The elderly living in single-person households in South Korea: a latent profile analysis of self-esteem, life satisfaction, and depression

Hazardous alcohol use is associated with food insecurity in adults living alone: Findings from a nationwide study in Korea

Food insecurity has emerged as a major public health issue. This cross-sectional study explored the association between hazardous alcohol use and food insecurity and how this association varies according to household composition. A nationally representative sample of 31,971 adults from the two separate wave of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys was analyzed. Hazardous alcohol use was measured using the four-item version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-4). The outcome variable was food insecurity, as measured using the 18-item Household Food Security Survey. Household composition was classified into three categories: single-person households (individuals living alone), multi-person households without children, and multi-person households with children. Logistic regression was employed to evaluate the association between a 1-standard deviation (SD) increase in AUDIT-4 scores and food insecurity, estimating the odds ratio (OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). Among the participants, 9.4% lived alone, 55.8% lived within multi-person households without children, and 34.8% lived within multi-person households with children. While hazardous alcohol use showed no clear association with food insecurity in the overall sample (OR: 1.01; 95% CI: 0.94-1.08), there was positive interaction between the AUDIT-4 and living alone an on the odds of experiencing food insecurity (P < 0.001). Hazardous alcohol use and a 1-SD increase in AUDIT-4 score were associated with 1.52-fold (95% CI: 1.13-2.05) and 1.22-fold (95% CI: 1.06-1.40) increases in the odds of food insecurity among those living alone. Additionally, consuming ≥10 drinks on a single occasion (OR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.14-3.26) and experience of concerns by others about drinking (OR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.28-3.19) were positively associated with food insecurity among those living alone. Hazardous alcohol use is associated with food insecurity, only among individuals living alone. Therefore, targeted policy efforts are necessary to mitigate hazardous alcohol use and food insecurity.

Development of a machine learning-based risk assessment model for loneliness among elderly Chinese: a cross-sectional study based on Chinese longitudinal healthy longevity survey

BACKGROUND

Loneliness is prevalent among the elderly and has intensified due to global aging trends. It adversely affects both mental and physical health. Traditional scales for measuring loneliness may yield biased results due to varying definitions. The advancements in machine learning offer new opportunities for improving the measurement and assessment of loneliness through the development of risk assessment models.

METHODS

Data from the 2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, involving about 16,000 participants aged ≥ 65 years, were used. The study examined the relationships between loneliness and factors such as functional limitations, living conditions, environmental influences, age-related health issues, and health behaviors. Using R 4.4.1, seven assessment models were developed: logistic regression, ridge regression, support vector machines, K-nearest neighbors, decision trees, random forests, and multi-layer perceptron. Models were evaluated based on ROC curves, accuracy, precision, recall, F1 scores, and AUC.

RESULTS

Loneliness prevalence among elderly Chinese was 23.4%. Analysis identified 15 evaluative factors and evaluated seven models. Multi-layer perceptron stands out for its strong nonlinear mapping capability and adaptability to complex data, making it one of the most effective models for assessing loneliness risk.

CONCLUSION

The study found a 23.4% prevalence of loneliness among elderly individuals in China. SHAP values indicated that marital status has the strongest evaluative value across all forecasting periods. Specifically, elderly individuals who are never married, widowed, divorced, or separated are more likely to experience loneliness compared to their married counterparts.

Association between living alone and generalized anxiety disorder in Korean adults

BACKGROUND

Globally, the rise in single-person households poses a potential risk to mental health, with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) being a prominent concern. The proliferation of single-person households may exacerbate social isolation and foster loneliness and anxiety. Notably, research investigating the association between single-person households and GAD remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between single-person households and GAD across sexes in Korea.

METHODS

We utilized data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2021 and 2022, comprising a sample of 9936 participants aged 19 or older. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screening Tool (GAD-7) was employed to assess anxiety levels in adults. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the correlation between single-person households and GAD.

RESULTS

The reference variable used in the analysis was multi-person households (consisting of two or more individuals). The association between single-person households and GAD was statistically significant across sexes (male: odds ratio [OR]: 1.92, 95 % CI: 1.15-3.20; female: OR: 1.56, 95 % CI: 1.03-2.36). Participants in single-person households exhibited higher scores on the GAD-7 compared with those in multi-person households. Notably, marital status and education level displayed disparate effects based on sex, whereas physical activity demonstrated consistent effects irrespective of sex.

