Purpose
North Korean refugee women face multiple vulnerabilities during pregnancy and early childrearing due to fragmented support and limited familiarity with Korea’s health and welfare systems. Existing research has examined isolated barriers. This study used a service design approach to explore their maternal–infant care experiences and identify structural discontinuities across the care pathway.
Methods
Data were collected from North Korean refugee mothers and service providers from April to August 2024. A service design approach using user journey mapping, thematic analysis, and service blueprinting was employed to examine user actions, emotional trajectories, frontline interactions, and backstage and interagency processes.
Results
Five structural issues were identified: fragmented information, cross-institutional access barriers, cultural and emotional isolation, discontinuity in interagency linkage, and provider resource constraints. These issues accumulated along the pathway, increasing emotional burden, delaying timely care, and reinforcing avoidance behaviors. Misalignment between user needs and multi-agency processes was also evident.
Conclusion
Maternal and infant care challenges among North Korean refugee women stem from structural fragmentation rather than individual factors. Based on these findings, the NK Mom Care Navigator—a pathway-based, culturally responsive service design model—is proposed to strengthen continuity of care and enhance equitable maternal–infant support for vulnerable refugee families.

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to explore the in-depth perceptions of newborn care among North Korean refugee women through focus group interviews. This research aims to provide foundational data for developing newborn care education programs tailored for North Korean refugee women preparing for motherhood.
Methods
This qualitative study employed focus groups to investigate perceptions of neonatal care among North Korean refugee women of childbearing age (20–45 years old). Conducted from August to September 2022, the sessions included five non-pregnant women and four who were currently pregnant.
Results
Both pregnant and non-pregnant women expressed ambivalent feelings, characterized by a blend of expectation and fear regarding childrearing. Pregnant women articulated specific parenting strategies and viewed childrearing as a more tangible responsibility in light of physical changes and social isolation. In contrast, non-pregnant women expressed vague aversion and anxiety about the lack of information and support systems, stating that they could only endure childrearing with adequate external support. Notably, pregnant women emphasized the psychological conflict stemming from disrupted self-realization and shifts in their identities as mothers.
Conclusion
This study revealed differences in childrearing perceptions among North Korean refugee women based on their pregnancy status. It underscores the necessity for developing customized education programs that consider life stages and psychological readiness, as well as the importance of establishing social support systems.

Citations

• Service design for improving pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare competency among North Korean refugee women in South Korea: a qualitative service-design study
  In-Sook Lee
  Child Health Nursing Research.2026; 32(1): 52.     CrossRef

Purpose
This descriptive study aimed to identify the factors affecting adolescents’ emotional intelligence during the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.
Methods
We utilized the 4th-year data from the 2018 Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey, which comprise 1,852 adolescents living with both parents. The determinants of adolescents’ emotional intelligence were analyzed through stepwise multiple regression, considering parental, family, and school factors.
Results
Parental factors, such as parents’ grit and emotional intelligence, were found to enhance adolescents’ emotional intelligence. Family factors, including parents’ positive parenting attitude and the average time spent with parents, also significantly enhance adolescents’ emotional intelligence. School factors, such as the number of remote class days during the previous semester, influenced adolescents’ emotional intelligence.
Conclusion
Parental and family factors enhanced emotional intelligence, whereas school factors, particularly remote learning, negatively impacted it. The model explained 67.5% of variance, with parents' emotional intelligence being the strongest predictor. Interventions should prioritize enhancing parental emotional competence and maintaining meaningful parent-child interactions, especially during educational disruptions.

Purpose
The majority of adolescents use smartphones, and their overdependence on smartphones has emerged as a serious social issue. Although studies have explored the effect of smartphone overdependence on adolescent problem behaviors, research on its influence on sexual behavior is scarce. This study aimed to examine the association between smartphone overdependence and sexual behavior among adolescents.
Methods
This study used data from the 19th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey conducted in 2023. Smartphone overdependence was the independent variable, and sexual behaviors (sexual intercourse and contraceptive use) were the dependent variables. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to control for confounding variables.
Results
The study participants included 52,880 adolescents aged 13–18 years. Among them, 28.0% (n=14,672) were classified as smartphone overdependent, 6.5% (n=3,349) had sexual experience, and 65% (n=2,182) of those with sexual experience reported using contraception. Smartphone overdependence was not significantly associated with sexual experience but was significantly associated with contraceptive use. Adolescents in the non-overdependent group were 1.27 times more likely to use contraception than those in the smartphone overdependent group (95% confidence interval, 1.07–1.52; p<.007).
Conclusion
The findings highlight a significant association between smartphone overdependence and contraceptive use among adolescents. Policy interventions and educational strategies that consider adolescents’ smartphone usage patterns and trait factors are necessary.

