College Students In South Korea Research Articles

A Case Study of Using Psychological Painting Therapy to Improve the Emotional Problems of Chinese College Students in South Korea

A Case Study of Using Psychological Painting Therapy to Improve the Emotional Problems of Chinese College Students in South Korea

Intention to quit smoking according to smoking preferences and perceptions of electronic cigarettes among university students in South Korea.

This study aimed to alleviate unhealthy smoking habits among university students and provide the basic data necessary for public health-oriented approaches such as developing regulations and policies on electronic cigarettes by analyzing the relationship between university students’ smoking preferences, perceptions of electronic cigarettes, and intention to quit smoking.This study involved 567 college students and conducted frequency and chi-squared analyses of the general characteristics, smoking preferences, and perceptions of electronic cigarettes. This study also performed logistic regression analysis to analyze the relationship between intention to quit smoking stratified by smoking preferences and the perceptions about electronic cigarettes. SPSS version 25.0 was used for data analysis.This study showed that electronic cigarette smokers were approximately 6.4 to 10.8 times more likely to think that electronic cigarettes positively affect smoking cessation attitude than nonsmokers. This study showed that regular cigarette smokers were approximately 1.7 to 2.2 times and other smoker 3.3 to 3.9 times more likely to think that electronic cigarettes positively affect smoking cessation attitude than nonsmokers. Those who perceived harmless to the human body, capable of reducing the frequency of smoking, and less harmful than tobacco were approximately 2.6 to 2.9, 11.6 to 12.8, and 3.3 to 3.7 times more likely have intention to quit smoking, respectively.Regular health education, advertising awareness of health hazards, and public health science-oriented approaches and policies for smoking cessation support services are needed to create awareness on electronic cigarettes among university students.

Link between Excessive Smartphone Use and Sleeping Disorders and Depression among South Korean University Students.

The purpose of this study was to explore the link between smartphone use and sleeping disorders and depression among university students in South Korea. South Korea has the highest mobile phone penetration rate as well as the highest rate of suicide of any of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) nations, thus making this study of great importance. The core aim was to see whether the excessive use of smartphones has an association with sleeping disorders and depression. A cross-sectional analysis was performed to establish if there was any link between smartphone use and sleeping disorders and depression. Samples from 188 participants were used for this study. Data were collected using two well-established questionnaires, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) and the Athene Insomnia Scale (AIS), as well as a few questions on smartphone use. A few demographic questions were added to the questionnaire. The results of this study concluded that a significant relationship exists between smartphone use and depression. However, the finding of this research could not uncover a significant relationship between smartphone use and sleeping disorders among university students in South Korea. The excessive use of smartphones shows a relationship to an unhealthy lifestyle. There is a clear indication that the overuse of smartphones could be linked to depression. Furthermore, the study found that students with depression also tend to have sleeping disorders.

Mediating effect of stigma on the relationship between mental health literacy and help-seeking attitudes among university students in South Korea

Recent evidence demonstrates that improved mental health literacy and decreased stigma are two essential components to facilitate help-seeking behaviors and early identification of mental disorders. This study aimed at examining whether social and self-stigma mediated the level of mental health literacy on help-seeking attitudes among university students in South Korea. In this cross-sectional survey, 305 students from six universities in South Korea (female: 59%, age: 21.76 ± 3.11) joined the study. The survey included self-report measures of mental health literacy, social stigma, self-stigma, and help-seeking attitudes, as well as socio-demographic measures. Findings revealed that social and self-stigma partially mediated the association between the level of mental health literacy and mental health help-seeking attitudes among South Korean university students. Based on results, the importance of education and campaign to enhance mental health literacy and decrease stigma regarding mental health problems among university students in South Korea was highlighted.

Effects of Self-Esteem, Problem-Solving Ability, and Professional Nursing Values on the Career Identity of Nursing College Students in South Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study.

