KIHASA has published the KCI-listed Health and Social Welfare Review, Vol. 44, No. 4. This issue features 20 peer-reviewed articles and an editorial by Joo Eunsun, Professor at Kyonggi University and Editor-in-Chief of the Review.

EDITORIAL: In Search of Directions for Social Policy in An Era of Anxiety and Depression - Main Points

What demands are being placed on social policy today? In 2024, the Health and Social Welfare Review published a total of 85 articles, with the most frequently discussed topics being "anxiety" and "depression." Research on these topics has found their links to issues such as unemployment, the burden of care, and the climate crisis. The Health and Social Welfare Review has also published excellent research on a range of health topics, including healthcare utilization, spatial accessibility of health services, vaccination, healthcare provision, the costs of illness, hospice care, and the use of primary care in the management of chronic diseases. The need for a fundamental shift in health policy remains a pressing issue. Other major themes of the 2024 Review articles include the exploration of concrete policy evaluations and strategies to overcome the era of anxiety and depression, and the pursuit of dignity in life and death. Studies of social integration policies for immigrants, case management to support self-sufficiency, community health initiatives, public health strengthening, and human rights-friendly services point to both incremental and transformative shifts in social policy for societal change. We hope that in 2025, the Health and Social Welfare Review will continue to address a wide range of health and social issues. The Health and Social Welfare Review 2025 will again demonstrate the commitment of the scientific community to professional research, offering well-supported opinions, in an ongoing effort to ensure the dignity of life and death for all.

Article I: "The Effect of Perceived Human Rights-Friendly Service Environment on the Recovery of Individuals with Psychological Disabilities: Verifying the Mediating Effect of Activity and Participation," Park, Jong Eun, Seoul National University Social Welfare Research Institute & Kahng, Sang Kyoung, Seoul National University

Since a human rights-friendly service environment should be created based on the self-determination of individuals with psychosocial disabilities (IPDs), efforts are being made to establish such environments in inpatient hospitals and community mental health facilities. Recovery memoirs of IPDs indicate that human rights-friendly service environments perceived in hospitals and facilities significantly enhance community engagement and participation, ultimately facilitating recovery. However, the relationship between perceived human rights-friendly service environments, activities and participation, and recovery has not been systematically verified. This study examines the relationship among these factors―perceived human rights-friendly service environments, activities and participation, and recovery―using Donabedian's structure-process-outcome theory. To this end, structural equation modeling, including indirect effect analysis, was conducted using data from 348 IPDs who participated in a 2022 survey on the establishment of human rights-friendly treatment environments. Key findings are as follows: Human rights-friendly service environments in both inpatient hospitals and community mental health facilities (support for independence and respect for human dignity) have a positive total effect on recovery. In the case of the mediating effect of activity and participation, all of them showed complete or partial mediating effects except for the human-respect environment of community mental health facilities. Based on these findings, practical and policy implications for developing human rights-friendly service environments and promoting the recovery of IPDs are discussed.

Article II: "A Decision Tree Analysis to Explore Predictors of Adolescent's Anxiety: Focusing on Sex Differences," Yu, Seunghee, Kookmin University

We aimed to explore the factors predicting anxiety in adolescents by sex using decision tree analysis. The participants in this study included 3,940 middle and high school students from the 2021 Survey on the Mental Health of Teenagers conducted by the National Youth Policy Institute. For data analysis, the CHAID (Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detector) algorithm was employed as the decision tree analysis method. The analysis revealed that the group with the highest anxiety among male adolescents consisted of those with low self-esteem and inconsistent parenting attitudes. In contrast, the group with the lowest anxiety among male adolescents had high self-esteem, positive family relationships, consistent parenting attitudes, and strong community support. Among female adolescents, those with the highest anxiety exhibited low self-esteem and poor family relationships. Conversely, the group with the lowest anxiety among female adolescents showed high self-esteem, low stress levels, consistent parenting attitudes, and positive relationships with teachers. Based on these findings, we proposed effective and targeted action plans to alleviate symptoms in adolescents with high anxiety and prevent anxiety according to sex-specific factors.