Citations

• Adolescent Smartphone Overdependence in South Korea: A Place-Stratified Evaluation of Conceptually Informed AI/ML Modeling
  Andrew H. Kim, Uibin Lee, Yohan Cho, Sangmi Kim, Vatsal Shah
  International Journal of Environmental Research an.2025; 22(10): 1515.     CrossRef

Purpose
The study investigated the relationships between key variables, including the level of parenting knowledge, acculturative stress, depression, and the strengths and difficulties associated with their children’s emotions and behavior, among North Korean refugee mothers who faced the challenging task of adapting to Korean society while raising their children.
Methods
A descriptive study design was used. Data were collected from 130 North Korean refugee mothers between September and November 2023.
Results
The participants had very limited parenting knowledge, and 82.3% of them scored 21 or higher on the depression scale used in community epidemiological studies. Higher levels of parenting knowledge and lower levels of depression were associated with lower levels of acculturative stress. Moreover, higher levels of depression were associated with more emotional and behavioral difficulties in children. Maternal depression, age, and employment status were identified as factors that influenced emotional and behavioral problems in preschool-aged children.
Conclusion
These findings underscore the importance of providing parent education and mental health support programs for North Korean refugee families in order to improve parents' parenting skills and emotional well-being.

Citations

• Can we protect refugee children from mental health problems?— a scoping review of modifiable factors to inform preventive interventions
  Rita Gonçalves, M J Marques, Jordan Sibeoni, Sónia Dias
  BMC Medicine.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• A Phenomenological Study on the Perceived Quality of Life Among Older Female North Korean Refugees in South Korea
  Myeonghee Kim, Soochan Choi, Jeongsu Lim
  Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies.2025; : 1.     CrossRef

Purpose
The rising prevalence of smartphone overdependence among adolescents and its detrimental impact on mental health have become a growing concern. This study aimed to investigate the association between smartphone overdependence and the mental health of Korean adolescents.
Methods
Participants were drawn from the 16th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey conducted in 2020. The dependent variable as smartphone overdependence, while the main exposure of interest was mental health, encompassing generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), perceived stress, sources of perceived stress, perceived loneliness, and perceived depressive symptoms. The study employed the Rao-Scott chi-square test and multiple logistic regression using IBM SPSS version 26.0.
Results
The participants comprised 54,948 adolescents aged 13 to 18 years. Among them, 25.1% (n=13,775) were categorized as smartphone overdependence group. Specifically, 20.3% of adolescents who reported GAD ≥10 and 22.5% of those who reported experiencing high levels of perceived loneliness were identified as smartphone overdependent. The GAD increased a risk of smartphone overdependence by 2.61 times (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 2.46–2.77). Perceived loneliness was associated with 1.98-fold (95% CI: 1.87–2.09) increased risk of smartphone overdependence. Additionally, conflict with peers was found to increase the risk of smartphone overdependence by 4.63-fold (95% CI: 3.89–5.52), followed by conflict with parents (odds ratio [OR]: 4.52, 95% CI: 3.84–5.31), and family environment (OR: 4.52, 95% CI: 3.75–5.46).
Conclusion
The findings underscore a significant association between smartphone overdependence and mental health in Korean adolescents. Healthcare services to improve their emotional coping and interpersonal skills are necessary.

Citations

• THE EFFECTS OF DIGITAL ADDICTION ON EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS AND LONELINESS AMONG MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS: A MIXED-METHODS STUDY
  Cihangir Kaçmaz, Birgül Cumurcu
  İnönü Üniversitesi Sağlık Hizmetleri Meslek Yüksek.2026; 14(1): 72.     CrossRef
• Reciprocal associations between smartphone overdependence and anxiety in adolescents: evidence from a nationally representative survey in the Republic of Korea
  Eunok Park
  Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives.2026; 17(1): 72.     CrossRef
• Self-Esteem as a Mediator Between Body-Esteem and Depression Among Korean Adolescents: Differences by Weight Status
  So-Yeon Kim, Yong-Sook Eo
  Healthcare.2026; 14(5): 616.     CrossRef
• Factors Influencing Suicidal Ideation in Female Adolescents With Smartphone Overdependence
  Hyeongyeong Yoon
  Journal of Pediatric Health Care.2025; 39(2): 225.     CrossRef
• Excessive smartphone use, smartphone dependency and body image distortion in Korean adolescents
  Young Gyu Cho
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(2): 58.     CrossRef
• Turkish Adaptation and Validation of the Short Smartphone Stress Scale for Adolescents
  Ali Geriş, Erol Esen
  Bartın University Journal of Faculty of Education.2025; 14(3): 845.     CrossRef
• Adolescent Smartphone Overdependence in South Korea: A Place-Stratified Evaluation of Conceptually Informed AI/ML Modeling
  Andrew H. Kim, Uibin Lee, Yohan Cho, Sangmi Kim, Vatsal Shah
  International Journal of Environmental Research an.2025; 22(10): 1515.     CrossRef
• Psychosocial Pathways to Smartphone Overdependence in Adolescence: A Multi-Group Path Analysis of Early vs. Late Adolescents
  Yeseul Jeon, Sohyun Woo, Seunghee Seo
  Journal of Korean Academy of psychiatric and Menta.2025; 34(Special Is): 47.     CrossRef
• Validity, reproducibility, and reliability of the Brazilian version of the smartphone addiction scale-short version in children
  Rafael Vieira Martins, Eliane Denise Araújo Bacil, Michael Pereira da Silva, Wagner de Campos
  Revista Paulista de Pediatria.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef

