Korean Journal of Community Nutrition

Research Article

[English]
Nutrition quotient for preschoolers and key impacting factors in Korea: a cross-sectional study on food literacy, social support, and the food environment of primary caregivers: Danbi Gwon, Ji-Yun Hwang, Jieun Oh; Korean J Community Nutr 2025;30(1):16-26. Published online February 28, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2024.00311

Abstract PDF PubReader ePub: Objectives
This study evaluated the nutrition quotient for preschoolers (NQ-P) and analyzed the impact of key factors, such as caregivers’ food literacy, social support, and food environment, on the eating habits of preschool children in Korea. This study also sought to provide foundational data for developing tailored nutrition education programs by identifying the nutrition education needs of caregivers.
Methods
This study was conducted among caregivers of preschool children (aged 0–6 years) using an online self-administered survey conducted from August 22 to August 28, 2023. A total of 1,116 survey responses were analyzed. This study assessed children’s NQ-P score, caregivers’ food literacy, social support, food environment, and nutritional education needs. Data were analyzed using SPSS 29.0 (IBM Co.).
Results
The average NQ-P score for preschool children was 52, showing a tendency for the balance score to decrease and the moderation score to increase with age. Children from rural and low-income areas exhibited significantly lower NQ-P scores. Caregivers’ food literacy was higher in urban and higher-income groups. Multiple regression analysis revealed that social support, food literacy, income, and food environment significantly affected children's NQ-P scores. The effectiveness of nutrition education varied based on the income level, with nutrition education on healthy eating being the most preferred topic for preschool children.
Conclusion
This study confirmed that caregivers’ food literacy and social support significantly affected preschool children’s nutritional status. This suggests a need for tailored nutritional education and dietary support policies, particularly for low-income and rural populations.

469 View
26 Download

Original Articles

[English]
The Relationship between Stress, Social Support and Healthy Diet Score among Chinese University Students in Korea: Sunghee Lee, Zhen Feng, Youngmee Lee; Korean J Community Nutr 2015;20(4):273-280. Published online August 31, 2015; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2015.20.4.273

Abstract PDF PubReader: OBJECTIVES
The study aimed to examine whether healthy diet score was associated with stress and social support among 472 Chinese college students in Korea.
METHODS
The study participants were 472 (187 male, 285 female) Chinese college students in Gyeong-gi area. From April 2013 to Oct 2013, participants were asked to fill out questionnaires on healthy diet score (20 questions), stress (20 questions), and social support (20 questions). Each question was scored by a 5-point Likert scale (total scores of each questionnaire were ranged from 20 to 100). Questions on healthy diet were sub-categorized as 'Healthy food eating (HFE)', 'Healthy eating habits (HEH)', and 'Avoidance of unhealthy food (AUF)'. Reliability test was conducted with Cronbach's alphalpha (alpha=0.79).
RESULTS
Healthy diet score was higher in participants who stayed longer in Korea, who spoke Korean language fluently, and who assessed his or her own health status as very good. Adjusted means of healthy diet scores were estimated after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, duration of staying, and Korean language fluency. According to tertile categories, participants with low tertile stress but high tertile social support showed the highest score of healthy diet (72.59+/-1.45), whereas participants with high tertile of stress but low tertile of social support had the lowest score of healthy diet (59.22+/-1.54). As for the three sub-categories of healthy diet score, the score of HFE increased as the score of social support increased.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggested that social support system is beneficial to alleviate stress and to improve healthy diet score.

339 View
0 Download

[English]
The Effects of Stress and Social Support on Obesity in Junior High School Students Living in Small Cities: Young Ok Lim, Young Nam Kim; Korean J Community Nutr 2002;7(5):705-714. Published online October 31, 2002

