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Jeon and Park: The Effects of individual Characteristics and Health Beliefs on North Korean Refugees' Health Behavior
Original Article
Journal of Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing

Journal of Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing 2012; 23(1): 82-90.

Published online: 31 March 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.0000/jkachn.2012.23.1.82

The Effects of individual Characteristics and Health Beliefs on North Korean Refugees' Health Behavior

Jeung Hee Jeon1, Youngsuk Park2

1Nurse, Settlement Support Office for Dislocation of North Koreans, Ministry of Unification, Anseong, Korea.

2Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, Korea National Open University, Seoul, Korea.

Corresponding author: Park, Youngsuk. Department of Nursing, Korea National Open University, 169 Dongsung-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-791, Korea. Tel: +82-2-3668-4746, Fax: +82-2-3673-4274, anywayyoung@knou.ac.kr

Received 26 November 2011       Revised 13 March 2012       Accepted 14 March 2012

Copyright © 2012 Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to provide base data for preparing plans that North Korean (NK) Refugees can adjust themselves to our society with a healthy mind after they get over their health problems using the Health Belief Model, knowing the relationship between individual characteristics and health beliefs, and health behavior.

Methods

The subjects were 304 NK adult refugees in Hanawon. Data were collected by demographic questionnaire, health behavior scale, self-efficacy scale, perceived benefit scale, perceived barrier scale, perceived seriousness, perceived sensibility, and individual characteristics.

Results

The factors influencing the health behavior of NK refugees were perceived benefits, self-efficacy, the period in the third country and experience in being expelled to NK, and these variables were describing 31.4% of the health behaviors of refugees.

Conclusion

The perceived benefits and self-efficacy of health belief and specific experiences related to refugee affected NK refugees' health behavior.

Keywords: North Korea, Refugee, Health behavior

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
A conceptual framework.
jkachn-23-82-g001
Table 1
Individual Characteristics of North Korean Refugee (N=304)
jkachn-23-82-i001
Table 2
Health Belief of North Korean Refugee (N=304)
jkachn-23-82-i002
Table 3
Health Behavior of North Korean Refugee (N=304)
jkachn-23-82-i003
Table 4
The Effect of Health Belief and Individual Characteristics on Health Behavior (N=304)
jkachn-23-82-i004

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