LIMITATIONS

Given the use of cross-sectional data, only correlations could be established.

CONCLUSION

The findings indicate an elevated risk of GAD in single-person households compared with multi-person households. Furthermore, promoting physical activity emerged as a potential strategy for mitigating GAD in single-person households.

Can Loneliness be Predicted? Development of a Risk Prediction Model for Loneliness among Elderly Chinese: A Study Based on CLHLS

Background

Loneliness is prevalent among the elderly, worsened by global aging trends. It impacts mental and physiological health. Traditional scales for measuring loneliness may be biased due to cognitive decline and varying definitions. Machine learning advancements offer potential improvements in risk prediction models.

Methods

Data from the 2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), involving over 16,000 participants aged ≥65 years, were used. The study examined the relationships between loneliness and factors such as cognitive function, functional limitations, living conditions, environmental influences, age-related health issues, and health behaviors. Using R 4.4.1, seven predictive models were developed: logistic regression, ridge regression, support vector machines, K-nearest neighbors, decision trees, random forests, and multi-layer perceptron. Models were evaluated based on ROC curves, accuracy, precision, recall, F1 scores, and AUC.

Results

Loneliness prevalence among elderly Chinese was 23.4%. Analysis identified 16 predictive factors and evaluated seven models. Logistic regression was the most effective model for predicting loneliness risk due to its economic and operational advantages.

Conclusion

The study found a 23.4% prevalence of loneliness among elderly individuals in China. SHAP values indicated that higher MMSE scores correlate with lower loneliness levels. Logistic regression was the superior model for predicting loneliness risk in this population.

Social isolation and mental well-being among Korean older adults: a focus on living arrangements

Introduction

The aging population in South Korea, characterized by an increasing number of older adults living alone, has raised concerns about its implications on mental health, specifically social isolation and loneliness that accompanies solitary living arrangements. This study explores the impact of living arrangements on the mental well-being of Korean older adults by focusing on the prevalence of depression and the role of social isolation in the context of evolving family structures and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

This cross-sectional study analyzed the responses of older adults aged 65 years and above (mean: 73.1, SD: 5.1) by using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2018 and 2020. In total, responses from 3,365 older adults (1,653 in 2018 and 1,712 in 2020) were employed in this research. The participants' mental health status was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, with living arrangements categorized by household size. A zero-inflated Poisson regression analysis was employed to investigate the relationship between living arrangements and depression severity, controlling for demographic, socioeconomic, and psychological factors.

Results

The study found that older adults living with others exhibited a lower depression severity than those living alone. Notably, the severity of depression decreased as the number of household members increased up to a certain threshold. Socio-economic factors, such as income level, marital status, and psychological stress were also identified as significant predictors of depression severity. However, the COVID-19 pandemic did not have a statistically significant impact on depression rates among older adults during the study period.

Conclusion

Living arrangements play a critical role in the mental health of Korean older adults, with solitary living being associated with higher levels of depression. These findings underscore the importance of social support systems and suggest the need for policies and interventions that promote social connectivity and address the challenges of loneliness faced by them. Future research should explore longitudinal and qualitative studies to further understand causal relationships and develop targeted interventions to improve the mental well-being of the aging population.

Prevalence of depression in junior and senior adolescents

Background

Depression affects the development of adolescents and makes it difficult for them to adapt to future life. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the population characteristics of adolescent depression.

Methods

This study measured depression based on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 items and sociodemographic questionnaire. A total of 8,235 valid questionnaires were collected from six schools in Haikou and Qionghai, Hainan Province, covering the ages of 13 to 18. The questionnaires included high schools with multiple levels, including general high schools, key high schools, and vocational high schools. Latent category analysis (LCA) was used to identify potential categories of depressive symptoms among adolescents. Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was used for determining depressive symptom latent categories and their proportional distribution among adolescents.

Results

LCA analysis divided the data into 3 categories, namely no depression, low depression, and high depression groups. The percentage of the high depression group was 10.1%, and that of the low depression group was 48.4%. The Jorden index was greatest for a PHQ-9 score of 14.5. The 1st grade of junior middle school students entered the high and low depression groups 1.72 and 1.33 times more often than seniors. The number of the 1st grade of high school students included in the high and low depression groups was 1.55 and 1.42 times of the 3rd grade of high school students group. The detection rate of the high depression group of vocational school adolescents was 13.5%, which was significantly higher than that of key high schools (9.6%) and general high schools (9.0%).

