Korean Journal of Health Psychology
- KOREAN
- P-ISSN1229-070X
- E-ISSN2713-9581
- KCI
Vol.31 No.3
Abstract
This study assessed the effects of relaxation training delivered through a mobile application (App) featuring a virtual beach environment on blood pressure and psychological states in patients with hypertension aged 40 to 75. Thirty participants from two hospitals in the Seocheon and Cheonan areas of Korea were randomly assigned to either a treatment group (n=15) or a waitlist control group (n=15). The treatment group received education on relaxation techniques and engaged in App-based relaxation exercises in the virtual reality environment twice daily for four weeks. All participants completed pre-test and post-test assessments. Compared to the control group, the treatment group showed a statistically significant reduction in tension levels, as measured by self-reported relaxation scales. These findings suggest that virtual reality App-based relaxation training effectively enhances relaxation in hypertensive patients, rather than merely reducing arousal.
Abstract
This study developed a smartphone-based Meditation·Mindfulness·Positive Psychology Training (MMPT) program and assessed its effects on adults with moderate depressive symptoms who were not receiving treatment. Participants with PHQ-9 scores ranging from 10 to 19 were randomly assigned to either the MMPT app group (n=58) or a waitlist control group (n=50). The assessment included mindfulness, self-compassion, cognitive emotion regulation, depression, life satisfaction, and life satisfaction expectancy at pretest, midtest, posttest, and a 4-week follow-up. The final analyses included 41 participants in each group. Significant group×time interaction effects were observed for all variables, with medium to large effect sizes. Within the intervention group, most variables demonstrated significant changes over time, and no significant differences were found between posttest and follow-up for mindfulness, self-compassion, and depression. Repeated-measures mediation analyses indicated that changes in mindfulness and self-compassion were linked to changes in depression and life satisfaction expectancy, while changes in self-compassion were associated with changes in life satisfaction. These findings suggest that the MMPT app may effectively improve depressive symptoms and enhance subjective well-being.
Abstract
Body trust is the attitude of perceiving internal bodily sensations as safe and reliable. It represents an early stage of emotion regulation and plays a crucial role in both the manifestation and recovery from posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSD), which are often linked to emotional disturbances. This study explored the impact of body trust on PTSD symptoms and examined the parallel mediating effects of six subdimensions of emotion regulation difficulties: impulse control challenges, lack of emotional awareness, nonacceptance of emotional responses, lack of emotional clarity, limited access to emotion regulation strategies, and difficulties in engaging in goal-directed behavior. A total of 712 participants completed the survey, with 312 individuals who had experienced a traumatic event meeting the DSM-5 Criterion A selected for final analysis. The results revealed that body trust did not directly affect PTSD symptoms; instead, it indirectly influenced them through three subdimensions of emotion regulation difficulties: lack of emotional awareness, lack of emotional clarity, and limited access to emotion regulation strategies. These findings indicate that body trust affects PTSD symptoms indirectly by highlighting vulnerabilities in emotion regulation, including insufficient attention to one's emotions, difficulty in identifying and differentiating them, and challenges in employing adaptive regulation strategies. This study provides empirical evidence for understanding PTSD symptoms from an emotion regulation perspective and suggests that therapeutic interventions should enhance body trust by addressing specific subcomponents of emotion regulation difficulties.
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the moderated mediating effect of attentional bias through negative urgency on the relationship between perceived stress and gambling severity. A total of 73 adult male gamblers participated by completing several questionnaires and the Posner Task to assess their attentional bias toward gambling-related stimuli. The questionnaires included the Perceived Stress Scale, the Canadian Problem Gambling Index, and the Impulsive Behavior Scale (UPPS-P). The findings revealed several key points: First, bootstrapping results demonstrated that negative urgency mediates the relationship between perceived stress and gambling severity. Second, hierarchical regression and slope analyses indicated that attentional bias toward gambling cues moderates the relationship between negative urgency and gambling severity. Finally, attentional bias toward gambling cues—particularly 100ms attentional facilitation—also moderated the indirect relationship from perceived stress to gambling severity through negative urgency. The study concludes with a discussion of implications, limitations, and suggestions for future research.
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate whether reward-related eating drive mediates the relationship between reward sensitivity and food addiction, and whether this mediation differs based on self-regulation levels. To achieve this, a self-report survey was conducted with 496 university students, and the data were analyzed using the PROCESS macro. The results indicated that reward sensitivity does not directly affect food addiction; however, a full mediation effect through reward-related eating drive was confirmed. Furthermore, self-regulation significantly moderated this ediation pathway. Analysis of conditional indirect effects revealed that the indirect effect was stronger at high levels of self-regulation, while it was non-significant at low levels. These findings suggest that self-regulation does not always have a protective role, but can serve dual functions depending on the context. Consequently, intervention strategies for food addiction should take into account individual temperament and personality traits.
