To investigate the intention of smoking cessation according to the level of cigarette price increase, cumulative percentages of smoking cessation of every smoking-related subgroup were presented under the assumption that cigarette prices increased to 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, 6,000 or 10,000 won. Non-parametric statistical methods were used to compare the prices at which the subjects intended to quit smoking among the subgroups. Results: More than 50 percent of current smokers intended to quit smoking under the assumption that cigarette prices were doubled to 5,000 won. However, the effect of cigarette prices on smoking cessation was less sensitive when the prices exceeded 5,000 won. In addition, the median of cigarette prices at which the subjects intended to quit smoking was 5,000 won, excluding the subjects who smoked less than a cigarette a day. Conclusion: This study suggests that 5,000 won for one pack of cigarettes is a reasonable price to effectively encourage smoking cessation, considering the price elasticity. Therefore, this finding may be helpful in establishing a new cigarette price policy for anti-smoking.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate middle school students’ knowledge and attitudes related to breast feeding. Methods: The knowledge and attitudes related to breast feeding were measured by structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation, using the SPSS/WIN 17.0 program. Results: The level of knowledge of breast feeding was 9.02 points out of 25 points, in average. Attitudes towards breast feeding was 3.77 points out of 5 points, in average. There were significant differences in the knowledge of breast feeding according to grade, feeding type, family type, experiences of observing breast feeding, experiences of obtaining breast feeding information, will to practice breast feeding, and the reasons for low breast feeding rate. There were significant differences in attitudes towards breast feeding according to gender, grade, feeding type, family type, experiences of observing breast feeding, experiences of obtaining breast feeding information, timing of breast feeding education, will to practice breast feeding, and the reasons for low breast feeding rate. There was a significant positive correlation between the knowledge of breast feeding and attitudes towards breast feeding. Conclusion: Middle school students should be provided with various education programs to improve their knowledge of and attitudes toward breast feeding.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the correlation between obesity stress, self-esteem, and adaptation to school life according to body mass index of elementary school students in higher grades and to provide basic data for the development of health education programs. Methods: A convenience sampling method was used to select four elementary schools. Self-reporting questionnaires were distributed to the subjects to collect data, which were then analyzed using the SPSS 18.0 program. Results: The higher the obesity index, the more obesity stress the students experienced. Second, the lower the level of obesity, the higher both self-esteem and the level of adjustment to school life were. There was a meaningful correlation between obesity stress, self-esteem, and adjustment to school life. Conclusion: The study results are expected to be useful in serving as a basic material for the development of programs that can improve students’ adjustment to school life and self-esteem while reducing their stress caused by obesity.

Purpose: This study examined the levels of and the associations between middle school students’ attachments to parents, peers, and teachers, truancy, and school bullying. Methods: Data on middle school student were obtained from the Korea National Children and Youth Survey 2010 (N =2,968). The independent t-test and Kruskal-Wallis test were conducted to examine the differences in truancy and school bullying according to the characteristics of students. Multiple stepwise regression analysis was conducted to identify the factors influencing school bullying. Results: The magnitude of the correlation between truancy and bullying was r=.34 (p<.001). Two types of attachment(to parents and to teachers) were associated with school bullying, with the magnitude of r=-.06 (p=.003) and r=-.09 (p<.001), respectively. Truancy and all three types of attachment (to parents, peers, and teachers) predicted school bullying significantly (F=27.84, p<.001). Conclusion: In this study, truancy had more influence on bullying behavior than attachments to parents, teachers and peers among middle school students. These results suggest there is need to develop and provide programs to prevent or early intervene in truancy, an important predictor of school bullying, to reduce school bullying among middle school students.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of clinical art therapy programs utilized at schools on adolescents' suicidal thoughts and stress relief and to validate their effectiveness as a type of adolescent suicide prevention program. Methods: 12 sessions of clinical art therapy for youth suicide prevention were provided, once a week for 90 minutes, for 20 students at five middle schools in Seoul who were at high risk of committing suicide. By using the paired sample t-test, the study presented qualitative data on the analysis of pre- and post- questionnaires and on the subjects’ EEG test and saliva test. Results: First, through the clinical art therapy program, the subjects’ happiness index improved significantly while their scores of depression and suicidal ideation (suicidal thoughts) decreased. Second, in the EEG and saliva test conducted after the art therapy sessions, emotional stability increased and stress was reduced significantly. Third, according to the results of pre- and post- K-HTP tests and individual activities, the subjects started to recognize the seriousness of suicide and show emotional stability and positive changes in overall attitudes, valuing the rights and life of their own ‘precious selves’ (self respect). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the clinical art therapy program is significantly effective at preventing suicidal ideation by reducing suicidal impulses and depression, by increasing the happiness index, which can serve as a protective factor against suicide, and by increasing emotional stability while reducing stress. Based on the results, there is a need to develop policy measures regarding art therapy programs which can be utilized at schools.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing emotional and behavioral characteristics of high school students. Methods: This was a descriptive survey using a convenience sample of 672. 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade high school students in Inchoen city. Emotional and behavioral characteristics were measured by AMPQscale consisting of 38 items and depression was measured by BDI consisting of 21 items. The subjects were Ⅱ given a self-reporting questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed by frequency, mean, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffé -test, x2-test and multiple regression using the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. Results: General high school students and vocational high school students were more likely to have emotional or behavior troubles, experience depression, and plan suicide than special-purpose high school students. Significant predictors influencing emotional and behavior characteristics were the 'type of high school' and 'depression'. Conclusion: There is a need to develop school-based mental health programs, especially targeting female students, general high school students and vocational high school students.