Article III: "Changes and Dynamics in Directivity within Collective Impact: Focusing on the Scope of Community Activities," Oh, Youngsam, Pukyong National University; Her, Wonbin, Pukyong National University; and Kim, Eunjeong, Pukyong National University

This study aims to empirically analyze the changes and dynamics of collective impact(CI). For the analysis, we utilized the scope of activities targeted by eight collective impact initiatives in Busan. The analysis employed the concepts of breadth and redundancy from niche theory. The results indicate that the perceived scope within CI continuously changed over time and with the activities undertaken. Initially, the scope targeted by CI was at the metropolitan level, but it narrowed as the activities progressed. The niche breadth within CI decreased for half of the initiatives over time, while it increased for the other half. Niche overlap tended to decrease more than it increased over time. This study overcomes the empirical limitations of previous research and clearly presents the characteristics of CI. It also clarifies the characteristics and structure of CI formed in Busan. The findings should serve as empirical data for future studies on changes in CI.

Article IV: "An Exploratory Study on the Unmet Medical and Dental Care Needs Based on the Levels of Cognitive Declines in Korean Older Adults," Namkung, Eun Ha, Ewha Womans University & Lee Gyeonghee, Ewha Womans University

This study aims to explore the unmet medical (dental) care needs and the reasons for these unmet needs by the levels of subjective cognitive decline (SCD) in Korean older population, using Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Services Use and Levesque's Patient-Centered Access to Health Care model. The study analyzes data from the Community Health Survey to examine the experiences of unmet medical (dental) care and their reasons among individuals aged 60 and above, using survey-weighted logistic and multinomial logistic regression models. The findings suggest that compared to individuals without SCD, those with SCD and those with SCD accompanied by difficulties in daily living have a significantly higher probability of experiencing unmet medical (dental) care. Additionally, individuals with SCD were more likely to report economic (cost-related) reasons and limitations in transportation/mobility as barriers to receiving necessary medical (dental) services. Based on these findings, the study proposes policy and service strategies to prevent unmet medical (dental) care needs among older persons with cognitive decline and to improve the utilization and accessibility of appropriate medical services.

Article V: "Spatial Accessbility to Diabetes Care: A Perspective on Regional Inequalities," Ha, Rangkyoung, Seoul National University; Jung-Choi, Kyunghee, Ewha Womans University; and Kim, Chang-yup, Seoul National University

This study examines spatial accessibility to outpatient healthcare institutions, focusing on type 2 diabetes. Using health insurance claims data from 2015 to 2019 and ArcGIS Pro 3.0.2, the distances between the residential areas of diabetes patients and care facilities were calculated. The two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method, which incorporates distance decay, was applied to measure accessibility to both all healthcare institutions and primary care institutions, resulting in average indices of 13.92 and 11.93, respectively. To evaluate inequalities in spatial accessibility, the Gini coefficient was calculated. While year-toyear variations in the Gini coefficient were minimal, significant disparities were observed across provinces. The results showed higher accessibility in Seoul and Daejeon compared to Gangwon and Gyeongbuk. At the district level (si, gun, gu), the average accessibility index was highest in Seongdong-gu, Gangnam-gu, and Jung-gu in Seoul, and lowest in ‘gun' areas, such as Hoengseong-gun in Gangwon, Hwasun-gun in Jeonnam, and Cheongsong-gun in Gyeongbuk. A total of about 20 towns and villages had an accessibility index of 0 for diabetes care institutions. An index of 0 indicates that diabetes patients lack access to healthcare services within a critical travel time of 30 minutes. This study underscores the need to address regional inequalities in outpatient care and offers valuable evidence to support the equitable allocation of healthcare resources.

