In Korea, the number of admissions to nursing colleges has greatly increased over the past 20 years to address the shortage of nurses. However, many nursing students have unclear career identities during college and stop working in healthcare after graduation. This study aimed to examine the effects of self-esteem, problem-solving ability, and professional nursing values on career identity. The participants were 140 third- and fourth-year nursing students recruited from a university in South Korea. Data were collected between September and October 2019 using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple linear regression. The results showed significant correlations between satisfaction with college life and major subject, subjective academic achievement, self-esteem, problem-solving ability, professional nursing values, and career identity. The factors that significantly affected career identity were self-esteem and professional nursing values. Nursing educators can support the career development of nursing students by enhancing their self-esteem and professionalism, along with efforts to improve satisfaction with their college life and major.

Background: Intellectual disabilities are characterized by constant and complex needs for care that place a heavy burden on the families of affected individuals and affect their overall quality of life. We evaluated the mediating effects of family functioning on the relationship between care burden and the family quality of life of caregivers of children with intellectual disabilities in Mongolia.Methods: Data were collected from a sample of 150 caregivers of children with intellectual disabilities from October 2017 to November 2017. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to examine the mediating effects of family functioning.Results: Family functioning had a partial mediating effect (β = .702, p < .001) on the relationship between care burden and family quality of life.Conclusion: Family functioning should be considered when developing a social support intervention to improve family quality of life among caregivers of children with intellectual disabilities.

People with mental disorders are susceptible to physical comorbidities. Mind–body interventions are important for improving health outcomes. We examined the prevalence of physical comorbidities and their differences by diagnoses and sex among psychiatric inpatients. The dataset, from National Health Insurance claims data, included 48,902 adult inpatients admitted to psychiatric wards for at least 2 days in 2016 treated for schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders, or mood disorders. We identified 26 physical comorbidities using the Elixhauser comorbidity measure. Among schizophrenia-related disorders, other neurological disorders were most common, then liver disease and chronic pulmonary disease. Among mood disorders, liver disease was most common, then uncomplicated hypertension and chronic pulmonary disease. Most comorbid physical diseases (except other neurological disorders) were more prevalent in mood disorders than schizophrenia-related disorders. Male and female patients with schizophrenia-related disorders showed similar comorbidity prevalence patterns by sex. Among patients with mood disorders, liver disease was most prevalent in males and third-most in females. In both diagnostic groups, liver disease and uncomplicated diabetes mellitus were more prevalent in males, and hypothyroidism in females. Mental health professionals should refer to a specialist to manage physical diseases via early assessments and optimal interventions for physical comorbidities in psychiatric patients.

Gender differences in health outcomes have long been a concern worldwide. We investigated the gender differences in the lifestyle and mental health status of senior students in general high schools who were preparing for college entrance exams. This secondary analysis was based on data from the 14th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (2018). The data of 8476 students in the third year (12th grade) of general high school, among a total of 60,040 middle and high school students nationwide, were analyzed. Mean and standard error (SE) and weighted percentage data were obtained, and the Rao–Scott χ² test was performed. Boys reported more risky behaviors related to drinking and smoking, while girls had more negative perceptions of their bodies and overall health. In addition, girls showed unhealthier lifestyle-related behaviors (breakfast, physical activity, weight control) and greater vulnerability to poor mental health, including lower sleep satisfaction, stress, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Our results suggest that education and health institutions should consider the needs of each gender separately. A gender-specific approach to maintaining healthy lifestyles and good health status among senior high school students is highly recommended.