High School Students In Korea Research Articles

Effects of Education Concerning Radiation and Nuclear Safety and Regulation on Elementary, Middle, and High School Students in Korea

Background: This foundational study on educational interventions aimed to analyze the changes in awareness, knowledge, and attitudes of young learners after they received objective information on safety management. Materials and Methods: Educational sessions on nuclear power and radiation safety were delivered to 4,934 Korean elementary, middle, and high school students in two separate sessions conducted in 2016 and 2017. The effects of these interventions were subsequently analyzed. Results and Discussion: Learner attitudes toward safety were found to be the predominant variables affecting the post-intervention risk (safety) awareness of nuclear power generation. Conclusion: The safety awareness of future generations will significantly influence policy decisions on nuclear power generation. Hence, the design of educational interventions on this subject must match variables suited to learner levels.

Effects and Influencing Factors of a Stress Relief Program on Stress Response of Female High School Students in Korea

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a stress relief program on school stress level and stress response and coping experience of female high school students and to compare the effects and influencing factors by stress level. The study subject includes 32 female high school students in South Korea. After a stress relief program, in the low-stress group, stress coping was the only significant factor influencing stress response and its explanatory power in the constructed regression model was 66.0% (F=16.27, p=.005). In the high-stress group, coping with friendship stress and problematic stress was a significant factor influencing stress response and its explanatory power in the constructed regression model was 47.0% (F=9.98, p=.001). It is found that a stress relief program could improve the stress coping strategies among female high school students and thus should be implemented in high schools to decrease school stress and response levels among adolescents in South Korea.

Effect of Detary Habits and Physical Activity on Height, Weight and BMI of High School Students in Korea

Effect of Detary Habits and Physical Activity on Height, Weight and BMI of High School Students in Korea

Prevalence and predictors of heated tobacco product use and its relationship with attempts to quit cigarette smoking among Korean adolescents

IntroductionHeated tobacco products (HTPs) have been available in the Korean market since June 2017. In this study, we examined the prevalence and predictors of HTP use among Korean adolescents and...

Effects of educational policy on unhappiness of middle and high school students in Korea, 2006-2016

Abstract Background Educational policies may have a substantial impact on health and well-being of students, who spend most of their daily lives at school. Policies on secondary education in Korea has changed in the late 2000s, which diversified college entrance exams (CEEs) and made the National Curriculum (NC) more autonomous to mitigate students’ burden of preparing for CEEs. This study aimed to estimate effects of educational policy changes on unhappiness, which is known to be associated with health status such as mortality, morbidity, and prognosis, of students in secondary education. Methods Using repeated cross-sectional self-reported data of 773,362 students in the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey during 2006-2016, cross-classified random effects models were fitted to estimate the fixed cohort effects of educational policy changes on unhappiness while considering individual factors and random effects of periods and grade cohorts. Results Students’ unhappiness increased when the NC began to become autonomous (odds ratio [OR] 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.42), but it increased less after the autonomous NC was fully applied (OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.92-1.42). Two times of diversification of CEEs increased unhappiness (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.06-1.38 for the first diversification and OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.07-1.67 for the second diversification). Unhappiness was high in students with high stress level (OR 7.59, 95% CI 7.43-7.75), low academic performance (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.44-1.52), and low household economic status (OR 2.32, 95% CI 2.26-2.39). Conclusions Enhancement of autonomy of the NC and diversification of CEEs increased students’ unhappiness. Educational policy changes that diversified competencies required for college admission might result in an increase in academic burden in the context of Korea, where entrance into prestigious universities is crucial for success in life. Improvement of educational policy is needed to increase students’ happiness. Key messages Educational policies may have a substantial impact on health and well-being of students, who spend most of their daily lives at school. Education policy changes in Korea increased students’ unhappiness, which might be due to an increase in academic burden resulted from diversification of competencies required for college admission.

