Abstract
The number of young North Korean refugees (NKRs) entering South Korea to escape famine and poverty and improve their quality of life is drastically increasing. The aims of this study were to identify and compare health promoting lifestyle behaviors (HPLBs) of young NKRs, compared to South Koreans, and to investigate influencing factors related to HPLBs in young NKRs. Data were obtained from 150 NKRs residing in South Korea and 161 South Koreans. Respondents provided their psychological status (depression, stress, and life satisfaction) and HPLBs. The NKRs reported lower interpersonal relations scores and higher spiritual growth scores compared to the control group. Attendance in religious services, stress, and life satisfaction were significantly associated with HPLBs in young NKRs. Health education and/or promotion programs focusing interpersonal relations and spiritual growth may be beneficial. In addition, regular psychological health screening is proposed as part of health-checkup programs, potentially improving adjustment to South Korean society.
Highlights
The number of North Korean refugees (NKRs) entering into South Korea has drastically increased over the last decade as many look to escape from poverty and food shortages resulting from inefficient economic infrastructure and famine in North Korea [1,2,3]
In the NKRs, a number of years settled in South Korea was under 3 years in 69.4%. 73.8% of young NKRs reported having parents or relatives in South Korea and 74.8% of young NKRs have parents or relatives in North Korea (Table 1)
The results demonstrated that young NKRs have better health-promoting lifestyle behaviors (HPLBs) than adult NKRs, but similar patterns of health-promoting behaviors are shown across age groups in NKRs
Summary
The number of North Korean refugees (NKRs) entering into South Korea has drastically increased over the last decade as many look to escape from poverty and food shortages resulting from inefficient economic infrastructure and famine in North Korea [1,2,3]. The total number of NKRs entered South Korea in 2009 was estimated to be 2914, while it was Such as NKRs, living in a new environment, it is likely to be challenging to engage in health-promoting lifestyle behaviors (HPLBs), activities that an individual chooses to help achieve or maintain their health and wellbeing within various environments [5]. NKRs have been reported to have a worse health and a higher rate of illness compared to South-Koreans due to malnutrition, poor and unhealthy environment, and the defective healthcare system in North Korea [7, 8]. The change in health behaviors over time can contribute to the overall health status of
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