Earticle

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to conduct a descriptive survey to examine the knowledge, infection prevention behaviors, and health beliefs regarding COVID-19 and to identify factors that influence infection prevention behaviors in elementary and middle school students based on the Health Belief Model. Methods: The study included 388 elementary and middle school students in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Jeonbuk provinces. Data were collected from September 1 to September 15, 2023. The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions about COVID-19 knowledge, 13 questions about infection prevention behaviors, and 15 questions about health beliefs. The collected data were subjected to multiple hierarchical regression analyses. The cronbach’s ⍺ of infection prevention behaviors was 0.83, the KR-20 of COVID-19 related knowledge was 0.68, and the Cronbach’s ⍺ of COVID-19 related health beliefs was 0. 78. Results: In Model 1, females showed higher levels of infection prevention behaviors than males (β=.14, p=.006) and middle school students showed lower levels of infection prevention behaviors than elementary school students (β=-.10, p=.037). In Model 2, among COVID-19-related health beliefs, barriers had a significant negative effect on infection prevention behaviors (β=-.20, p<.001) and cues to action had a significant positive effect on infection prevention behaviors (β=.14, p=.037), indicating that lower barriers and higher cues to action were associated with higher levels of infection prevention behaviors. Conclusion: The results showed that prevention behaviors were associated with lower barriers and higher cues to action among COVID-19 health beliefs. Elementary and middle school students in Korea spend a lot of time in groups at private academies or school, which are closed spaces with poor ventilation, making them vulnerable to new infectious diseases such as COVID-19. Unlike adults, infectious diseases can have serious impact on their mental and social health. Therefore, it is necessary for schools to provide accurate and timely health education about COVID-19 to increase cues to action for elementary and middle school students in order to improve their infection prevention behaviors.

Purpose: This study aimed to provide basic data for future infectious disease prevention educational programs targeting preschoolers by verifying the effects of the 2023 Home-visiting Infectious Disease Prevention Class Project for Preschoolers. Methods: The study is a descriptive survey that analyzed educational satisfaction of kindergarten teachers and the activity reports of visiting teachers. The effectiveness of the education on the children’s side was evaluated with a quasi-experimental approach using pre- and post-test design. Data collection was conducted from September 6 to November 10, 2023. The data from 96 kindergarten teachers, 100 activity reports written by visiting teachers, 56 children in the experimental group, and 50 children in the control group were analyzed. Results: As a result of analyzing the satisfaction survey results of the kindergarten teachers and the activity reports submitted by the visiting teachers, all questions received a very positive evaluation with 4 or more out of 5 points. In addition, the children in the experimental group showed statistically significant positive changes both in hand-washing accuracy and their awareness of immunity. Conclusion: The Home-visiting Infectious Disease Prevention Class Project for Preschoolers is of great educational significance and is expected to be a useful educational intervention that can improve infection prevention behaviors and show practical preventive effects in preschoolers so that they can be prepared for various infectious diseases in the future.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare sociocultural attitudes toward appearance, appearance satisfaction, and peer relationships between male and female middle school students, and to compare the effects of these variables on self-esteem in students of different genders. Methods: Data were collected in August and September of 2023 and analyzed using SPSS 24.0. Data were collected from 289 male and 240 female students through a survey, and descriptive statistics, x2 test, t-test, Scheffé test, and multiple regression analysis were conducted. Results: Female students showed significantly higher scores for sociocultural attitudes toward appearance (3.06±0.77 vs. 2.82±0.74), significantly lower scores for appearance satisfaction (2.55±0.46 vs. 2.71±0.40), and significantly higher scores for peer relationships (3.46±0.69 vs. 3.00±0.78) than male students. Additionally, self-esteem was significantly lower in female students (2.84±0.59) than in male students (2.95±0.51). As a result of adjusting for weekly allowance, subjective academic achievement, family economic status, stress, and experience of sadness or despair, which were significant in the univariate analysis, self-esteem increased as appearance satisfaction (p for all <.001) and peer relationships increased in both male (p=.009) and female (p<.001) students. In addition, sociocultural attitudes toward appearance did not have a significant impact on self-esteem in both male and female students. Among general characteristics, weekly allowance, subjective academic achievement, and stress were found to have a significant effect on self-esteem in both genders. Relationships with parents had a significant effect on self-esteem only in male students, and experience of sadness or despair had a significant effect only in female students. Conclusion: In order to improve self-esteem in both boys and girls, appearance satisfaction and peer relationships should be improved. As boys with poor relationships with their parents and girls with high levels of sadness or despair are particularly likely to have low self-esteem, they are to be considered as a high-risk group.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the factors associated with high-caffeine drink consumption among Korean adolescents. Methods: Secondary data analysis was conducted utilizing the 18th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey, with a total enrollment of 51,850 students. Descriptive statistics, x2 tests, and multivariate logistic regression were performed using SPSS 23.0. Results: The study identified several factors associated with high-caffeine drink consumption, including school levels, tobacco or alcohol consumption, walking, perceived stress levels, feelings of sadness, loneliness, and anxiety, and the occurrence of suicidal thoughts. Conclusion: The findings suggest there is an association between unhealthy health behaviors or mental health issues, and consumption of high-caffeine drinks among adolescents. It emphasizes the need for increased attention and targeted educational interventions for adolescents at high risk.