Article VI: "Influencing Factors on Health Literacy and the Influence of Health Literacy on Healthcare Utilization," Moon, Seokjun, KIHASA; Kim, Jeonghun, KIHASA; Choi, Yongseok, Korea National Health Insurance Service; and Kim, Heenyun, KIHASA

The importance of health literacy is being emphasized worldwide. Health literacy is particularly valued not only in personal health management but also in healthcare utilization. This study aims to identify the factors influencing health literacy and to examine the impact of health literacy levels on healthcare utilization. This study utilized the 2021 annual data from the Korea Health Panel. Individual health literacy levels were assessed using the HLS-EU-Q16 questionnaire conducted as a supplementary survey, with scores above 12 defined as 'high' and scores of 12 or below defined as 'low.' To identify the factors influencing health literacy, logistic regression analysis was conducted with gender, age, marital status, education level, income level, private health insurance, and presence of chronic diseases as explanatory variables. Healthcare utilization was measured by the annual number of outpatient visits without additional processing, and Poisson regression analysis was performed by adding health literacy levels as an independent variable alongside the previously mentioned factors. The analysis of factors influencing health literacy revealed that being female, older age, lower education level, lower income level, lack of private insurance, and absence of chronic diseases were associated with lower health literacy. The analysis of factors influencing healthcare utilization showed that even after controlling for major variables, higher health literacy levels were associated with decreased healthcare utilization. Various policies are being promoted at the government level to enhance health literacy and reduce healthcare utilization. Clear identification of the factors influencing health literacy is necessary to set precise policy goals. Moreover, the concept of health literacy should be broadly defined to include not only health management but also appropriate healthcare utilization.

Article VII: "The Relationship between Social Status and Donation Behavior: Focusing on Analysis of Donation Participation and Donation Intention," Tak, Hyeonsam, Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade

Donation is a prosocial behavior of giving one’s income and assets without expecting anything in return, serving as an important measure of a society’s social integration and cultural development. This paper explores how objective social status and subjective social status influence donation behavior, categorizing donation behavior into four groups: (1) the indifferent group, which is not interested in donating, (2) the simple intention group, which has the intention to donate but has not taken action, (3) the temporary participation group, which donates but has no future plans to continue, and (4) the active participation group, which actively plans and participates in donations. For the analysis, the 2023 “Social Survey” data from Statistics Korea was used. The results of the multinomial logit analysis showed that the probability of being in the active participation group was highest when income level and subjective class consciousness were at their peak. Additionally, even among low-income households with a monthly income of less than 1 million won (USD 750), the likelihood of expressing interest in or participating in donations increased as subjective class consciousness rose. The study’s findings, which indicate that the higher the socioeconomic status, the greater the likelihood of participating in donation behavior, differ from some western studies like Piff et al. (2010). Furthermore, the analysis found that residing in a metropolitan area increased the probability of donation intention and participation, and that the baby boom generation had higher donation participation and intention compared to the MZ generation. These results remained robust even after introducing various demographic and social control variables.

Article VIII: "A Text Mining Approach to Analyzing Stress among Older Adults Living in Urban and Rural Areas," Hwang, Sangwon, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine; Park, Ji Young, Sangji University; Lee, Sang Yup, Yonsei University; Chung, Moo-Kwon(Yonsei University Mirae Campus) ; Jung, YeonSu, Yonsei University Mirae Campus; Kim, Dan-Kyung, Yonsei University Mirae Campus; and Lee, Jin-kyung, Seoul National University Learning Sciences Research Institute

Following weakened health conditions, decreased income after retirement, and the loss of family members, older adults are likely to experience high levels of stress. To better understand stress among older adults, this study analyzed text data collected over two years through open-ended questions in weekly surveys on our smartphone application. In total, 230 participants reported 1,703 times about their stressors. Since stressful life experiences may differ between older adults with agricultural jobs and those with non-agricultural jobs, we divided the data into two groups based on whether the participant worked in agriculture. The results demonstrate several differences between these groups: Older adults with agricultural jobs living in rural areas were more likely to experience stress related to farming or weather, whereas older adults with non-agricultural jobs living in urban areas were more likely to report psychological distress regarding relationships or in self-reflection on their lives. Considering the distinct characteris tics of older adults’ lives in rural versus urban areas, we need to develop more sophisticated social policies to reduce stress and prevent mental health problems among community-dwelling older adults.