A Study on Motivation and Utilization of SNS for High School Students in Korea

A Study on Motivation and Utilization of SNS for High School Students in Korea

한국 중ㆍ고등학교 흡연 예방 교육 실태 및 요구도 조사: ‘흡연 미디어 리터러시 교육’ 중심

Purpose: Given the substantially slow decreases in adolescent smoking rates, it is important to develop more effective strategies for preventing smoking among adolescents. Thus, we aimed to investigate the provision/participation experiences of school-based smoking prevention education (SPE) targeting adolescents and the perceived needs for school-based SPE, including smoking media literacy (SML) education. Methods: We used convenience sampling and collected data through self-report questionnaires. Our final sample included 50 teachers and 150 middle and high school students in Korea. We calculated means and frequencies to understand sample characteristics, provision/participation experiences of the SPE, need for the SPE, and SML education; we conducted a t-test, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test, Chi-square test, and Fisher’s exact test to investigate differences in the provision/participation experiences of the SPE, need for the SPE, and SML education between teachers and students. Results: Teachers indicated the need for changes in SPE, whereas students were satisfied with the education. The majorities of teachers and students did not know the definition of SML. Only 8.0% of teachers provided SML education to students; only 5.4% of students were educated about SML. Teachers indicated the necessity of providing SML education to students; however, students did not think that SML education was highly necessary, although 55.8% were exposed to smoking-related media. Conclusion: Given our findings, school-based SML education should be provided to students. To do so, it is necessary to develop standardized teaching materials and training programs targeting teachers so that they can effectively provide SML education to students.

Individual Personal Prevention Maneuver among High School Students in Korea

본 연구는 청소년의 개별적 감염예방법(PPM) 관련 지식 및 실천 정도를 조사하고 개별적 감염예방법 (PPM) 실천의 영향요인을 분석하기 위한 서술적 조사연구이다. 연구대상자는 B시 소재 3개의 고등학교에 재학 중인 278명의 학생을 편의 표출하였다. 자료는 2018년 11월 15일부터 30일까지 구조화된 자기보고 설문으로 수집하였다. 수집된 자료는 SPSS WIN 24.0 프로그램을 이용하여 기술 통계, t-test, ANOVA, 피어슨 상관계수와 위계적 회귀분석으로 분석하였다. 개별적 감염예방법 실천의 영향요인은 휴지 소지, 손씻기 소요시간, 비누사용빈도, 개별적 감염예방법 관련 지식으로 확인되 었고 변수들의 설명력은 22.1%이었다. 이상의 연구결과를 통하여 휴지와 비누의 적절한 사용과 손씻기 소요시간 준수에 관하여 개별적 감염예방법(PPM)에 관한 보건교육의 내용에 추가함으로써 감염병 예방을 위한 보건교육의 효율성을 높일 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.The aim of this study was to analyze the factors affecting personal prevention maneuver (PPM) compliance in adolescents. The data were collected from 278 students enrolled in 3 different high schools in Busan between November 15-30 in 2018 through a self-report questionnaire survey, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient and hierarchical multiple regression. The predictors for personal preventive maneuver compliance include the level of knowledge of personal prevention maneuver, carry of a toilet paper, length of handwashing time, and frequency of handwashing with soap (R2=.221, p<.001). The results suggest that health education for infectious disease prevention could become more efficient when the contents on individual personal preventive maneuver (PPM) are added to the curriculum including proper use of toilet paper and soap and sufficient handwashing time.

Development of a Measurement of Suicidal Protection (MSP) for High School Students in Korea

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop and test a measurement of the suicidal protection(MSP) for high school students in Korea. Methods: Thirty-four preliminary items were initially developed based on literature review and focus group interviews. Those items were evaluated by experts for content validity with 31 items yielded. For testing validity and reliability of the measurement, data were collected from 330 high school students in Korea. Results: The item analysis selected 26 items. One item was deleted additionally through the primary exploratory factor analysis. The final exploratory factor analysis yielded 26 items in six factors such as fear of suicide, self-esteem, emotion regulation, support from others, support from family, and school life, explaining 66.6% of the total variance of the suicidal protection for high school students in Korea. Convergent validity and discriminant validity were supported by construct reliability, average variance extracted estimate, and standardized regression weight. MSP scores were positively associated with economic status, academic record and suicidal ideation. Also, criterion validity was supported through a significant correlation with the Reason for Living Inventory for Adolescent. The Cronbach''s α reliability coefficient was .93 for the overall measurement and .72~.86 for the six factors. Conclusion: The results show that MSP may be valid and reliable for assessing suicidal protection of high school students.

International Comparative Case Study of High School Students about Empathy

In this study, we attempted to investigate the empathy ability of Korean adolescents. Davis’ Interpersonal Reactivity Index was applied to 1155 high school students in Korea, and the results were compared with those obtained from the survey of the American and Dutch students with similar ages. As a result, high school students in Korea had higher cognitive empathy than other countries. But, in cognitive empathy, Fantasy (FN) was lower than Perspective Taking (PT), unlike other countries. The mean score of women in all empathy subscales was higher than that of men. And there is significant difference between humanities and natural science high school students in PT, Empathic Concern (EC) and Personal Distress (PD). However, in the comparison of mean score’s effect size and correlation in the subscales of the empathetic scale, it was confirmed as an unstable structure in PD. Therefore, there is a need to educationally discuss how to improve this limitation of measuring empathy in the further research.