Abstract
This study investigates the sequential double mediating effect of emotional dysregulation and negative urgency on the relationship between borderline personality traits and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). A total of 284 adults over the age of 19 living in Korea completed assessments of borderline personality traits, emotional dysregulation, negative urgency, and NSSI. The findings are as follows: First, a significant positive correlation was found among borderline personality traits, emotional dysregulation, negative urgency, and NSSI. Second, emotion dysregulation did not significantly mediate the relationship between borderline personality traits and NSSI. Third, negative urgency did show a significant mediating effect in this relationship. Fourth, the study identified a significant double mediating path leading to NSSI, where emotional dysregulation and negative urgency sequentially mediated the relationship between borderline personality traits and NSSI. These results indicate that the transition to NSSI in individuals with borderline personality traits is influenced not only by emotional dysregulation but also by impulsive behaviors triggered by negative emotional states. This underscores the importance of incorporating negative urgency into the existing model of emotional dysregulation. In terms of clinical intervention, the findings suggest that emotion regulation strategies should be combined with approaches that enhance awareness and tolerance of negative emotions. This study aims to deepen the understanding of NSSI and inform specific interventions for non-clinical adult clients with borderline personality traits. Lastly, the study addresses the need for stepwise skills training to manage self-injury impulses and acknowledges the limitations of the research.
Abstract
This study investigates the mediating role of anger suppression in the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and somatization symptoms among university students. It also explores how this mediation is influenced by adaptive and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies. Data were collected from 279 university students aged 18 and older across South Korea using the Hewitt Multi-dimensional Perfectionism Scale (HMPS), Frost Multi-dimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS), State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-Korean version (STAXI-K), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), and Somatization Symptom Scale (SSS). The findings are as follows: First, maladaptive perfectionism significantly increased both anger suppression and somatization symptoms, with anger suppression mediating the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and somatization. Second, a significant moderated mediation effect was observed, where both adaptive and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies interacted with anger suppression to affect somatization symptoms. Specifically, adaptive strategies reduced somatization symptoms through their interaction with anger suppression, while maladaptive strategies intensified them. The implications and limitations of these findings are discussed.
Abstract
Recent attention has been drawn to body and appearance related psychological problems among young women, particularly in connection with appearance-focused activities on SNS. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of appearance-based rejection sensitivity in the relationship between SNS appearance- related posting activities and body dysmorphic symptoms. To achieve this, we administered self-report measures to 300 Korean women aged 18 to 29, assessing their SNS posting activities, appearance-based rejection sensitivity, body dysmorphic symptoms, depression, and anxiety. We conducted correlational analyses followed by structural equation modeling, controlling for depression and anxiety. The results revealed significant positive correlations among SNS appearance-related posting activities, appearance-based rejection sensitivity, and body dysmorphic symptoms. Furthermore, appearance-based rejection sensitivity was found to partially mediate the relationship between SNS posting activities and body dysmorphic symptoms. This study highlights both environmental and individual risk factors linked to body dysmorphic symptoms and lays the groundwork for future prevention and intervention strategies.
Abstract
The Self-Regulatory Executive Function (S-REF) model suggests that both positive and negative metacognitive beliefs about gambling may play a role in the persistence of gambling behavior. This study aimed to translate and validate the Korean version of the Metacognitions about Gambling Questionnaire (K-MGQ). A total of 273 adult males participated in the research. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) supported a two-factor structure comprising positive metacognitive beliefs (MGQ-P) and negative metacognitive beliefs (MGQ-N), aligning with the original scale. Convergent validity was established through significant positive correlations with the Korean version of the South Oaks Gambling Screen (K-SOGS), the Korean Gambling Symptom Assessment Scale (KG-SAS), and the Korean version of the NODS (K-NODS). Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that both positive and negative metacognitive beliefs significantly contributed to the variance in gambling severity, even when controlling for depression (K-PHQ-9), trait anxiety (K-STAI-T), and irrational gambling beliefs (K-GABS). Furthermore, Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis assessed the scale’s clinical discriminative utility using K-SOGS cutoff scores. These results indicate that the K-MGQ is a reliable and valid tool for evaluating gambling-related metacognitive beliefs among Korean adult males. The paper also discusses implications, limitations, and avenues for future research.