Article IX: "Does Exposure to Alcohol Brand Character Marketing Affect Problem Alcohol Use? Focusing on the Mediating Effect of Purchase Intention," Yu, Sujeong, Yonsei University; Kim, Jiwon, Yonsei University; and Park, Kayoung, Yonsei University

To examine the effects of exposure to alcohol brand character marketing on problem alcohol use in South Korea, we conducted an online survey of 3,600 Koreans aged 19-69 years in November 2021. From these participants, we selected 2,995 individuals who reported consuming alcohol within the past year. Exposure to alcohol brand character marketing, the independent variable, was measured via a likert scale by asking about exposure to general products featuring alcohol brand characters. Purchase intention, the mediating variable, was measured via a likert scale by assessing likability and willingness to purchase. Exposure to alcohol brand character marketing was measured using a likert scale on general products featuring these characters, while purchase intention was assessed through likability and willingness to buy. Problem alcohol use, the dependent variable, was measured using the AUDIT-K scale. The law must be reformed to ensure that all forms of alcohol industry advertising and marketing are regulated, including alcohol brand characters that collaborate with non-alcoholic products. Additionally, there is a need for education on alcohol marketing literacy. This study lays the groundwork for future research into regulatory revisions on exposure to alcohol brand character marketing.

Article X: Effects of Social Isolation on Life Satisfaction and Mediating Effects of Negative Emotion and Self-Esteem in Older Adults: Comparing One-Person with Multi-Person Households during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Jung, Eun Hye, Korea Nazarene University

Late adulthood is often characterized by the social isolation attributable to physical weakness, reduced social networks, and increased susceptibility to mental health issues―factors that worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we confirmed the effects of social isolation on life satisfaction in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and explored the structural paths mediated by negative emotions and self-esteem. We also compared one-person households, at increased risk of isolation, with multi-person households to draw policy implications. The analysis, based on data from those aged 60 or older in the 2021 Korea Media Panel Survey, revealed that social isolation, negative emotion and self-esteem all affected life satisfaction, and that negative emotion and self-esteem mediated the effects of social isolation on life satisfaction. For one-person households, social isolation exerted greater negative effects on life satisfaction while self-esteem had smaller positive effects on life satisfaction compared to multi-person households. Based on these findings, we have made several suggestions for policy development to address social isolation among older adults.

Article XI: "A Systematic Literature Review on Blood Redonation and Repeated Blood Donation," Kang, Chulhee, Yonsei University & Cho, Juhee, Yonsei University

This study aims to achieve a comprehensive understanding through a systematic literature review of domestic and international research on blood redonation and repeated blood donation. Major social science databases were used for the literature search, which was conducted from July 22 to August 16. The inclusion criteria were : (i) studies involving participants with at least one blood donation experience, (ii) studies in which blood donation intention and behavior were designated as dependent variables, and (iii) empirical studies on blood donation intention and behavior. Following the PRISMA guidelines, 37 articles were selected through the screening process and included in the analysis after a QualSyst evaluation. The main findings are as follows : Research on blood redonation and repeated blood donation has been actively conducted since the 2000s, with a particular focus on the Theory of Planned Behavior. It was also observed that studies often measured intention and behavior using single item questions or by focusing solely on donation behavior. After analyzing seven major categories of influencing factors, it was found that the influencing factors tended to be similar and different between the intention and behavior to the blood redonation and repeated blood donation. This study is limited by the fact that the criteria for the literature search were set according to the purpose of the study, which may have excluded some relevant literature. Nevertheless, this study is significant in that it analyzes and summarizes the body of research on blood redonation and repeated blood donation, enabling a comprehensive understanding and suggesting directions for further research.