In Korea, the number of admissions to nursing colleges has greatly increased over the past 20 years to address the shortage of nurses. However, many nursing students have unclear career identities during college and stop working in healthcare after graduation. This study aimed to examine the effects of self-esteem, problem-solving ability, and professional nursing values on career identity. The participants were 140 third- and fourth-year nursing students recruited from a university in South Korea. Data were collected between September and October 2019 using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple linear regression. The results showed significant correlations between satisfaction with college life and major subject, subjective academic achievement, self-esteem, problem-solving ability, professional nursing values, and career identity. The factors that significantly affected career identity were self-esteem and professional nursing values. Nursing educators can support the career development of nursing students by enhancing their self-esteem and professionalism, along with efforts to improve satisfaction with their college life and major.

Antecedents and consequences of college students' satisfaction with online learning

We delved into the antecedents and consequences of college students' satisfaction with online learning. We proposed the antecedents would be interactions, teaching presence, self-management of learning, and academic self-efficacy, and that the consequence would be intention to continue to use online learning. Participants were 236 college students in South Korea who completed an online survey. Our findings suggest that students' satisfaction with online learning was positively related to the interactions between students and instructor, teaching presence, self-management of learning, and academic self-efficacy. We also found that student satisfaction with online learning positively predicted their intention to continue to use online learning. Thus, our findings in this study provide educators with ways to increase student satisfaction, and add to knowledge about the relationship between students' satisfaction and their intention to take online courses.

Pain Prevalence, Management and Interference Among University Students in South Korea: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study.

BackgroundPain is a global health issue with a significant impact on young adults. Adverse effects caused by inappropriate pain management among university students are related to poor mental/physical health. This study aimed to explore pain prevalence, management, and interference among university students in South Korea.MethodsPain intensity, painful body areas, pain management, and pain interference were measured in a convenience sample of 404 students. Descriptive statistics are reported, and a multivariable binomial logistic regression was conducted to reveal factors associated with pain interference.ResultsThe prevalence of acute and chronic pain was 73.5%, while 7.8% reported chronic pain (≥ 3 months). Half of university students who experienced pain reported at least four painful body areas. The average pain intensity during the past 6 months was 4.8/10. About 56% of university students who experienced pain used over-the-counter pain pills for pain management. Rest and massage were the most used non-pharmacological pain management strategies. Mood was the most reported pain interference complaint amongst university students. Greater pain interference was associated with longer pain duration, more painful body areas, and greater pain intensity.DiscussionPain is highly prevalent among South Korean university students. Pain management programs, including education about appropriate methods of pain relief, should be developed for university students. Attention should be given to university students with widespread acute and chronic pain of high intensity to mitigate the negative impacts caused by pain interference.

Liability of foreignness or outsider’s advantage? MNCs, diversity signals, and local human capital

This research uses signaling theory as an overarching framework to contribute to the question of whether foreign multinational companies (MNCs) enjoy an advantage when pursuing recruiting in local labor markets that show discriminatory practices towards one group of job seekers. While recent research in the field of international management found that foreign MNCs often leverage their otherness by attracting disadvantaged labor market populations, the details of the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. My research addresses this gap by distinguishing between the effect of signals about a company’s foreignness and signals about its support for diversity and inclusion of women on corporate attractiveness. The experimental data for this research was collected by means of manipulated job advertisement vignettes that were distributed to 1,000 university students in South Korea. The results suggest that foreign companies are generally perceived as more attractive than local companies. However, local companies can offset their initial disadvantage vis-à-vis foreign firms if they invest in measures of diversity and inclusion – at least among the female population. The findings call for a more nuanced view of the debate about the liabilities of foreignness and the role of gender. At the same time it alerts to the competitive possibilities for managers of local and foreign companies who are looking to assemble a high quality workforce.