Purpose
This study investigated knowledge of atopic dermatitis and food allergies, as well as health information literacy, among North Korean refugee mothers with preschool-age children and explored how these variables were related to participants' characteristics.
Methods
A descriptive study design was used. Data from 130 North Korean refugee mothers were collected between January and March 2023.
Results
The mean scores were 14.48 of 30 for atopic dermatitis knowledge; 2.77 of 10 for food allergy knowledge, and 56.95 of 80 for health information literacy. Significant differences were observed in knowledge of atopic dermatitis based on breastfeeding duration (F=4.12, p=.009), and in knowledge of food allergies based on mixed feeding (F=3.11, p=.049). Health information literacy showed significant relationships with education level (F=3.76, p=.026), occupation (F=3.99, p=.021), checking nutritional information (t=2.91, p=.004), mixed feeding (F=4.50, p=.014), and atopic dermatitis diagnosis (t=6.86, p=.001). Significant positive correlations were observed between atopic dermatitis knowledge, food allergy knowledge, and health information literacy.
Conclusion
Personalized educational programs should be implemented to improve awareness of allergies and health information literacy among North Korean refugee mothers, which would help them find, evaluate, and understand health-related information. These programs should focus on providing nutrition and dietary education to promote healthy growth in children and prevent diseases.

Purpose
Adolescent self-harm is a public health problem. Research suggests a link between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and self-destructive behaviors. Few studies, however, have examined the effects of ACEs on self-harm among Asian adolescents. This study explored the association between lifetime ACEs and a history of self-harm among Korean children and adolescents in elementary, middle, and high schools.
Methods
A cross-sectional, retrospective medical record review was conducted on a dataset of a national psychiatrist advisory service for school counselors who participated in the Wee Doctor Service from January 1 to December 31, 2020. The data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression to predict self-harm.
Results
Student cases (n=171) were referred to psychiatrists by school counselors for remote consultation. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that the odds of self-harm were higher among high school students (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=4.97; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.94-12.76), those with two or more ACEs (aOR=3.27; 95% CI=1.43-7.47), and those with depression (aOR=3.06; 95% CI=1.32-7.10).
Conclusion
The study's findings provide compelling evidence that exposure to ACEs can increase vulnerability to self-harm among Korean students. Students with a history of ACEs and depression, as well as high school students, require increased attention during counseling. School counselors can benefit from incorporating screening assessment tools that include questions related to ACEs and depression. Establishing a systematic referral system to connect students with experts can enhance the likelihood of identifying self-harm tendencies and offering the essential support to prevent self-harm.

Citations

• The Gender Distribution and Association between Sociodemographic Factors and Hospital-Presenting Self-Injury: Analysis from the Korea National Hospital Discharge In-Depth Injury Survey
  Meekang Sung, S. V. Subramanian, Rockli Kim
  Archives of Suicide Research.2026; 30(1): 131.     CrossRef
• Gender Differences in Adverse Childhood Experiences and Mental Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review
  Ji Yeon Lee, Ick-Joong Chung, Yoo jung Nam
  Child Indicators Research.2026; 19(1): 35.     CrossRef
• Adverse childhood experiences and health-related outcomes in early adulthood: Evidence from the Korean Welfare Panel Study
  Changyong Choi, Joshua P. Mersky
  Children and Youth Services Review.2025; 170: 108158.     CrossRef
• Global burden of all cause-specific injuries among children and adolescents from 1990 to 2019: a prospective cohort study
  Cong Li, Jinghua Jiao, Guangyao Hua, Gantugs Yundendorj, Shunming Liu, Honghua Yu, Lijun Zhang, Xiaohong Yang, Lei Liu
  International Journal of Surgery.2024; 110(4): 2092.     CrossRef

Purpose
A tobacco-free campus (TFC) is the most advanced tobacco-control policy for college campuses, but it has rarely been explored in Korea. This study aimed to explore Korean college students’ attitudes toward TFC and related factors.
Methods
This cross-sectional descriptive study enrolled college students who were taking an elective course on smoking cessation and a healthy lifestyle at a university located in Incheon, Korea. Data were collected from March 1 to December 31, 2019 using a structured questionnaire, and study participants were recruited using convenience sampling.
Results
Data on 309 college students were analyzed. Of those participants, 6.1% supported the TFC policy. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that female gender (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=5.80, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.47-22.95), taking the course to quit smoking oneself (aOR=11.03, 95% CI=1.04-117.05), anxiety in the past month (aOR=4.27, 95% CI=1.06-17.31), and being a current smoker (aOR=0.06, 95% CI=0.01-0.70) were statistically significant independent predictors of TFC support.
Conclusion
Women, students taking the course to quit smoking themselves, nonsmokers, and students who felt anxious in the past month were more likely to support TFC. Further research with more representative samples is required to examine the characteristics of people who favor TFC.