Article XII: "An Empirical Evidence from Two Declining-Population Areas Supported by the Local Extinction Response Fund: Implications for Policy," Chang, Insu, KIHASA & Bae, Hojoong, Korea Women's Development Institute

The purpose of this study is to empirically analyze the impact of the Local Extinction Response Fund on mitigating local population decline and fostering population regrowth. For this analysis, we selected areas that experienced population regrowth following their receipt of the Local Extinction Response Fund in September 2022. We examined causal relationships between population size, net in-migration increases, and the benefits of the fund in these areas. In general, the differences in average population change rate, population size, and net migration between areas receiving the fund and those not experiencing population decline reduced. Although the case areas showed an increase in population size and net in-migration, no causal relationship with the Local Extinction Response Fund was observed. Our results provide policy implications for enhancing the effectiveness of the Local Extinction Response Fund, including redesigning its scale to more effectively address local population decline, ensuring substantial budget allocations, and implementing continuous performance evaluations.

Article XIII: "Survival Analysis of Aging in Place for Long-Term Care Beneficiaries: Focusing on the Impact of Dementia," Yi, Gi Joo, Institute of Aging, Hallym University & Seok, Jae Eun, Hallym University

This study aimed to empirically analyze the factors influencing the survival rate of community living and transitions from nursing homes or nursing hospitals, using Aging in Place (AIP) survival analysis. Data were drawn from the National Health Insurance Service’s Elderly Cohort (version 2.0) from 2008 to 2019, encompassing approximately 104,000 long-term care beneficiaries. Survival analysis results revealed that the dementia group had a 9.1 percentage-point lower rate of community-based service utilization compared to the non-dementia group. Furthermore, AIP feasibility was lower for those who were cohabiting rather than living alone, and for those without a primary caregiver. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that dementia shortened the community survival period, with a particularly sharp decline in retention probability when no family caregiver was available. Cox proportional hazards analysis further revealed that dementia significantly increased the probability likelihood of transitioning to a nursing facility or hospital by 38.7%, even after controlling for other factors. This study underscores that dementia serves acts as a significant barrier to sustaining community-based living and accelerates institutionalization, particularly for those living alone and in the absence of family caregiving resources, highlighting the need for AIP support policies tailored to the unique characteristics of long-term care beneficiaries with dementia.

Article XIV: "The 'Region' in Korean Health Care: A Critical Discourse Analysis on How Regions are Named and Its Effects," Park, Seohwa, Yonsei University & Kim, Jin-Hwan, Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University 

While 'region' is frequently invoked as a site of intersectional inequality in Korean healthcare policy, its meaning and nuances remain ambiguous. This study applied critical discourse analysis to 120 laws and related policy documents issued by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to examine the usage of the term 'region' in Korean healthcare and its political effects. We first reviewed literature from various disciplines dealing with 'region' to establish theoretical reference points, examined how the term has been introduced and applied in public health, and explained the meaning of geographical space within the nation-state based on these theoretical perspectives. Our analysis of policy documents revealed that space within the nation-state was referred to in three main ways: 'Ji-bang' (지방; local), 'Ji-yeok' (지역; region), and 'Gwon-yeok' (권역; zone). While 'Ji-bang' more closely refers to administrative units within the nation-state, 'Ji-yeok' was used in connection with fluid spatial units rather than administrative units and was closely linked with residents living within that space. In contrast, 'Gwon-yeok' was used to refer to relatively larger spatial areas, but terms like 'living zone' and 'medical care zone' appeared redundantly with almost indistinguishable usage from 'region,' causing confusion for local governments implementing healthcare policies. As terms representing regional space were arbitrarily used according to central government needs, a contradictory situation emerged where regional subjects, contrasted with the center, were simultaneously targets of guidance due to lack of capability while being expected to solve their own problems. It is time to examine the power dynamics underpinning this inconsistent and contradictory usage and reorganize healthcare spaces from residents' perspectives.