Conclusion

This study found that 1st grade of junior middle school students and the 1st grade of high school students were more likely to fall into depressive conditions. Moreover, Adolescent girls require more attention than boys. Vocational school students need more psychological guidance.

Identification of sleep quality clusters among stroke patients: A multi-center Latent Profile Analysis study

BACKGROUND

Quality sleep plays a crucial role in maintaining good health. Nevertheless, sleep disruption is a common and complex issue after a stroke. It can increase the likelihood of stroke recurrence by influencing modifiable risk factors. However, there is currently a lack of research on the latent classes or clusters of sleep quality and its predictive factors among stroke patients.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to identify latent classes of sleep quality and explore the predictive factors associated with different sleep quality clusters among stroke patients.

METHODS

A total of 500 participants were recruited through cluster random sampling from January 2023 to May 2023. Latent profile analysis was conducted to identify latent classes of sleep quality within the sample of stroke patients. Additionally, multinomial regression analyses were employed to investigate the predictors associated with the different latent classes identified in the analysis.

RESULTS

Out of the 500 participants, 458 (91.6 %) completed the survey, and 71 % of them reported experiencing sleep problems. The analysis revealed three latent profile classes: the "good sleep quality-deficient duration" group (65.4 %), the "moderate sleep quality-more disturbances" group (14.1 %), and the "poor sleep quality-low efficiency" group (20.5 %). Factors associated with sleep quality were identified. Protective factors for sleep quality included being male, having the TOAST type of large-artery atherosclerosis, having a good education, high household income, no family history of stroke, residing in rural areas, and having better environmental and social support (all p < 0.05). Risk factors for sleep quality included smoking, high perceived stress, and a greater number of comorbidities (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study has successfully identified three distinct latent profile classes of sleep quality and their associated predictors among stroke patients in China. The findings offer both theoretical guidance and practical insights for the development of targeted intervention programs aimed at enhancing the sleep quality of stroke patients.

Risk of loss to follow-up among tuberculosis patients in South Korea: whom should we focus on?

Introduction

In South Korea, public-private mix (PPM) has been a key strategy in national tuberculosis (TB) control program. This study aimed to identify rate of loss to follow-up (LTFU) among TB patients in nationwide PPM institutions and their risk factors.

Methods

A nationwide prospective observational study including drug susceptible TB patients diagnosed from the 1st day to the 10th day of every month between July 2018 and December 2020 in PPM institutions was designed. Multivariable survival models in which death and failure were designated as events with competing risk were used to investigate risk factors for LTFU.

Results

A total of 14,942 patients were included. Of them, 356 (2.4%) had an LTFU. Risk factors for LTFU were: underweight patients (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 1.47, 95% CI: 1.12-1.92), patients living alone (aHR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.16-1.76), heavy drinkers (aHR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.16-2.39), those with malignancy (aHR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.07-2.05), foreigners (aHR: 5.96, 95% CI: 4.51-7.89), and those with previous TB history reported as an unfavorable outcome (aHR: 4.43, 95% CI: 2.77-7.08). Effect of age on LTFU was not significant. Brief interruption of anti-TB treatment (less than two months) in current session was associated with subsequent LTFU [adjusted odds ratio: 13.09 (10.29-16.66)].

Conclusion

Identifying vulnerability of patients such as living alone, being heavy alcoholics, being foreigners or having previous TB history reported as an unfavorable outcome is required. Thorough case management for these vulnerable groups could be feasible with collaboration between public and private sectors.

The mediation role of self-esteem and hope on the relationship of quality of life and unmet needs of elderly with psychiatric disorders

BACKGROUND

Self-esteem is one of the factors affecting the quality of life. On the other hand, quality of life decreases in people with psychiatric disorders. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the mediating role of self-esteem and hope on the relationship between unmet needs and quality of life of the elderly with psychiatric disorders.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 112 chronic psychiatric patients hospitalized in the geriatric ward of (blinded) 2020. Based on the inclusion criteria, a total of 100 samples were entered into the study by census. The World Health Organization (WHO) quality of life questionnaire, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Snyder Hope Scale, and Camberwell Assessment of Need Short Appraisal Schedule (CANSAS) were used to collect data. The research model was tested using the path analysis technique. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Ver. 26 and LISREL Ver. 2/9.