Citations

• Tobacco-free university campus policies: A systematic review
  Diane Geindreau, Anne Girault, Karine Gallopel-Morvan
  Journal of American College Health.2025; 73(8): 3107.     CrossRef
• Breaking new ground in tobacco control: student reactions to France’s first smoke-free campus
  Karine Gallopel-Morvan, Etienne Gnonlonfin, Jocelyn Raude, Janet Hoek, Nicolas Sirven
  BMC Public Health.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• What are the effects of smoke-free and tobacco-free university campus policies, and how can they be assessed? A systematic review
  Etienne Gnonlonfin, Diane Geindreau, Karine Gallopel-Morvan
  Journal of Epidemiology and Population Health.2024; 72(2): 202520.     CrossRef

Purpose
This study aimed to develop and examine the effects of a psychosocial adaptation program for North Korean adolescent defectors.
Methods
This quasi-experimental study was conducted with 28 North Korean adolescent defectors who were recruited through alternative schools. The experimental and control groups consisted of 14 participants each. A program was conducted across eight sessions, each lasting about 90-120 minutes. The data were analyzed using the x² test, t-test, paired t-test, and analysis of covariance.
Results
No significant differences were observed in the score changes for psychosocial adaptation (t=0.25, p=.808), post-traumatic stress symptoms (t=0.32, p=.749), cultural adaptation stress (t=0.05, p=.957), and self-efficacy (t=0.35, p=.726) in either group before and after the intervention. No intergroup differences were observed for psychosocial adaptation (t=0.12, p=.902), post-traumatic stress symptoms (t=0.07, p=.946), cultural adaptation stress (t=0.01, p=.994), and self-efficacy (t=0.58, p=.570).
Conclusion
These findings suggest that psychosocial adaptation, stress, and self-efficacy cannot be improved by a short-term intervention program alone. It was also determined that the cultural characteristics of the North Korean adolescent defectors were not sufficiently considered before implementing the program. Therefore, it is essential to provide an in-depth orientation for the participants before implementing the program.

Citations

• Qualitative Research on Early Childhood Education in North Korea: Literature and Interviews with Defector Educators
  Yu-Jin Jang, Young-Meen Suh
  Child Indicators Research.2025; 18(2): 501.     CrossRef
• A mixed systematic review of interventions to support the well-being of refugee youth in school and community settings
  Amira Noyes, Nataliya Kubishyn, Jason Brown
  Children and Youth Services Review.2025; 176: 108371.     CrossRef
• Sexual Knowledge, Sexual Attitudes, and the Need for Sex Education Among Adolescent Defectors From North Korea
  In-Sook Lee, Jung-Hee Jeon, Kyoung Ja Kim
  Journal of Transcultural Nursing.2024; 35(4): 280.     CrossRef
• Leisure during the Escape and Adaption in South Korea: A Life Story of a North Korean Adolescent Defector
  Monika Stodolska
  Leisure Sciences.2024; : 1.     CrossRef

Purpose
This study assessed the levels of parenting efficacy, parenting stress, and acculturation stress of North Korean refugee mothers and analyzed their effects on parent-child relations.
Methods
A descriptive study design was used. Data were collected during 2019, and 124 North Korean refugee mothers participated.
Results
The mean score for parenting efficacy was 53.08 out of 90, that for parent-child relations was 37.84 out of 50, and that for parenting stress was 48.57 out of 90. The parental stress score was higher than that of child-related stress. The acculturation stress level was 90.66 out of 165, with the highest stress levels found for social isolation and distrust and the lowest found for perceived discrimination. Parenting efficacy, parenting stress, acculturation stress, and parent-child relations were significantly related in North Korean refugee mothers. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that the final model had an explanatory power of 35% for parent-child relations (F=17.68, p<.001). Parenting efficacy was the variable with the largest effect on parent-child relations (β=.36, p<.001), followed by parenting stress (β=-.24, p=.010).
Conclusion
The findings suggest the need to identify ways to decrease parenting stress and improve parenting efficacy. Parenting education can guide North Korean refugee mothers to strengthen their parent-child interactions.