Abstract PDF: The purpose of this study was to examine the relative importance of everyday life stress, obesity stress, and social support on the BMIs of junior high school students. Subjects in this study consisted of 229 adolescents from two junior high schools in Iksan-city and Hamyul-eup. For data analyses, the frequencies, percentages, means, t-tests, Chi-squares, one-way ANOVAs, Pearson's correlation coefficients and regressions were conducted using SPSS WIN program. The mean BMI of the subjects was 20.18, and the ratio of students' BMIs less than 20 was 56.8%, that of students' BMIs greater than or equal to 25 was 8.3%. There were no statistical differences in BMIs by grade and sex. Statistically significant differences in the obesity of the junior high school students were detected according to demographic characteristics such as economic levels, areas of residence, TV watching time, and fathers' physiques. There were significant differences in everyday life stresses, obesity stresses, and social support by sex, but not by grade. Girls showed higher stress levels than boys, specially in family-related life stresses, social relationships, and self-related stresses. Also girls showed higher stress level related to obesity than boys. Girls got more support from their mothers, siblings and friends than boys. With respect to the type of social support, girls perceived more financial, informational, emotional, and judgemental support than boys. These results suggest that girls became more stressed, although on the other hand, they received more social support than boys. The higher the economic level, the longer the TV watching time, and the higher the stresses from everyday life and obesity, the higher the BMIs of the junior high school students were. In conclusion, everyday life stress and obesity stress were the important factors in relation to the junior high school students' obesity.

112 View
1 Download

[English]
A Study on the Sociopsychological Factors Influencing the Dietary Compliance of Diabetics Using Questionnaire: Dong Yean Park, Sun Jung Choe, Hae Ryun Park, Hong Seok Ahn; Korean J Community Nutr 2000;5(1):36-49. Published online March 31, 2000

Abstract PDF: The purpose of the study was to find the sociopsychological factors predicting the intention of compliance with the dietary regimen in diabetes with a questionnaire. Data were collected from 282 adult noninsulin-dependent diabetics in Seoul, Kyoggida, and Kyongsangbukdo in Korea. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted with predictor variables from theories of the Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Model, The Theory of Reasoned Action, and Social Support. The behavioral intention of compliance with the prescribed diet was the independent variable. Subjects norm self-efficacy knowledge about diet therapy, outcome expectation, relationship with medical team, threat of deterioration of disease, and social support were the independent variables, The mean score of behavior intention was high ie 35.3 out to 42. Subjective norm and self-efficacy were the significant variables to predict the intention of dietary compliance. These variables comprised 39% of the common variance. To increase dietary compliance by influence of the referents and improve self-efficacy significant referents must be included and concrete and practical methods to follow the dietary regimen must be provided in nutrition education.

98 View
0 Download

[English]
A Study of the Obesity Index and Psychosocial Factors Influencing Obesity among Adolescent Girls: Kyung Won Kim, Young Ah Kim, Jung Hee Kim; Korean J Community Nutr 1997;2(4):496-504. Published online October 31, 1997

Abstract PDF: The purpose of this study was to investigate the dietary intake, obesity index and psychosocial factors influencing obesity among 200 high school girls in Seoul. The Social Cognitive Theory provided the Conceptual basis for this study. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to examine factors related to obesity, including self-efficacy for controlling overeating, social support for eating behavior, perception of body image and weight control, nutrition knowledge, and attitudes toward obesity. The data were analyzed using t-test and multiple logistic regression. The results of this study are as follows : 1) The mean age of the girls was 16.4 years, and the rate of overweight and obesity(measured by obesity index) was 27.0%. 2) The mean energy intake of subjects was 1832.3+/-384.0kcal. The energy derived from carbohydrates, proteins and fats was 62.7%, 13.8%, and 23.5%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the obese and the comparison group in energy intake. 3) The result of multivariate analysis indicated that obesity had a significant relation to the perception of ideal body image, social support for eating behavior, and self-efficacy for controlling overeating(p<0.01). As subjects preferred thinner body images(OR=0.39) and received less social support(OR=0.93), the odds of being classified as obese increased. The odds of being obese were also associated with self-efficacy, however, the relation was not strong(OR=1.04). 4) Specific social support was related to obesity among adolescent girls. As subjects received more support from family member, the odds of being obese decreased. The emotional support as well as family member's positive nutrition behavior plays a significant role. In addition, instrumental support from friends was associated with obesity. With repect to self-efficacy, the odds of being obese were increased as subjects felt less confident in controlling overeating when tempting food was placed in front of them or after an argument. In contrast, the obese group felt more confident in controlling overeating for the rest of the specific situations examined. These findings suggest that educational interventions for weight control should incorporate strategies to help participants realize their degree of obesity, to reduce the discrepancy between current and ideal body image, to elicit and maintain social support from friends and family, and to increase the self-efficacy for changing eating behaviors.

119 View
2 Download

First
Prev
Page of 1
Next
Last

Search