RESULTS

Unmet needs were negatively related to the other three variables of the study, namely, self-esteem, hope, and quality of life. There was a significant relationship between unmet needs and quality of life with a mediating role of self-esteem and hope (P < 0.05). Quality of life was also negatively related to unmet needs and directly related to self-esteem and hope.

CONCLUSION

Based on the findings of this study, it is essential that health-care providers consider planning to provide programs to improve self-esteem and hope in order to reduce unmet needs and increase the quality of life.

Latent profile analysis of depression among older adults living alone in China

BACKGROUND

The number of older adults living alone has increased significantly. Depression is one of the significant mental health problems they face; classifying depressive conditions into homogeneous subgroups can help discover hidden information.

METHODS

The data comes from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify depression subgroups among elderly living alone, Chi-square tests and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to univariate analysis, multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze the related factors.

RESULTS

1831 older adults living alone were identified and classified as low-level (30.4 %), moderate-level (55.3 %) and high-level (14.4 %). All variables, except age, were significant in the univariate analysis. Multinomial logistic regression showed that not participating in exercise, sometimes interacting with friends, anxiety symptoms, and impaired IADL were associated with the moderate- and high-level of depression in older adults living alone; good or fair self-rated health and life satisfaction were associated with the low-level of depression in older adults living alone. Anxiety symptoms were associated with high-level of depression in older adults living alone compared to moderate-level; good or fair self-rated health and life satisfaction were associated with moderate-level of depression in older adults living alone.

LIMITATIONS

The CES-D-10 cannot fully determine the presence of depression in elderly people living alone at high-level.

CONCLUSIONS

In future primary health care, it would be more meaningful to provide targeted interventions for different subgroups of depression in older adults living alone.

Profiles of socially isolated community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: A latent class analysis

OBJECTIVE

To identify different profiles of socially isolated older adults during the first wave of COVID-19 in Quebec, Canada.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional data were obtained through a telehealth socio-geriatric risk assessment tool, ESOGER, administered to adults aged 70 years or more between April and July 2020 in Montreal, Canada.

MEASURES

Those living alone with no social contacts in the last few days were considered socially isolated. Latent class analysis was performed to identify profiles of socially isolated older adults based on: age, sex, polypharmacy, use of home care, use of a walking aid, recall of current year/month, anxiety level (scale 0-10), and need for follow-up from a healthcare provider.

RESULTS

Three-hundred and eighty (380) older adults identified as socially isolated were analyzed, of whom 75.5 % were female and 56.6 % were over 85. Three classes were identified: Class 1 ("physically frail older females") had the highest proportion of polypharmacy, walking aid, and home care use. Class 2 ("anxious, relatively younger males") were predominantly males who used the least home care but had the highest anxiety levels. Class 3 ("seemingly well older females") had the highest proportion of females, lowest proportion of polypharmacy, lowest anxiety level, and none used a walking aid. Recall of current year/month was similar across the three classes.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found heterogeneity among socially isolated older adults during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with varying levels of physical and mental health. Our findings may contribute to the development of targeted interventions to support this vulnerable population during and after the pandemic.

Can leisure and entertainment lifestyle promote health among older people living alone in China?-A simultaneous equation approach

Objectives

With the surging number of older people living alone, their lifestyles and health status have aroused increasing concern. This study aims to investigate whether a leisure and entertainment lifestyle (LEL) can improve the multidimensional health among older people living alone and try to identify the latent mechanisms among them.

Method

For this purpose, we extracted data from the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) and established a simultaneous equations model, comprising ordinary least square regression (OLS), two-stage least squares (2SLS), and the mediating effect model.