Citations

• Development and effects of the PARENT (Parenting Acceptable Real Empathy Nurture Training) program for mothers who defected from North Korea
  In-Sook Lee, Jung-Hee Jeon
  Applied Nursing Research.2024; 79: 151839.     CrossRef
• Parental Stress Associated with International Migration Processes: A Systematic Review
  Pedro Henrique Conte Gil, Carolina Da Silva Peixoto, Cesar Augusto Piccinini, Adolfo Pizzinato
  Universitas Psychologica.2024; 22: 1.     CrossRef
• Research Trends on the Parenting Behavior of North Korean Defectors: A Scoping Review
  Ocksim Kim, Seongmi Choi, JiYeon Choi, Sang Hui Chu
  Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing.2024; 38(1): 55.     CrossRef
• Linking acculturation stress, parenting stress and depression of Asian expatriates' wives in the USA with their distress disclosure intention: The moderating role of husband's support
  P. Praveen Kumar, K. Kavitha, K.C. Raja Shree
  Acta Psychologica.2024; 251: 104597.     CrossRef
• Knowledge, confidence, and educational needs of newborn care among North Korean refugee women: a descriptive study
  In-Sook Lee
  Child Health Nursing Research.2023; 29(1): 72.     CrossRef
• Effects of parenting education programs for refugee and migrant parents: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  In-Sook Lee, Eunjung Kim
  Child Health Nursing Research.2022; 28(1): 23.     CrossRef
• Influence of hardiness, mother-child interactions, and social support on parenting stress among North Korean refugee mothers: a cross-sectional study
  In-Sook Lee, Jung-Hee Jeon
  Child Health Nursing Research.2022; 28(4): 269.     CrossRef

Purpose
This study aimed to identify variables influencing the psychosocial adjustment of North Korean adolescent refugees in order to establish a structural equation model and design an intervention strategy to improve psychosocial adjustment.
Methods
The subjects included 290 North Korean adolescent refugees aged 16~24 years who were enrolled in alternative schools or regional adaptation centers. They were surveyed using a structured questionnaire.
Results
The goodness of fit measures of the model were as follows: x²=131.20 (p<.001), GFI=.93, CFI=.91, TLI=.86, RMSEA=.08, and SRMR=.07. The results estimated from the structural equation model indicated a good fit of data to the hypothesized model, which proposed that stress and emotional intelligence are associated with psychosocial adjustment. The major variables influencing psychosocial adjustment were stress, emotional intelligence, which was a significant direct effect, whereas attitude of parenting showed an indirect effect on psychosocial adjustment through emotional intelligence. These variables account for 50.0% of psychosocial adjustment.
Conclusion
It is necessary to develop a program and intervention plan that can enhance emotional intelligence and thereby relieve the stress of North Korean adolescent refugees. The program should also include parenting education so that parents have positive attitude of parenting.

Citations

• Psychosocial-Adjustment Needs of North Korean Refugee Youth from the Perspectives of Alternative-School Members
  Hwayeon Myeong, Ahlam Lee, Eun-A Park, Yea Eun Gong, MiHyang Kim, Hyunjung Jo
  Journal of Refugee Studies.2021; 34(2): 2200.     CrossRef
• Development and effects of a psychosocial adaptation program for North Korean adolescent defectors
  In-Sook Lee, Jung-Hee Jeon
  Child Health Nursing Research.2021; 27(3): 243.     CrossRef
• Defining Adjustment to Address the Missing Link between Refugees and Their Resettlement Communities
  Camilla Modesti, Alessandra Talamo
  International Journal of Environmental Research an.2021; 18(18): 9902.     CrossRef

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of oral health education on oral health knowledge, oral health behavior, and oral hygiene status of children from North Korea.
Methods
Participants were 32 North Korean children defectors (15 in the education group, 17 in the control group). The oral health education program, including theoretical training and toothbrush training, was done once a week for 4 weeks. Effects of the education program were assessed for oral health knowledge, oral health behavior, and oral hygiene status at pretest, 0, and 4 weeks after the intervention. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANCOVA with the SAS program.
Results
Children in the education group showed increased oral health knowledge and behavior over time compared to the control group and an improvement in oral hygiene status including significantly decreased S-PHP and Snyder test for oral micro-organism.
Conclusion
Results indicate that oral health education is effective in improving oral health knowledge, oral health behavior and oral hygiene status. These improvements could lead to a better quality of life for North Korean children defectors.

Citations

• A Qualitative Study of Preschool Children’s Perspectives on an Oral Health Promotion Program in New South Wales, Australia
  Jinal Shashin Parmar, Prathyusha Sanagavarapu, Sowbhagya Micheal, Navira Chandio, Susan Cartwright, Amit Arora
  Children.2024; 11(4): 415.     CrossRef
• The influence of North Korean defectors’ oral health service experience on oral health behavior
  Siwoo Kim, Yuri Lee, Jae-Sung Kwon, Saran Kim, Jungtae Kim, Steacey Kim, Jae Hoon Lee
  Journal of Korean Academy of Oral Health.2022; 46(3): 115.     CrossRef
• Changes in the oral health and tooth brushing habits of upper grade primary school children according to the composition of the tooth brushing environment of the school
  Su-Kyung Jwa
  Journal of Korean Academy of Oral Health.2021; 45(4): 210.     CrossRef
• An exploratory study on development policy and the status of oral health care in the North Korea during the Kim Jong-Un era
  Sae-Rom Lee, Se-Hwan Jung
  Journal of Korean Academy of Oral Health.2020; 44(1): 26.     CrossRef

