The widespread adoption of the smartphone has led to both positive and negative consequences for adolescents’ mental health. This study examines the interplay between smartphone dependence (SPD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and various mental health outcomes among Korean adolescents. Data from the 16th Adolescence Health Behavior Survey (2020), including 54,948 middle and high school students, were analyzed. Adolescents were categorized into three groups based on SPD severity. The GAD-7 scale assessed anxiety, and other factors such as subjective health recognition, happiness, weight control efforts, and body mass index (BMI) were considered. Adolescents with higher SPD exhibited lower academic performance, decreased happiness, and increased perception of stress. GAD levels were positively correlated with SPD, with higher SPD linked to more severe GAD symptoms. Additionally, higher SPD was associated with increased loneliness, sadness, and suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts as well as a greater likelihood of habitual drug use. Gender differences revealed that females were more prone to sadness, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts, while males exhibited higher rates of drug use. This study highlights the complex relationship between SPD, GAD, and mental health outcomes among Korean adolescents. Stress recognition was found to mediate the association between GAD and SPD. The process-macro result of the total effect between SPD on GAD and the direct effect of the SPD pathway on GAD was significant; thus, the stress recognition was mediated. Effective interventions should target stress management, especially among adolescents with high smartphone dependence, to mitigate the risk of mental health issues. These findings underscore the importance of addressing smartphone dependence and its impact on the mental well-being of adolescents.

Bisphenol A, Bisphenol S, and Bisphenol F are widely used plastic additives and endocrine-disrupting chemicals with potential adverse health effects. Limited research has examined lifestyle and dietary factors influencing human exposure to these compounds. This study investigated associations between urinary bisphenol concentrations and demographic, lifestyle, dietary, and food-handling factors in 4239 Korean adults aged 19 to 82 years (1889 men, 44.6%; 2350 women, 55.4%) from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (2018–2020). Median urinary concentrations with interquartile ranges were 1.15 µg/L (IQR: 0.45–2.27) for BPA, 0.17 µg/L (IQR: 0.06–0.41) for BPF, and 0.15 µg/L (IQR: 0.06–0.38) for BPS. Urinary bisphenol concentrations differed significantly by gender, age, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and education level (p < 0.001), with higher concentrations in younger males, smokers, and alcohol consumers. Frequent consumption of instant noodles, microwaveable foods, canned foods, and plastic-wrapped takeout was significantly associated with elevated bisphenol levels (p < 0.001). Use of plastic containers, coated cookware, and electric rice cookers was linked to higher urinary BPA and BPS concentrations. BPA showed statistically significant but weak positive correlations with serum creatinine (r = 0.044, p < 0.05) and height (r = 0.037, p < 0.05), as assessed using Pearson’s correlation test. BPF was negatively correlated with aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels (r = −0.042). Public health strategies should prioritize safer food storage practices and enhance awareness of health risks associated with these chemicals.

Background: Ambient air pollution, particularly particulate matter (PM), has been linked to metabolic disorders, including diabetes. We evaluated associations between long-term exposure to coarse particulate matter (PM₁₀) and fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in a Korean population and assessed whether specific subgroups exhibited heightened susceptibility. Methods: We analyzed 6940 participants without diabetes from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) Ansan-Ansung cohort. Participants contributed 35,395 observations across a mean follow-up of 5.1 visits (2005–2017). Linear mixed models estimated associations between PM exposure and HbA1c while adjusting for covariates, including body mass index (BMI), time, and region. Subgroup analyses stratified by sex, age, BMI, region, education, smoking status, drinking status, and exercise. Results: Higher long-term PM₁₀ exposure was associated with elevated HbA1c (β = 0.0347 per interquartile range [IQR] increase of 9.48 μg/m³; 95% CI: 0.0220, 0.0473; p < 0.001). PM_2.5 showed a comparable positive association (β = 0.0166 per IQR of 8.67 μg/m³; 95% CI: 0.0010, 0.0321; p = 0.037). Associations were stronger among older adults (≥60 years: β = 0.0789 vs. <60 years: β = 0.0210; p-interaction < 0.001), rural Ansung residents (β = 0.0963 vs. Ansan: β = 0.0398; p-interaction < 0.001), participants with lower educational attainment (≤middle school: β = 0.0637; p-interaction < 0.001), and never smokers (β = 0.0455; p-interaction = 0.035). Conclusions: Among nondiabetic Korean adults, long-term PM₁₀ exposure was associated with higher HbA1c; PM_2.5 demonstrated a similar positive association. Associations were more pronounced among older adults, rural residents, individuals with lower educational attainment, and never smokers. These findings support ambient air pollution as an environmental contributor to subclinical glycemic changes and underscore the need for targeted public health strategies for vulnerable populations.

Background/objectives: With the rapid expansion of Internet-based health information, individuals increasingly rely on digital sources to obtain medical knowledge and manage their health. Health literacy plays a critical role in determining how effectively individuals access, understand, and utilize such information. This study aimed to examine the association between subjective health perception and health information literacy-related indicators among Korean adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized secondary data from the 2019 “Health Information Literacy Improvement Study” conducted by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. A total of 1000 adults aged 19–69 years were included in the analysis. Participants were categorized into three groups according to subjective health perception (good, normal, and poor). Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were conducted to examine differences. In addition, multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with subjective health perception. Results: Participants with better subjective health perception reported fewer chronic diseases (p < 0.001), healthier dietary behaviors (p < 0.001), and more frequent health information seeking (p = 0.023). They also reported greater ease in finding and understanding health information (p < 0.001). Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that health information literacy-related factors, including information-seeking behavior and the ability to evaluate information reliability, were significantly associated with subjective health perception. Individuals with fewer chronic diseases and healthier behaviors were less likely to report poor subjective health. Conclusions: Subjective health perception was significantly associated with multiple health information literacy-related indicators and health-seeking behaviors. These findings highlight the importance of improving health information literacy-related competencies to support informed health decision-making and promote positive health perceptions.