Results

Older people living alone in China reported relatively better mental health status (3.64 ± 1.07), followed by physical health (3.41 ± 1.26) and social health (2.75 ± 1.18). In the OLS model, LEL significantly improved the social health of older people living alone (β = 0.054, P < 0.01), followed by physical health (β = 0.042, P < 0.01) and mental health (β = 0.027, P < 0.01). After endogenous tests from 2SLS model and robustness tests, we found that more active LEL was associated with higher levels of physical health and mental health. However, LEL had no significant effect on the improvement of the social health of the older people living alone. Using the mediation analysis, exercise efficacy partially mediated the relationship of LEL with physical health and mental health, and the ratios were 19.75 and 24.85%, respectively. Similarly, positive life attitudes partially mediated the relationship between LEL and physical health, and LEL and mental health, with ratios of 10.65 and 26.83%, respectively.

Conclusion

Our findings suggested that LEL is significantly associated with better physical and mental health for older people living alone in China, and the association is mediated by exercise efficacy and positive attitudes toward life. Promoting more leisure and recreational activities, upgrading exercise efficacy, and encouraging positive life attitudes are necessary health promotion measures in active aging policies for the wellbeing of older people living alone.

Expanding relationship science to unpartnered singles: What predicts life satisfaction?

Singles are an understudied yet growing segment of the adult population. The current study aims to expand the lens of relationship science by examining the well-being of unpartnered, single adults using latent profile analysis. We recruited singles (N = 4,835) closely matched to the United States census (ages 18-65; 57.5% female; 71.1% White; 14.5% Black; 13.8% Hispanic) for an exploratory cross-sectional survey using five variables that strongly predict well-being (friendship satisfaction, family satisfaction, self-esteem, neuroticism, and extraversion). All five variables significantly predicted life satisfaction for the full sample. Latent profile analyses detected 10 groups (or profiles) of singles. Half of the profiles were happy (above the full sample mean of life satisfaction) and half of the profiles were unhappy (below the mean). Each profile had its own unique patterns relating to personal relationships, self-esteem, and personality traits. The happiest profile had the best relationships, self-esteem, and personality, while the unhappiest profile had the worst relationships, self-esteem, and personality. The profiles in between these two extremes had more nuanced patterns. For example, one relatively happy profile in the middle had high friendship satisfaction but low family satisfaction, while an adjacent profile showed the opposite pattern. Overall, singles who had positive relationships-both with themselves and others-were happiest.

Multidimensional energy poverty and depression among China's older adults

Older adults often face more pronounced energy inequality in their daily lives, which is one of the reasons for their accumulation of stress or anxiety and may further aggravate their depression. Analyzing the relationship between energy poverty and the depression level of China's older adults will provide policy enlightenment for solving the problems of older adults' relative poverty, energy poverty, and mental poverty and thus promote happy and healthy aging. In this paper, using the data of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study in 2018, we used the entropy weighting method to objectively assign weights to 10 indicators reflecting the status of energy poverty and construct a multidimensional energy poverty index for older adults. First, we analyzed the relationship between multidimensional energy poverty and the depression levels of older adults using multiple linear regression model and quantile regression models. Next, we used instrumental variable linear regression model and instrumental variable quantile regression models for endogeneity tests. Then, we performed a robustness check by replacing the core explanatory variable. After that, we conducted heterogeneity analyses by residential area, type of residence, and solitary status. Finally, we analyzed the mediating role of life satisfaction using structural equation modeling. Multidimensional energy poverty has aggravated depression among older adults, and the effect is greater for older adults with higher depression levels. The effect of multidimensional energy poverty on depression is greater for older adults in western China, urban areas, and those who live alone. Multidimensional energy poverty has aggravated depression among older adults by reducing their life satisfaction.

Predictors of Satisfaction With Life and Health Status of Older People in Brunei: A Gender Comparative Study

Objective: To investigate predictors of life satisfaction and healthy aging with focus on gender differences among older people in Brunei Darussalam.

Methods: A cross-sectional study on older people recruited by proportionate sampling. Multiple linear regression stratified by gender was applied.

Results: 45.6% of life satisfaction of older women were strongly associated with self-perceived health, social relationship, and education level. For older men, 26.3% of the variance of life satisfaction was predicted by physical functioning or disability, and social relationship. For older women, 38.9% of the variance of health status can be explained with satisfaction with life, and difficulty to do daily tasks. For older men, 33.1% of the variance of health status can be accounted by income, number of children, presence of chronic illness, and diabetes.

Conclusion: This paper discusses the unique gender differences of older people from a global perspective. Policymakers and stakeholders need to account for local and contextual differences before adopting international guideline. Particularly, on the maintenance or further promotion social interactions, active engaging elderly in health maintenance, and physical and mental functioning of the older population.