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to identify effects of parenting stress in North Korean refugee fathers on their parenting behavior.
Methods
A descriptive study design was used. Data were collected during 2014 and 2015 in a settlement support center for North Korean refugees and 99 North Korean refugee fathers participated. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0.
Results
Warmth․encouragement parenting behavior received the highest score. The score for parenting stress was 81.98 out of 180, and 32.3% of participants were found to need professional help (≥PSI 90). There were significant negative correlations between warmth․encouragement parenting behavior and parenting stress. There were also significant positive correlations between rejection․neglect parenting behavior and parenting stress. Predictors of warmth․encouragement behavior were parent-child dysfunctional interaction which explained 10.1% of the variance. Predictors of rejection․neglect behavior were parent-child dysfunctional interaction, number of children and wife’s education level which explained 33.4% of the variance.
Conclusion
Findings show that North Korean refugee fathers’ parenting stress significantly influenced warmth․encouragement and rejection․neglect parenting behavior indicating a need to identify ways to decrease parenting stress. Parenting education can guide North Korean refugee fathers to strengthen parent-child positive interactions and therefore promote their children’s growth and development.

Citations

• Ambiguous Loss, Continuing Bonds, and Post-Separation Growth in North Korean Defector Women
  Kyong Ah Kim, Richard M. Lee, Hyein Chang
  Journal of Loss and Trauma.2025; : 1.     CrossRef
• 가족관계에서 탈북청년들의 신념변화에 관한 질적 연구: 부모-자녀관계에서 ‘좋은 부모’에 관한 인식을 중심으로*
  주람 전, 일현 배, 지홍 배, 윤정 신
  Journal of Family Relations.2024; 28(4): 93.     CrossRef
• Development and effects of the PARENT (Parenting Acceptable Real Empathy Nurture Training) program for mothers who defected from North Korea
  In-Sook Lee, Jung-Hee Jeon
  Applied Nursing Research.2024; 79: 151839.     CrossRef
• Research Trends on the Parenting Behavior of North Korean Defectors: A Scoping Review
  Ocksim Kim, Seongmi Choi, JiYeon Choi, Sang Hui Chu
  Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing.2024; 38(1): 55.     CrossRef
• Influence of parenting efficacy, parenting stress, and acculturation stress on parent-child relations among North Korean refugee mothers
  In-Sook Lee, Jung-Hee Jeon
  Child Health Nursing Research.2021; 27(2): 171.     CrossRef
• Stress e competenze genitoriali nelle separazioni giudiziarie. Analisi dei fattori protettivi e di rischio nelle relazioni parentali
  Daniela Pajardi, Monia Vagni, Valeria Giostra, Viviana La Spada, Tiziana Maiorano
  RICERCHE DI PSICOLOGIA.2019; (4): 693.     CrossRef
• Structural Equation Model for Psychosocial Adjustment in North Korean Adolescent Refugees
  Insook Lee
  Child Health Nursing Research.2018; 24(3): 287.     CrossRef

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge and attitude on tuberculosis by parents of North Korean refugees’ children.
Methods
A descriptive study was conducted. Data were collected from July to November, 2014 in Hanawon and 74 North Korean refugee parents participated in the study. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 21.0.
Results
The score for knowledge was 17.72 out of 30 points, for awareness in attitude, 49.34 out of 60 points and for prevention behavior in attitude, 48.39 out of 60 points. There were positive significant correlations among knowledge, attitude and health interest. There was also a significant positive correlation between awareness and prevention behavior in attitude, and between prevention behavior and health interest.
Conclusion
North Korean refugee parents showed a low level of knowledge and a negative attitude. The implication of these results is an awareness of the need for education on the causes, transmission and importance of treatment for tuberculosis. This kind of education can guide North Korean refugee parents to obtain correct information and positive attitudes and therefore, be able to effectively practice appropriate health behaviors in tuberculosis management for their children.

Citations

• Systematic review of evidence on public health in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
  John J Park, Ah-Young Lim, Hyung-Soon Ahn, Andrew I Kim, Soyoung Choi, David HW Oh, Owen Lee-Park, Sharon Y Kim, Sun Jae Jung, Jesse B Bump, Rifat Atun, Hee Young Shin, Kee B Park
  BMJ Global Health.2019; 4(2): e001133.     CrossRef
• Army Soldiers’ Knowledge of, Attitude Towards, and Preventive Behavior Towards Tuberculosis in Korea
  Yun Choi, Geum Hee Jeong
  Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives.2018; 9(5): 269.     CrossRef
• Relationships between Knowledge, Attitude and Preventive Behavior about Tuberculosis in Service Workers
  Seung-Rang Kang, Eun-Young Kim
  Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperati.2016; 17(5): 354.     CrossRef
• A Study on Continuity of Knowledge, Attitude, and Preventive Behavior among Elementary School Students after Tuberculosis Prevention Education
  Gyeong Mi Kim, Heejin Kim, Chung Mo Nam, Sun Ha Jee
  Journal of the Korean Society of School Health.2016; 29(3): 209.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
The study was conducted to explore the parenting experience of mothers who have defected from North Korean.
METHODS
Nineteen mothers who defected from North Korean were recruited in Hanawon and data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Grounded theory methodology developed by Strauss and Corbin (1998) was adapted for theoretical sampling and analysis. Interviews were recorded with consent and transcribed verbatim.
RESULTS
The core category was discovered to be 'pursuing positive parenting'. Phenomenon was identified as 'acting out of frustration' and this series of processes was categorized as having four stages: 'harsh reality', 'moving forward', 'seeking transition' and 'internalization'.
CONCLUSION
The results indicate that their parenting experiences were in a transition process and, thus, it is critical to develop positive parenting intervention programs as a way to promote the empowerment of these mothers in parenting to help them support themselves and their children.

