TY - JOUR
T1 - Social networks and health-promoting behaviors among North Korean refugees in South Korea
AU - Jeong, Chung Hyeon
AU - Um, Mee Young
AU - Yoo, Joan P.
AU - Palinkas, Lawrence A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Poor health behaviors among North Korean refugees (NKRs) in South Korea are serious risk factors hindering their overall well-being. Despite their significance, little is known about the roles of social networks in promoting health behaviors of NKRs. Thus, we examined how social network characteristics were associated with health-promoting behaviors among 202 NKRs. We found that social networks featuring members of religious organizations were positively associated with overall health-promoting behaviors, health responsibility, exercise, and nutrition, whereas networks with South Korean friends were negatively associated with nutrition. Findings suggest that health interventions facilitating religion-based network ties may promote health behaviors among NKRs.
AB - Poor health behaviors among North Korean refugees (NKRs) in South Korea are serious risk factors hindering their overall well-being. Despite their significance, little is known about the roles of social networks in promoting health behaviors of NKRs. Thus, we examined how social network characteristics were associated with health-promoting behaviors among 202 NKRs. We found that social networks featuring members of religious organizations were positively associated with overall health-promoting behaviors, health responsibility, exercise, and nutrition, whereas networks with South Korean friends were negatively associated with nutrition. Findings suggest that health interventions facilitating religion-based network ties may promote health behaviors among NKRs.
KW - Health-promoting behaviors
KW - North Korean refugees
KW - South Korea
KW - social networks
KW - social support
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85097404179&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1080/00981389.2020.1859043
DO - 10.1080/00981389.2020.1859043
M3 - Article
C2 - 33292084
AN - SCOPUS:85097404179
SN - 0098-1389
VL - 59
SP - 738
EP - 750
JO - Social Work in Health Care
JF - Social Work in Health Care
IS - 9-10
ER -