Comparison of Dietary Behaviors and the Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Single- and Multi-Person Households among Korean Adults

Changes in household dynamics in Korea, such as the transition from multi- to single-person households, have led to changes in individuals' dietary behavior patterns and health status. Thus, this study aimed to compare dietary behaviors and determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) as well as explore factors associated with MetS according to household type among Korean adults. Using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2014-2018, we included 21,944 Korean adults with available health examination and dietary recall data. Based on self-reported information, individuals were divided into two household types: single- and multi-person households. We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate the adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for MetS and its components after adjusting for potential covariates. Among the study population, 9.19% and 90.81% lived in single-person and multi-person households, respectively. Individuals in single-person households had a higher energy intake overall and a greater percentage of energy from animal protein; total, saturated, and monounsaturated fats; and animal source foods and a lower percentage of energy from carbohydrates, plant protein, and plant source foods than those from multi-person households (all, p < 0.05). Individuals living in single-person rather than multi-person households were more likely to consume milk/dairy products, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, oils/fats, and others but were less likely to consume vegetables/mushrooms, fruits, seaweeds, and fish/shellfish (all, p < 0.05). Living alone was associated with higher energy intake from main meals and foods prepared away from home but a lower dietary variety score and fewer total main meals consumed (all, p < 0.05). Skipping breakfast, frequent eating out, food insecurity, and MetS combination phenotypes significantly differed by household type. Individuals living alone had higher odds of MetS (AOR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.02-1.29), abdominal obesity (AOR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.01-1.28), elevated blood pressure (AOR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.12-1.47), and elevated fasting blood glucose (AOR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.05-1.33) than those living with others. Compared with those in multi-person households, individuals in single-person households tend to have health and dietary behaviors that increase vulnerability to MetS; therefore, establishing health care strategies and nutrition policies according to household type is necessary.

Mediating Role of Satisfaction with Life in the Effect of Self-Esteem and Education on Social Media Addiction in Turkey

The increasing use of social media due to various individual and social reasons may trigger some psycho-social issues. What can be effective in reducing social media addiction, which causes social and economic problems, is an important issue today. This study aimed to investigate the mediation effect of satisfaction with life in the impact of self-esteem and education level on social media addiction in individuals. The study was designed as cross-sectional, and the sample consists of 952 volunteers over the age of 15 using social media in Turkey. A personal information form, the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale were used as data collection tools in the study. The data were analyzed with SPSS 23.0 Program and PROCESS macro plug-in. Demographic questions such as age, gender, and marriage were used as control variables. As a result of the research, it was determined that satisfaction with life had a mediation role in the effect of self-esteem and education level on social media addiction. Self-esteem and education level improved satisfaction with life, and increased satisfaction with life resulted in less social media addiction. These results demonstrate the importance of implementing specific practices based on self-esteem and education, especially for vulnerable groups, to minimize the problems that may arise with the excessive use of digital apps and social media.

Building the Nation: The Success and Crisis of Korean Civil Religion

Civil religion refers to a country’s beliefs, symbols, and rituals that bolster national unity and strengthen its citizens’ sense of identity and belonging. However, the literature on civil religion is divided between those who attribute it to bottom-up cultural spontaneity and those who see it as an ideological top-down construction. Moreover, there has been a relative lack of scholarly attention to Korean civil religion. This paper addresses both issues by arguing that a strong civil religion indeed exists in the country and that it has been an important part of the “nation-building” process since the founding of the Republic of Korea in 1948. The paper highlights how a succession of authoritarian regimes (1948–1987) successfully mobilized a strong civil religion for political purposes. The resulting civil religion targeted economic growth as the national goal to overcome all social ills, focused on the country’s ethnic and cultural homogeneity to boost national confidence and pride, exalted its traditional religions, especially Confucianism, as repositories of Korean traditional culture, and rendered sacred meanings to national symbols such as the flag and national anthem. Even after democratization, Korean civil religion remains largely ideological, as the Korean government is heavily involved in framing, planning, sponsoring, and promoting the country’s civil religion. Nevertheless, the paper concludes by observing that this civil religion is entering a period of crisis due to political fragmentation among Korean elites and deeply rooted cultural and societal change.