Article XV: "Health Disparities between Self-Employed and Wage Workers," Hong, Jeongrim, Korea Labor Institute

The purpose of this study was to analyze the health of the self-employed. Specifically, it investigated whether there are differences in health between wage workers and self-employed people and estimated the causal effect of employment status on health. Various variables, including both subjective and objective health indices, were used to assess health according to employment status. The results indicated that the health status of self-employed individuals is generally worse than that of wage earners. Additionally, the analysis using dynamic random effects probit models revealed significant heterogeneity within the self-employed group, showing that self-employment negatively impacts the health of those without employees. Furthermore, the study found that the negative impact of self-employment on health is likely non-linear, influenced by the individuals' typical health status.

Article XVI: "The Effects of Physical and Mental Health on Suicidal Ideation among Older Adults: A Moderating Effect of Community Healthcare and Older Adults' Leisure and Welfare Infrastructure," Lee, Changsook, Ewha Institute for Age Integration Research, Ewha Womans University & Ha, Jung-Hwa, Seoul National University

This study examined　the effects of　physical and mental health and community infrastructure (e.g., availability of health care facilities and centers for leisure activities) on older adults’ suicidal ideation (SI). Further, it investigated whether the effect of physical and mental health on SI differed by the availability of community infrastructure in the region. Data from the 2021 Korea Community Health Survey and 2020 administrative data were used. A multilevel logistic regression analysis was conducted on 74,492 individuals aged 65 years or over, residing in 229 regions. Major findings are as follows. First, physical health dimensions such as pain and discomfort, functional health level, and subjective health status, as well as mental health dimensions such as clinical diagnosis of depression and experience of cognitive impairment, were significantly associated with SI among older adults. Second, community infrastructure for health and leisure activities had no statistically significant effect on SI among older adults. Third, functional health levels and subjective health status interacted with the community infrastructure for leisure activities to affect SI among older people. Based on these results, practical and policy recommendations for preventing suicide among older adults were discussed.

Article XVII: "The Effectiveness and Happiness Growth during Middle and High School Students on Grit and Sleep Quality," Lee, WooJin, Kwangju Women's University; Choi, HeeCheol, Kwangju Women's University; Kim, YoungMi, Kwangju Women's University; and Kang, HyeJin, Kwangju Women's University

This study examines the development of happiness (initial level) and happiness growth (rate of change) over time during the middle and high school years (from 7th grade to 10th grade) and investigates the effects of happiness (initial level) and happiness growth (rate of change) on grit (consistency of interest, persistence of effort) and sleep quality. Using data from the "Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey 2018," unconditional and conditional second-order latent growth models were tested via structural equation modeling. The findings are as follows. First, the average initial level of happiness was significant at the starting point (7th grade), and the average trajectory of happiness growth (rate of change) showed a decline over time. Second, the variances of both the initial level of happiness and happiness growth were significant. Third, greater initial levels of happiness and steeper growth trajectories of happiness from 7th to 10th grade were significantly associated with higher levels of consistency of interest and persistence of effort in 10th grade. Fourth, higher initial happiness levels and greater growth in happiness over this period were significantly linked to better sleep quality in 10th grade. These findings indicate that while the average happiness trajectory of middle and high school students tends to decrease, individual trajectories vary. Given the positive influence of initial happiness and happiness growth on psychological resources (grit) and physical resources (sleep quality), these results suggest the need for educational support to foster happiness and happiness growth in middle and high school students.