Abstract
This study aimed to define digital convergence in addiction problems—where various addictive behaviors and substances intersect and merge within digital environments—and to create a scale for measuring this concept. To achieve this, a two-stage study was conducted. In Study 1, we derived an operational definition and indicators by integrating a narrative review with a text network analysis based on X (Twitter). We selected items through expert content validity evaluation and a pilot survey (n=100). In Study 2, we examined the scale's factor structure, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and both convergent and criterion-related validity using a main survey (n=250). The results indicated that digital convergence in addiction problems refers to how the integration of digital technologies and platforms enhances the acceptability, availability, and accessibility of addictive targets, strengthens connections between behavioral and substance addictions, and contributes to complex addiction issues. Ultimately, we selected thirteen items for the scale, which demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and a unidimensional structure. The test-retest reliability was found to be .725 (Spearman's rho, p<.001). Furthermore, the scale showed significant positive correlations with internet gaming disorder, gambling issues, sexual addiction, and alcohol use problems, while the association with substance use disorder was not significant. These findings suggest that the developed scale could act as an environmental risk indicator, capturing the connectivity and diffusion potential of addiction problems within digital contexts.
Abstract
This meta-analysis examined the effects of sex education programs for children and adolescents conducted in Korea between 2000 and 2024 on perceptions of sex, and analyzed the structure of these effects. From 33 journal articles and theses, 76 effect sizes were extracted by dependent variable. Perceptions of sex were reclassified into four subdomains-sexual knowledge, sexual attitudes, sexual awareness, and self-understanding-based on the content of the measurement items. Hedges' g, adjusted for small-sample bias, was computed under a random-effects model. The overall mean effect size was 1.07 and statistically significant. Large effects were observed for sexual knowledge, sexual attitudes, and sexual awareness, while the effect on self-understanding was comparatively small, and between-subdomain differences were significant. In contrast, subgroup analyses by number of sessions and age group yielded no significant moderating effects. These results suggest that program effectiveness depends more on qualitative factors—program content, instructional methods, instructor expertise, and measurement characteristics than on quantitative conditions. By applying item-content-based coding to address the conceptual ambiguity and measurement inconsistency long noted in this literature, this study systematically delineates the multidimensional structure of sex education effects on perceptions of sex.
Abstract
This meta-analysis investigated the effectiveness of group programs designed to reduce counselor burnout in South Korea. Fourteen studies published between 2011 and August 2025 were included, resulting in 50 effect sizes for analysis. The overall mean effect size was 1.12, indicating a large impact. Moderator analyses revealed that interventions were most effective in groups of ten or fewer participants, held three or more times per week, lasting under 90 minutes per session, with no homework assigned, including session reflections, and when the program type was group counseling. Both face-to-face and online formats proved effective. Large effect sizes were consistently observed across measurement tools (MBI and K-CBI), reinforcing the uniformity of burnout definition and assessment. Follow-up effects remained stable from post-intervention (1.14) to four weeks later (1.13). Based on these findings, implications for program development and future research directions are discussed.
Abstract
This study aimed to identify strategic tasks for enhancing military capability within the Republic of Korea (ROK) Armed Forces, emphasizing the growing significance of cognitive performance and psychological readiness for maintaining combat effectiveness in modern operational environments. A document-based analysis was conducted, utilizing domestic and international academic literature, defense and public health policy documents, legal and regulatory materials, and publicly available evaluation reports, through a comparative matrix approach. The military psychology application system of the ROK Armed Forces was organized into seven domains: selection and service suitability, mental force and intangible capabilities, mental health promotion and counseling, suicide prevention and high-risk intervention, organizational culture, post-discharge support, and research and policy development. This structure was used to assess its status and limitations, comparing it to systems in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Israel. The findings reveal that the ROK Armed Forces have established a robust institutional foundation, including comprehensive screening and evaluation systems, mental force education, multi-layered counseling and medical services such as the military counseling officer system, and crisis intervention mechanisms like the Defense Helpline. In contrast, the comparison countries more effectively connect selection data to job placement and performance criteria, institutionalize resilience training and peer-based interventions, and strengthen ties between evidence-based treatment, long-term data tracking, and policy development. Based on these insights, the study recommends expanding the use of selection data for job assignment and early adaptation support, incorporating resilience, combat stress, and acute crisis response skills into mental force education, standardizing counseling, medical, and case management processes, and establishing a performance management pipeline that extends into the post-discharge phase. These recommendations are best understood within a multi-tiered support system, systematically integrating universal support, risk screening, and intensive individualized interventions.