Although extensive research exists on toxic environments in the Tri-State Mining District (TSMD), there has been a lack of research on how harmful effects in TSMD could affect residents living in those areas. However, quite recently, such research regarding relationships between the health conditions of residents and toxic elements in the TSMD began to grow. The increase of empirical studies means greater complexity of the findings that require a more intricate understanding. To meet the goals of this study, an extensive, systematic review of the literature using PRISMA was conducted. This method resulted in 19 articles that define the harmful effects of the TSMD on the ecology and the physical health of residents. This research found that toxic metals not only negatively impact natural processes in the TSMD environments (fish species reduction, kidney and liver problems, and toxic diet) but also continuously affect the health of residents (high blood Pb and mortality).This study makes a vital contribution building upon the existing outcomes of the correlations between toxic elements in the TSMD areas and the health of residents. Furthermore, conclusions of this study provide updated information to policymakers and health-related professionals by providing adequate and innovative remediations and health-related services in the TSMD.

In order to understand the prevalence of school-aged childhood obesity in the United States and suggest better methods to prevent and treat the public health problem, we examined it with significant and identifiable factors within the social-ecological model. To investigate the association between social-ecological factors and child obesity/overweight (BMI), we used the 5th wave of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. The dataset included information on 9-year-old children. The sample size for our study was 2054. We utilized multiple normal distributions for missing values and the Ordinary Least Square regression analysis. Black and Hispanic children were more likely to be obese/overweight than White children; children with higher physical activity were negatively associated with higher obesity; older mothers were more likely to be associated with children’s obesity; family structure was also significantly related to the likelihood of childhood obesity; finally, school environment was significantly associated with child obesity. To combat childhood obesity, more school physical activities should be implemented, such as increasing physical education opportunities as well as building more sizable playgrounds and accessible recreation facilities at school and in communities. School environments also should be pleasant and safe for children. Health practitioners need to assess home environments to intervene for children’s health.

Even though there are different types of after-school settings, numerous studies have focused on formal after-school settings (i.e., after-school programs or ASPs) and their association with children’s academic, physical, and social-emotional behaviors. The few findings from informal settings are also outdated. To bridge this gap, our study aimed to locate the interrelations between after-school settings and the behavioral outcomes of children with a particular emphasis on children’s delinquency and emotional-behavioral problems. We used the U.S. national dataset, fifth wave of Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing (nine-year follow-up), with the binary logistic and ordinary least square regression analyses. With a sample size of 3320, we found that children in parental care were reported to commit less delinquency than children in ASPs. Also, children in non-adult care were reported to have more emotional-behavioral problems than children in ASPs. Educators, school social workers, and policymakers should consider the impact of ASPs on children whose parents are not able to spend significant amounts of time with them. In particular, public assistance should be utilized in such a way that helps parents to achieve their children’s positive behavioral outcomes. At the same time, government and community assistance should be provided to enhance the quality of ASPs for the positive results of emotional-behavioral problems of elementary school students.

2020년부터 전 세계적으로 유행한 코비드-19 바이러스로 인해 많은 사망자가 발생하였고, 이에 대응하기 위한 정부의 적극적인 대처의 결과 시민들의 삶의 많은 부분에서 큰 변화를 있어왔다. 범죄 측면에서 살펴보면, 코비드-19 이후 보편적으로 범죄가 감소하고 있다는 연구 결과들이 보고되었다. 하지만 소수의 연구들이 코비드-19의 범죄에 대한 영향력을 경험적으로 검증하였으며, 한국적 맥락에서의 형사 정책적 논의는 제한적이라 하겠다. 따라서 본 연구는 뉴욕의 범죄 자료를 분석하여 한국의 형사 정책적 논의를 제공하는 것을 목표로 하였다. 구체적으로 시계열 분석을 통하여 코비드-19 이전과 이후의 범죄율의 양상이 통계적으로 유의미하게 변화하였는지를 검증하였다. 분석 결과, 코비드-19 이후 모든 범죄가 유의미하게 감소하였지만, 시간의 흐름에 따라 이전의 수준으로 회귀하는 현상을 보였다. 이러한 결과들을 바탕으로 한국의 형사정책에 도움이 될 수 있는 이론적 정책적 시사점과 한계점을 논하였다.