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This study examines the relationship between parental involvement and academic achievement among adolescents and potential mechanisms underlying this relationship. Using data from six waves of the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey, this study estimated fixed effects models to account for individual-level heterogeneity. Sobel mediation tests were employed to examine the mediating roles of four aspects of school adjustment, namely: (a) academic engagement; (b) compliance with school rules; (c) positive peer relationships; and (d) positive teacher-student relationships. Results revealed that parental involvement is positively associated with adolescents' academic achievement (b = 0.172). Proposed mechanism variables explain approximately 68.6% of the association, with academic engagement being the most salient pathway. The findings highlight the importance of parental involvement in helping adolescents adjust to school environments and improve their academic performance.

OBJECTIVES: We compared mortality rates among various housing statuses within the homeless population and investigated factors contributing to their deaths, including housing status, gender, and age. METHODS: Using a comprehensive multi-year dataset (n=15,445) curated by the National Tuberculosis Screening and Case Management Programs, matched with the 2019-2021 Vital Statistics Death Database and National Health Insurance claims data, we calculated age-standardized mortality rates and conducted survival analysis to estimate differences in mortality rates based on housing status. RESULTS: The mortality rate among the homeless population was twice as high as that of the general population, at 1,159.6 per 100,000 compared to 645.8 per 100,000, respectively. Cancer and cardiovascular diseases were the primary causes of death. Furthermore, individuals residing in shelter facilities faced a significantly higher risk of death than those who were rough sleeping, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.70 (95% confidence interval, 1.37 to 2.11). This increased risk was especially pronounced in older adults and women. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions, as the homeless population faces significantly higher mortality rates. Older adults and women in shelter facilities are at the highest risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives This study investigated the association between perceived ethnic discrimination and depressive symptoms among biethnic adolescents in South Korea. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study of 4141 biethnic adolescents using data from the 2012 National Survey of Multicultural Families. Perceived ethnic discrimination was measured using the question “Have you ever been discriminated against or ignored because either of your parents is not a Korean?” with an assessment of depressive symptoms over the past 12 months. Logistic regression was applied to examine potential associations between perceived ethnic discrimination and depressive symptoms. Results Among 4141 biethnic adolescents, 558 (13.5%) reported having experienced ethnic discrimination. The most common discriminatory perpetrators were friends (n=241, 5.8%), followed by strangers (n=67, 1.6%). Depressive symptoms were related to experience of ethnic discrimination (odds ratio [OR], 3.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.89 to 4.98) after adjusting for potential confounders. In an analysis focusing on the perpetrators of discrimination, depressive symptoms were found to be associated with perceived ethnic discrimination from friends (OR, 3.95; 95% CI, 2.75 to 5.68), teachers (OR, 4.53; 95% CI, 2.16 to 9.51), family members and relatives (OR, 3.89; 95% CI, 1.59 to 9.48), neighbors (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.14 to 5.38), and strangers (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.30 to 4.79). Furthermore, the OR for depressive symptoms among those exposed to 1, 2, or 3 or more discriminatory perpetrators were 3.61 (95% CI, 2.49 to 5.24), 3.61 (95% CI, 1.68 to 7.74), and 6.69 (95% CI, 2.94 to 15.22), respectively. Conclusions According to our findings, friends were the most common perpetrators of discrimination and the experience of ethnic discrimination was associated with depressive symptoms among biethnic adolescents in South Korea.

Objective: Despite the well-established link between sleep patterns and physical health, less is known about whether sleep duration during adolescence is related to physical health in adulthood. This study examines: (a) whether there is an association between sleep duration in adolescence and cardiometabolic risk in adulthood, and (b) whether this association differs by sex. Method: Using data from the National Longitudinal study of Adolescent to Adult Health, this study estimates sibling fixed effects models to account for unobservable family-specific heterogeneity. This study investigates whether sleep duration in adolescence is associated with cardiometabolic risk in adulthood, independently of sleep duration in adulthood. Results: Conventional OLS regression models showed that, compared with individuals who slept 8-9 hr per night during adolescence, those who slept 6 or fewer hours had higher cardiometabolic risk in adulthood (about 13 years later). This was the case for both females and males. Controlling for unobserved family heterogeneity, however, substantially attenuated the association among females, rendering it statistically insignificant. The association for males was robust to controlling for sibling fixed effects. This study also found that the observed association for males is not explained by sleep duration in adulthood. Conclusions: Adolescent sleep duration is associated with cardiometabolic risk in adulthood among males, but not females. A life course approach should be adopted in interventions aiming to reduce cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In particular, this study suggests that a fruitful approach to preventing cardiovascular issues in adulthood includes public health interventions that promote healthy sleeping patterns during adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Intimate partner violence (IPV) has only attracted limited attention in Korea despite numerous studies in Western countries that indicate IPV is associated with depressive symptoms. This study examined the association of IPV with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation as moderated by the perceived gender roles of married women in South Korea. Study design We analyzed a data set of 4659 married females from the 8th wave of the Korea Welfare Panel Study. Participants were categorized into three groups of non-IPV, non-physical IPV, and physical IPV. The presence of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation was then used to predict mental health outcomes. Methods Logistic regression helped to investigate the association of IPV and mental health. Furthermore, an interactive regression of IPV and perceived gender roles was also done. Results Each type of IPV (non-physical and physical) was significantly associated with depressive symptoms (Odds ratios [ORs]: 1.65 and 4.34; 95% confidence interval [CIs]: 1.28–2.13 and 2.71–7.28, respectively) and suicidal ideation (ORs: 1.40 and 3.84; 95% CIs: 1.06–1.85 and 2.32–6.36, respectively) after adjusting for covariates. In addition, women who experienced IPV and reported having traditional gender roles were also more likely to report depressive symptoms (OR: 4.59; 95% CI: 2.90–7.28) and suicidal ideation (OR: 7.28; 95% CI: 3.56–14.87). Conclusions Research findings indicate an increasingly marked pattern of work-family conflict in regard to the relationship between traditional gender roles and the effect of IPV on the mental health of women. Policy efforts are needed to reduce IPV as a mental health risk factor and address paternalistic traditions deeply rooted in Korean society that place women in an inferior family status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]