Citations

• A Qualitative Study on the Parenting Experiences of North Korean Refugee Mothers with Early Childhood Children
  Tae Woo Kim, Youn-Sun Won, Da Eun Cho, Eunjung Lee, Woon Kyung Lee
  Korean Journal of Child Studies.2025; 46(3): 131.     CrossRef
• A Qualitative Case Study on Influencing Factors of Parents’ Child Abuse of North Korean Refugees in South Korea
  Wonjung Ryu, Hyerin Yang
  Healthcare.2021; 9(1): 49.     CrossRef
• The Early Childhood Caring Experience of North Korean Refugee Mothers.
  Yae Young Kim
  Child Health Nursing Research.2013; 19(2): 102.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
This study was done to test the reliability and validity of the Korean parent as a teacher (KPAAT) inventory for a group of parents of preschoolers. METHODS: For this methodological study with 187 parents were recruited from October to December, 2004 using convenience sampling. Self-report questionnaires measured level of child-rearing attitude. Internal consistency reliability was assessed with Cronbach's alpha coefficients. Construct validity of KPAAT inventory was analyzed using item analyses and factor analysis. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS Program Version 14.0. RESULTS: The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the KPAAT inventory was 0.881. For item analyses, inter-item correlation coefficients were -0.029~0.781. Corrected item-total correlation coefficients were 0.012-0.737. Item-to-subscale correlation coefficients ranged from 0.509 to 0.817. Subscale-to-total correlation coefficients were 0.965, 0.711, respectively. Orthogonal varimax rotation of the 85 items in 16 areas of the KPAAT inventory, showed two factors, positive parenting attitude and negative parenting attitude. These two factors explained 48.2% of the total variance. CONCLUSION: In the original KPAAT inventory six factors were identified through factor analysis, however, in this study only two factors were extracted. Whereas, internal consistency reliability was within an acceptable range, these results suggest additional studies are needed to improve the validity of the KPAAT inventory.

PURPOSE
This study was done to develop a theory on the early childhood caring experience of North Korean refugee mothers and how such caring affects how they deal with the socio-psychological problems they face as North Korean refugees.
METHODS
Data were gathered by in-depth interviews, participant observation, and medical records, and were analyzed using the Grounded Theory methods of Strauss and Corbin (1998).
RESULTS
From open coding 62 concepts, 23 subcategories and 11 categories were derived, and the North Korean refugee mothers' caring experience was revealed to be 'hopeful upbringing'. A central theme common to the participants was 'coexistence of expectations and worries'.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study provide theoretical grounds to understand North Korean refugee mothers' child care experiences and offer personalized nursing and a deeper understanding of their needs by looking at their experience. Findings may also be useful to help nurses who care for North Korean refugee mother-child dyads in the community and in clinical settings to gain insight on this special needs group, and facilitate the development of interventions based on better understanding of the mothers' experiences.

Citations

• 가족관계에서 탈북청년들의 신념변화에 관한 질적 연구: 부모-자녀관계에서 ‘좋은 부모’에 관한 인식을 중심으로*
  주람 전, 일현 배, 지홍 배, 윤정 신
  Journal of Family Relations.2024; 28(4): 93.     CrossRef
• Comparing the nutritional status of children and adolescents from North Korean defector families and South Korean families
  So-Yeong Kim, Seong-Woo Choi, Jong Park, So-Yeon Ryu, Mi-Ah Han, Sun-Young Park
  BMJ Open.2021; 11(10): e052059.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in Korean child-rearing practices between the generations of young mothers and grandmothers.
METHOD
The participants were 98 mothers who were 20 to 39 years old and had raised one-year-old child and 103 grandmothers who were over 60 years old and had raised their children in a small city. Data were collected through self-report questionnaire based on the Korean traditional child-rearing practice from Yoo(1986). The data were analyzed using the SPSS Win 10.0 program.
RESULTS
Of 37 items in the categories of feeding and weaning, health management and taboo matters, play, and baby celebrations, the grandmothers practiced 13 items (35%) more frequently than the young mothers. However, no generation differences were found in 21 items (57%), and 3 items were practiced more frequently by the young mothers. For the young mothers, there were 15 items (41%) which were practiced over 70%, 7 items (19%) which were practiced less than 30%.
CONCLUSION
It seems that some Korean traditional child-rearing practices were transferred to modern child-rearing practices. Therefore pediatric nurses need to pay attention to traditional child-rearing practices for the best health, growth and development of children.