A Study on the Definite Article in English Based on the Rasch Model

The purpose of this study is to investigate the hierarchy of difficulty in the usage of the definite article by high school students in Korea based on the Rasch model and to analyze what causes the hierarchy of difficulty. This study investigates 133 high school students'' responses on eight different uses of the definite article as noted by Segall (1990). According to the findings, it is confirmed that students respond differently to the definite article depending on whether they have grammatical knowledge of it and understand the context of paragraphs. In order for students to understand the definite article correctly, systematic lessons are needed in English reading and writing classes. Moreover, an English teacher should include sentences that have different meaning by the definite article distributed throughout the text when designing a lesson plan for reading comprehension.

Relationships of substance use and sexual behavior of female junior high school students in Korea: A cross-sectional Web-based survey

The purpose of this study was to identify the sexual behavior and associated factors of Korean female junior high school students. This study design was cross-sectional, and used raw data from the 2013 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. Among the data from 72,435 students, we analyzed those from 17,609 female junior high school students. Descriptive statistics were used to identify sexual behavior, and χ2-test and logistic regression were used to identify factors related to sexual behavior. Among the female students, 2.5% responded that they had experienced sexual intercourse, and the prevalence of sexual intercourse was higher among mixed-school students than girls’-school students. The students’ risk behaviors or mental health such as drinking, smoking, drug use, depression, and suicidal ideation or attempt showed significant associations whether they had experiences of sexual intercourse or not. Factors which significantly related to students’ likelihood of sexual intercourse were smoking, drug use, depression, suicidal attempt, perceived economic status, and part-time job experiences. Based on the results of this study, development of a sexual education program including a focus on the students’ risk behaviors and mental health is recommended to reduce the likelihood of risky sex among Korean female junior high school students.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Hand Hygiene among High School Students in Korea

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting hand hygiene practices among high school students. Data were collected from 373 students enrolled in three high schools in Busan, Korea through a self-report questionnaire survey conducted during September 10-24, 2017, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation and stepwise multiple regression. It is found that hand hygiene practices differed according to grades, economic status, subjective health status, soap use and length of hand washing time. A significant correlation was found between knowledge of hand washing and hand washing practices, and length of hand washing time, soap use, knowledge of hand washing, economic status and grades were predictors of hand washing compliance (R2=.195, p<.001).These findings indicate that there is a need of hand-washing education programs considering the characteristics of students, which should promote environments that encourage hand washing practices among high school students in Korea.

한국과 일본의 중 · 고등학교 국어교과서의 비문학텍스트 연구

This study aims to compare nonliterary passages in the native language textbooks for middle and high school students in Korea and Japan, and to examine the ratio of nonliterary texts, genres, and range of subjects to identify distinct sociocultural characteristics of each nation’s national language curriculum. Further, the study analyzes changes found in the different levels of education (i.e., the changes in the curriculum of middle school and high school) and the consequent differences that are apparent between the two countries. An examination of the nonfiction passages indicates that Korean textbooks show a higher concentration of biographies and explanatory passages that mainly focus on delivering information, and Japanese textbooks have a higher ratio of assertive passages that aim to persuade and educate students. Both countries showed a significant bias in the gender of authors and biographical figures. BR In particular, while biographies featuring in Korean textbooks accentuated the values of service, overcoming and loyalty, Japanese textbooks contained fewer in number and did not appear to promote particular values. The subjects of explanatory and assertive passages were divided into 5 general categories. The study showed that ‘social studies’ and ‘language’ were dominant in Korean middle and high school textbooks, but middle-school level passages focused significantly more on ‘science’ while high school passages were concentrated on ‘language’. Japanese middle and high school textbooks showed a higher concentration of ‘social studies’ and ‘art’, and the difference between school levels was most significant in the subject of ‘art’. The themes were further divided into 25 specific categories and the study showed that Korean middle school textbooks contained a great number of passages on ‘reading/debate’, ‘ethics/peace’ and ‘society/living’, while Korean high school textbooks showed a particularly high concentration of passages on ‘the value of the national language’ which is associated with ‘loyalty’ among within the subject of ‘language’. Meanwhile, Japanese middle and high school textbooks contained a great number of passages related to ‘literature’ and ‘culture’. To sum up the results of the study, it can be concluded that Korean textbooks prefer passages regarding practical living and values of ‘service, overcoming, loyalty and ethics’, and in comparison, Japanese textbooks highlight Japanese values through art, literature, and culture.