Sustained Use of Virtual Meeting Platforms for Classes in the Post-Coronavirus Era: The Mediating Effects of Technology Readiness and Social Presence

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, educational institutions were forced to turn to online classes that are either recorded or taught live on virtual meeting platforms. Students could, therefore, attend classes from virtually any location using their mobile devices and Internet access. Despite the prolonged pandemic, little attention has been paid to whether offering courses on a virtual meeting platform is sustainable. This study, therefore, explores the antecedents of students’ intentions regarding the sustained use of virtual meeting platforms for academic courses. We investigated the relationship between technology readiness (TR) and perceived social presence (SP) within a virtual communication setting with course satisfaction and sustained use intention. Data were collected via a survey from 525 college students in South Korea who had attended classes using a virtual meeting platform. Serial mediation analysis revealed a pathway in which SP and course satisfaction in series fully mediate the positive relationship between technology readiness and sustainability. This study discusses the implications in relation to the sustainability of virtual technology-based courses as a replacement of live classroom-based courses from a user perspective. Further research is needed to understand users’ negative experiences of attending courses on virtual meeting platforms.

Changes in Core Competencies among Korean University Students Due to Remote Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study aimed to determine the academic performance and learning skills of students who studied through remote teaching methods during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It was conducted in February 2021 with 398 university students in South Korea. Data were collected through online surveys. Generalized estimating equations (GEEs) with an autoregressive correlation structure were employed to distinguish differences in core competencies, academic performance, satisfaction, and usefulness of teaching methods before 2019 and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings revealed that the overall core competencies of participants were significantly lower in 2020 than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, knowledge construction, responsibility practice, and socialization were significantly low during the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas information management and identity value did not show a significant difference. However, problem-solving was higher during the COVID-19 pandemic. Enhancing the core competencies of university students is integral in the new learning environment of the post-COVID-19 era. It is necessary to devise approaches that improve the effectiveness of remote teaching methods and simultaneously augment student satisfaction.

Translation and psychometric evaluation of the Korean version of the fertility awareness and attitudes towards parenthood questionnaire.

PurposeThis study presents a translation, cultural adaptation, and psychometric evaluation of two instruments of the Fertility Awareness and Attitudes Towards Parenthood (FAAP) questionnaire (Conditions and Life changes) for use in South Korea.MethodsThis methodological study included 166 university students for psychometric evaluation in the sixth step. The first five steps included forward translation, backward translation, committee review, assessment of content validity, and a pre-test. In the sixth step, psychometric properties, including internal consistency, construct validity, and criterion validity, were evaluated. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted to identify the structure of the tool and to assess its validity.ResultsThe Korean version showed acceptable internal consistency. Cronbach's ⍺ was .73 for FAAPC-conditions and .83 for FAAP-Life changes. FAAP-Conditions showed a four-factor structure (social conditions, relationship with partner, external environment, and child-rearing support) and FAAP-Life changes had a two-factor structure (reward and burden). In the confirmatory analysis, CMIN/DF, TLI, IFI, SRMR, CFI, and RMSEA were satisfactory.ConclusionThis study provided preliminary evidence of the acceptability, reliability, and validity of the Korean version of the FAAP questionnaire in university students in South Korea. Nonetheless, further evaluation among Korean young adults is warranted to validate this instrument.

The mediating effect of sequencing and fading on the relationship between e-learning personalization and germane load

ABSTRACT The use of e-learning personalization allows learners to control their learning by choosing which content to process and how to process it. In order to explain the processes that occur when students use e-learning personalization, this study looks at how it interacts with two other variables: sequencing and fading, a scaffolding technique where element interactivity is increased while instructional support is decreased as learners gain knowledge of the topic; and germane load, which is reflective of a reduction of negative aspects of cognitive load, resulting in higher levels of information transfer. Using survey analysis of university students in South Korea (n = 2268), results showed that sequencing and fading partially mediated the relationship between e-learning personalization and germane load, suggesting that student self-scaffolding is partially responsible for the relationship. This study differs from existing research, as it shifts sequencing and fading from an instructor-only perspective to a learner-focused activity. Based on these findings, system-provided e-learning personalization should be used to encourage learners to self-scaffold content according to individual learning needs.

The Unintended Consequences of the Pandemic: The New Normal for College Students in South Korea and Taiwan.