PURPOSE
S: The purposes of this study were (1) to identify the rate of suicide attempts, and (2) to investigate relevant variables(family dynamic environment, personality factors) and risk factors for attempting suicide among Korean adolescents.
METHOD
Data were collected through a questionnaire survey. Internal consistencies for this questionnaire ranged from 0.63 to 0.88. Nine hundred and twenty two adolescents were surveyed (delinquent : 367, student : 555), using a proportional stratified random sampling method. Statistical methods employed were chi-square, t-test, and logistic regression analysis.
RESULTS
(1) The rate of suicide attempts was 10.8% for the total sample, and the delinquents(19.6%) had a higher rate of suicide attempts than the students(5.1%). (2) Adolescents attempting suicide had a greater dysfunctional family dynamic environment and more maladaptive personality than those who did not attempt suicide. (3) Risk factors for suicide attempts among Korean adolescents were way of coping, psychosomatic symptoms, and parental child-rearing attitudes, in that order.
CONCLUSIONS
Suicide and suicidal behaviors are multifaceted events. For suicide prevention, there is a need to make an independent assessment of the variables such as familial problems, personality and dynamic environment of the families of the adolescents.

The purpose of this study was to explore the parents and child relationship in traditional Korean society through the Korean classic novels. The Data were analyzed through latent content analysis in focusing on the parents and child relationship. Forty-six Korean classic novels written in Chosun Dynasty (from 1392 to 1910 AD) were chosen to analyze and they were represented the characteristic Confucian ideas. The sentences containing the expression of child-care and parent-child relationship were selected during intensive reading line by line and analyzed. Sixty-nine meaningful concepts were drawn out from 258 significant sentences by the similar meaning and common theme and classified as 3 categories and 11 sub-categories. The important parent-child relationship expressed in Korean traditional society were as follows: From the category of the Meaning of Child, 4 sub-categories were drawn; gift of heaven, successor of the family line, driving power of life, and rewards from the offspring. From the category of attitude to the child, 3 sub- categories were drawn; a notion of preferring a son to a daughter, close maternal-child relation, and expectation to the future of child. From the category of nurturing behavior, 4 subjects were drawn; Tae-Gyo(fetal education), affective behavior, socialization, and health management behavior. Above result helps to improve the basic understanding the relationship of parent and child in modern society. And by the understanding of child in the family, unhealthy relationship of parent and child can be prevented and furthermore family centered child health promotion can be achieved.

Recently in Korea, the adolescents' sexual problems including sexual violence have increased, and those phenomena have escalated to be one of the major social issues. This study was conducted to identify the variables related to the sexual harassments of the Korean adolescents. The variables to which the subjects belong were gender, school grade, religion, extracurricular activity, amount of pocket money, school performance traffic mean to school, ownership of PC, internet contact frequency and place, contact to pornography, heterosexual friend, drinking, and smoking. The period of survey was from July 2000 to Dec. 2000. The subjects were 475 middle and high-schoolers in Busan and Kyung-Nam. The instrument to measure sexual harassments of the subjects was questionnaire. That was gained by modifying the three patterns(physical, verbal and visual) in the manual provide by the Ministry of Labor(1999). The degree of sexual harassments was measured by 4-point Likert scale. The collected data was analyzed with t-test and ANOVA by SPSS win(10.0). The findings were as follows ; 1. The variables related to the physical harassment were gender, age, pocket money, perceived school performance, traffic means, contact to pornography, having heterosexual friend, experience of drinking and smoking. 2. The variables related to the visual harassments were gender, age, perceived school performance, traffic mean, internet contact, contact to pornography, having heterosexual friend, experience of drinking & smoking. 3. The variables related to the verbal harassments were gender, age, pocket money, perceived school performance, traffic mean, internet contact, contact to pornography, having heterosexual friend, and experience of drinking & smoking.

BACKGROUND
Adolescent risk behaviors are of concern because they are dangerous in themselves and have negative influences on adult health. Objectives: This study explored six health risk behaviors of a sample representing the adolescent population in Jeju.
METHODS
Frequency and percentage of risk behaviors were calculated. Additionally, the chi-square test was used to explore whether differences in experimentation with risk behaviors exist relative to gender and schooling levels.
RESULTS
There were six major findings in this study: (a) a lower rate of lifetime and current cigarette use among female students compared to male students, (b) a substantial portion of heavy drinkers, (c) a higher rate of lifetime drug use among female students than among male students, (d) a higher prevalence of suicide ideation among female students than among male students, (e) substantial percentages of students who did not usually wear seatbelts, motorcycle helmets, or bicycle helmets, and (f) a substantial portion of students who were not involved in vigorous physical activities.
CONCLUSIONS
Since a substantial portion of adolescents have been involved with diverse risk behaviors, it is urgent to implement effective intervention strategies to reduce the rates of these behaviors.