Article XVIII: "The Associations among Frame Perceptions and Evaluations about Low-Birthrate-Related News, issue Involvement, and Behaviroal Intentions for Change," Paek, Hye-Jin, Hanyang University (ERICA); Woo, YoonJeong, Hanyang University (ERICA); Go, Haeun, Hanyang University (ERICA); and Choi, Mi Yeon, Institute of Communication Research, Seoul National University

Low birthrate has been a serious social issue in South Korea. While news media emphasize the problems of low fertility and declining birthrates, they also question the effectiveness of government policies addressing these issues. This news media focus on problems rather than solutions may negatively influence young people's perceptions and behaviors regarding childbirth and parenting. However, empirical studies substantiating such claims remain scarce. Based on agenda-setting and media framing theory, this study analyzes how young people perceive and evaluate news about low birthrate and how those perceptions and evaluations predict issue involvement and behavioral intentions. We also examine differences in news perceptions and evaluations across subgroups defined by gender, marital status, and parenthood status. Analysis of online survey data collected from 2,000 adults aged 19 to 49 across South Korea revealed the following findings. (1) Respondents perceived news about low birthrate as being framed more around problems than solutions and evaluated the news negatively. (2) The subgroups that evaluated the news most negatively were unmarried women and married women without children. (3) Compared to other subgroups, these two groups also demonstrated lower perceptions of the negative impacts of low-birthrate-related news and weaker behavioral change intentions. (4) The more positively respondents evaluated a news report about the issue, the more likely they were to report involvement in the issue and to express intentions to change their behaviors regarding marriage and childbirth. These results suggest that, instead of focusing mainly on the problems of low birthrate, the media should try to indicate solutions and present various perspectives on marriage and childbirth.

Article XIX: "A Study on the Types of Housing Instability and Depression among Young Adult Heads of Household," Lee, Eun Jung, Yonsei University; Lee, Eunyoung, Dongguk University; and Kim, Hyejin, Seoul National University

The purpose of this study is to identify the types of housing instability among young adult heads of household in Korea using latent class analysis and to explore differences in depression levels across groups within each type of housing instability. This study utilized data from the 2022 Youth Life Survey, which targeted a sample of 5,374 young adult heads of household. The main findings are as follows. First, types of housing instability were divided into two groups - those with higher levels of housing instability and those with lower levels. No significant differences were observed between these groups in terms of age, average monthly income, or housing type. However, significant differences were identified in educational level, employment status, region, and perceived health within the group with higher levels of housing instability. Second, depression levels differed significantly between the types of housing instability, with higher levels of depression among those with higher housing instability compared to those with low housing instability. Based on these findings, this study suggests policy and practical implications, including strengthening housing quality standards, supporting the remodeling of older houses, and establishing an integrated support system for vulnerable groups to alleviate housing instability and improve the mental health of young adult heads of household.

Article XX: "Factors Influencing Social Capital in Middle-Aged and Elderly Single-Person Households: Focus on the Latent Class of Social Capital, Based on Trajectories of Trust, Solidarity, and Networks," Shin, Seo-Woo, Kyonggi University

The purpose of this study is to examine the formation and trajectory of social capital in middle-aged and elderly single-person households, along with the socio-demographic factors that influence it. To this end, a multi-group growth mixture model was applied to identify types of social capital based on the levels and trajectories of trust, solidarity, and networks among these households. The model also assessed the socio-demographic factors influencing each type. The data were drawn from the 7th, 10th, 13th, and 16th Korean Welfare Panel, including a total of 980 middle-aged (268) and elderly (712) single-person households. The analysis revealed that middle-aged single-person households could be categorized into four latent classes of social capital (Class I through Class IV), and that gender, income level, and health level had different effects on social capital formation and change. Also, elderly single-person households could be categorized into four latent classes of social capital (Class I through Class IV), and that gender, age, education, income level and health level had different effects on the social capital latent class. Based on these findings, social policies and practices are proposed to enhance the social capital of middle-aged and elderly single-person households.