The Current Status of Knowledge and Behavior Related to STI Prevention among High School Students in Korea

This study explores coping with STIs and related factors including knowledge, sexual behavior, and sex education among Korean adolescents. Anonymous self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 135 male and 150 female high school students. The results showed that 2.1% of participants had had sexual experience. Males had less information than females (p<0.05); 38.5% of males did not consult anyone. In contrast, females acquired information from and consulted with their parents. Although females' sexual abstinence behavior was higher than that of males (p<0.001), there were no significant differences in the STI knowledge test. Regarding sex education, 32.4–59.5% of students had received education on STIs. Students' degree of satisfaction with sexual knowledge was 10.2%, their understanding of STIs was poor, and they could not cope with having a checkup. In conclusion, high school students receive insufficient education to protect themselves from STIs. Their knowledge was not related to sexual abstinence behavior and coping behavior. Therefore, schools in Korea should provide high school students with appropriate education on STI prevention and coping behavior. In addition, an environment that facilitates consultation and clinics for helping young people deal with sexual problems should be provided.

“Why is studying hard a violation of human rights?”: Tensions and contradictions in Korean students’ reasoning about human rights

This study investigated how Korean students apply principles of human rights to social issues in Korean and international contexts and how they differentiate between human rights and other values. Open-ended, task-based interviews were conducted with 22 high school students in Korea. Korean students were aware of human rights violations involved in any given social issues, but their explanations focused only on the principle of political and economic equality. However, Korean students showed contradictory reasoning when they pointed to human rights issues in international or Korean settings; whereas they pointed to structural oppression as the cause of human rights violations and applied universal principles of human rights in the international context, they considered individual choices and traditional values in the Korean context. This study indicates that Korean students’ understanding of human rights is influenced by a variety of contextual factors in and out of school, and it suggests that social studies educators must challenge students’ prior experiences with and ideas about human rights issues in settings outside of school.

영어 독해력 영향요인에 대한 실증연구: 변인 피드백구조 분석

The present study empirically examines the feedback structure of the determinants of reading comprehension by developing a multi-factor model that can analyze interaction effects among factors under the EFL learning context. Using the factors of vocabulary knowledge, syntactic awareness, and metacognitive reading strategy as validated in the literature, this study examines how these factors interact with each other to influence English reading comprehension of high school students in Korea. The results are as follows. First, the impacts on reading comprehension of both vocabulary knowledge and syntactic awareness were found to be significant, while metacognitive reading strategy was insignificant. Second, the interaction effects differed widely across the three factors. More specifically, “metacognitive reading strategy-syntactic awareness” and “metacognitive reading strategy-vocabulary knowledge” had significant and positive interacting effects on reading comprehension, but the role of the “vocabulary knowledge-syntactic awareness” was not immediate. In particular, metacognitive reading strategy factor, though being considered an insignificant factor, influenced reading comprehension by interacting with the other two factors. The result provides valuable implications applicable to teaching and learning for EFL classes.

Learner instruction, attitudes during class and academic achievement of junior high school students in Korea: a panel analysis

This study examined changes in the structural relationship among learner-centred classes perceived by Korean junior high school students, attitudes during class and academic achievement. A linear change model was identified as optimal, showing a steady increase over time for each parameter. The higher the initial value for learner-centred classes, the higher both the initial value and rate of change was for attitudes during class and academic achievement. The initial values for attitudes during class also had a significant effect on initial values of academic achievement, suggesting that attitudes are important in increasing academic achievement. The rate of change of both learner-centred classes and attitudes during class significantly influenced the rate of change of academic achievement.

Development and Application of 3D-Hologram Maker Education Materials for High School Students in Korea

Development and Application of 3D-Hologram Maker Education Materials for High School Students in Korea

The Association of Health Behaviors with Stress Perception among High School Students in Korea: Based on 2015 Korean Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Purpose: The aim of this study is to identify Korean high school students’ health behaviors and perceived stress and to examine effects of their health behaviors on their stress perception. Methods: The subjects were 33,744 high school students who participated in the 11th Korea youth risk behavior web-based survey 2015 in Korea. Data were analyzed using complex samples analysis with the PASW 18.0 program. The questionnaire utilized in this study is designed to find the subjects’ general characteristics, health behaviors, and perceived stress. Results: The prevalence of subjects with high level stress was 38.9%(n=13,137) in this study. There were significant differences in the general characteristics and stress perception among the Korean high school students in terms of gender, grade, school achievement, family''s affluence, mother''s education, perceived happiness, perceived health status, and stressor. The variables of health behaviors of Korean high school students were significantly different from stress perception. Under complex samples logistic regression, predictive factors of stress for the high school students include gender, grade, father''s education, family''s affluence, living arrangement, perceived health status, perceived happiness, current smoking, current alcohol experience, and enough sleep. Conclusion: The study suggests multilateral efforts are needed to help high school students'' stress management including health behaviors for high school students.