This study attempts to compare the impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on college students' lifestyles and mental health conditions in South Korea and Taiwan. As the COVID-19 outbreak has spread across the globe, it has brought significant changes to college campuses worldwide. College students have been heavily affected by the closure, as online learning has become increasingly common in higher education institutions. Using data collected from college students in South Korea and Taiwan in the spring of 2020, this study examines the effects of pandemic-related lifestyle changes on mental health conditions for college students in the two countries. The results were 3-fold. First, compared to college students in Taiwan, college students in South Korea reported greater decreases in time spent traveling, being with friends, eating at restaurants, and engaging in part-time employment, and greater increases in online shopping and ordering food for delivery. Second, college students in South Korea reported a higher level of worry, a greater possibility of contact with a person with COVID-19, and a lower level of happiness than did college students in Taiwan. Third, our findings indicate that social activities, including spending time with friends, were positively correlated with mental health conditions in South Korea and Taiwan. Comparing Korean and Taiwanese students' lifestyle changes and mental health conditions amid the pandemic, the study argues that the decrease in socialization and interaction under these new circumstances may be a significant factor that explains an increase in mental health issues in Korean college students compared to Taiwanese students, given the increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Korea and the corresponding greater use of online teaching platforms there than in Taiwan.

Patterns of Digital Device Use among University Students in South Korea and America

Patterns of Digital Device Use among University Students in South Korea and America

Body Image and Acceptance of Plastic Surgery Among College Students in South Korea

Abstract. Studied more extensively in Western societies, body image in other cultures is less researched. South Korea provides a unique context to examine body image given its flourishing plastic surgery industry, which is indicative of negative body image and plastic surgery acceptance. The current study examined whether relevant sociocultural factors in South Korea (i.e., fear of negative evaluation [FNE] and filial piety [FP]) play a role in the association between body image and acceptance of plastic surgery. College students in South Korea ( n = 227) completed self-report measures of body image, FNE, FP, and acceptance of plastic surgery. Students with plastic surgery experience reported greater FNE and acceptance of plastic surgery than those without. Significant negative indirect effects of body image on acceptance of plastic surgery through FNE were found in the full sample. FP was found to moderate the body image-acceptance of plastic surgery link such that for individuals low in FP, lower body areas satisfaction was associated with greater acceptance of plastic surgery. The findings highlight the importance of understanding body image within a cultural context and provide implications for body image concerns in South Korean individuals.

한국 대학생의 코로나19에 대한 지식, 위험인식, 주관적 규범, 지각된 행동 통제력이 코로나19에 대한 예방행동 의도와 실천에 미치는 영향

Objectives: This study aims to understand the relationship between the perception of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and preventive actions among college students in South Korea. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted via a questionnaire by an online survey. We used T-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and multiple regression Analysis to analyze the data. Results: A correlation was found between preventive behavioral intentions and preventive behavioral actions (r=0.686, p=.01). Social stigma was the most significant factor of COVID-19 risk perception. Likewise, behavioral control was significant for COVID-19 preventive behavioral intentions. Conclusion: University students in South Korea found it difficult to keep social distance compared to other preventive actions such as wearing masks and washing hands. Thus active communications and campaigns led by the government should be promoted for university studetns in order to emphasize the importance of social distancing which will result in prevention for further spread of COVID-19.

Influence of Psychological Factors on Multicultural Acceptance among College Students in South Korea

There is an increasing acceptance of multiculturalism in modern societies that are transitioning to multicultural societies. This study aims to identify psychosocial factors influencing the multicultural acceptance of students. Data of 1,220 students from the 7th year of the Korea Child and Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS) conducted by the Korea Youth Policy Institute (KYPI) was analysed. The SPSS 23 was used for data analysis, and multiple regression analysis was performed. Community spirit, ego-resilience, peer trust, economic status, and peer alienation influenced the college students’ multicultural acceptance. The author suggests that the government can introduce suitable programmes to strengthen multicultural acceptance among school and college students. DOI: 10.32444/IJSW.2021.82.1.69-80 Author: Soo-Koung Jun is Professor, College of General Education, Namseoul University, Chungum, South Korea.

Bonding Together like a Family: Self‐development within an Affective Community among Elite College Students in South Korea

AbstractWith the advance of globalization and neoliberalism, the discourse of self‐development that promotes a neoliberal vision of self figures large in the lives of college students in South Korea. Based on ethnographic research in an undergraduate business club at a prestigious university in South Korea, I explore how a neoliberal ideal of self‐development is practiced and embodied by these elite students. Specifically, I examine how they develop a unique way to promote self‐development through the mobilization of family metaphors and affective bonds within club teams. Self‐development pursued in a familial team leads them not only to reconstruct meanings of autonomy and self‐management but also to learn the significance of an affective community. By illustrating an unlikely coalition between neoliberal selfhood and familial affect, my findings point to the emergence of a profoundly relational self as a result of the reconfiguration of the neoliberal ideal in specific sociocultural and relational contexts. [neoliberal self, self‐development, affective community, familism, college students, South Korea]Abstract in Korean본 논문은 한 명문 대학교의 경영 동아리에 대한 민족지적 연구를 토대로, 명문대 학생들이 신자유주의적인 자기계발을 어떻게 토착화하여 해석하고 실천하고 있는지에 주목한다. 구체적으로 학생들이 하나의 팀을 가족에 비유하여 끈끈한 유대를 형성함으로써 자기계발을 도모하는 독특한 실천 방식을 탐구한다. 가족적인 팀에서 이루어지는 자기계발의 실천을 통해 학생들은 신자유주의적인 담론에서 요구하는 자율성과 자기관리의 의미를 새롭게 구성하고, 보살핌과 유대의 중요성에 대해 배운다. 본 연구는 신자유주의적 자기계발이 가족 비유 및 가족애적 정서와 역설적으로 결합하는 모습을 보여줌으로써, 신자유주의적인 자아상에 대한 추구가 구체적인 사회문화적 맥락에서 재구성되며 오히려 지극히 관계적인 자아를 빚어내는 모습을 포착한다.

An investigation of under-represented MOOC populations: motivation, self-regulation and grit among 2-year college students in Korea

Educators have raised concerns that massive open online courses (MOOCs) mainly serve the interests of advantaged groups. In response, this study examined underrepresented MOOC learners; namely, 2-year college students in South Korea in terms of their perceptions of MOOCs and learning readiness for MOOCs. A total of 119 Korean 2-year college students participated in the survey and their responses were analyzed. Research findings revealed that approximately 90% of participants were unaware of MOOCs, and few students had previously taken a MOOC. These results indicate that it is necessary to advertise MOOCs effectively to underrepresented learners. Importantly, most participants were optimistic about the effects of MOOCs for individual development. Some learners, however, were concerned about their lack of commitment or low self-regulation to complete MOOCs. In terms of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, grit, and self-regulation, the learning readiness of 2-year college students for MOOCs was moderate. Additionally, 2-year college students preferred MOOCs with practical content offered in short study periods, and they emphasized extrinsic motivators over intrinsic ones.

Effectiveness of web-based intervention for reducing problematic alcohol use in Korean female college students

ABSTRACT Objective This study applies and evaluates the effectiveness of the online-based program Brief Empowerment Program for Alcohol Use Monitor among female university students in South Korea. Methods Participants were current drinkers scoring three or higher on the AUDIT-C test. A total of 70 students participated in the experimental group and 113 students in the control group. The study used a pretest-posttest control group design and an eight-week web-based intervention with a repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results The experimental group displayed a significant decrease (11.7%) of the AUDIT-C score, indicating the intervention’s effectiveness. Conclusions The present study emphasizes the implementation of effective interventions to reduce heavy drinking. The significant effect of the intervention is related to the characteristics of the web-based program. A web-based program is more appropriate than an in-person intervention for female college students with problematic drinking when considering Korean society’s context due to concerns about stigma.