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Table 1 Relationships between general characteristics and self-rated health in North Korean defectors

From: Factors associated with self-rated health among North Korean defectors residing in South Korea

 

N (%)

Mean ± SD

Beta

t/F

P-value

Self-rated health

 

2.78 ±1.14

   

Gender

  Male

101 (20.3)

3.10 ± 1.17

 

3.21

.001

  Female

397 (79.7)

2.70 ± 1.12

   

Age (years)

 

35.8 ± 8.3

-.306

-7.15

<.001

Marital status

  Single

152 (30.5)

3.05 ± 1.16

 

8.43

<.001

  Married

199 (40.0)

2.75 ± 1.08

   

  Divorced/separated/widowed

146 (29.3)

2.52 ± 1.15

   

Size of household

  1

190 (38.2)

2.83 ± 1.16

 

.66

.512

  ≥2

276 (55.4)

2.76 ± 1.13

   

Education in NK

  Elementary school graduate

38 (7.6)

3.34 ± 1.17

 

6.04

.003

  Secondary school graduate

337 (67.7)

2.69 ± 1.13

   

  Some college or higher

123 (24.7)

2.85 ± 1.12

   

Religion

  Yes

237 (47.6)

2.63 ± 1.20

 

2.78

.006

  No

261 (52.4)

2.91 ± 1.07

   

Job

  Yes

252 (50.6)

2.98 ± 1.09

 

-3.98

<.001

  No

220 (44.2)

2.57 ± 1.16

   

*ln (annual household income)

 

16.46 ± .74

.243

4.75

<.001

Health insurance type

  Medical Aid

370 (74.3)

2.63 ± 1.13

 

-5.47

<.001

  NHI

120 (24.1)

3.27 ± 1.03

   

Exile duration

  <5 years

256 (51.4)

2.73 ± 1.15

 

3.37

.035

  5≤ ~ <10 years

135 (27.1)

2.67 ± 1.07

   

  ≥10 years

104 (20.9)

3.03 ± 1.17

   

Residence period in SK

  <18 months

243 (48.8)

2.66 ± 1.13

 

-2.19

.029

  ≥18 months

253 (50.8)

2.89 ± 1.14

   

Satisfaction with SK government support

3.78 ± 1.00

.159

3.58

<.001

 

Life satisfaction

3.22 ± .89

.183

4.15

<.001

 

Traumatic experiences in NK

11.93 ± 3.18

1.171

3.86

<.001

 

Traumatic experiences during escape

15.05 ± 2.73

.104

2.33

.020

 

Disability

  Yes

36 ( 7.2)

1.94 ± 1.04

 

4.65

<.001

  No

462 (92.8)

2.84 ± 1.12

   

Chronic disease

     

  Yes

214 (43.0)

2.00 ± .89

 

16.4

<.001

  No

284 (57.0)

3.36 ± .95

   

Drinking

  None

215 (43.2)

2.60 ± 1.12

 

4.94

.008

  Once a month or less

127 (25.5)

2.94 ± 1.15

   

  Twice a month or more

156 (31.3)

2.78 ± 1.13

   

Total

498 (100.0)

    
  1. *Natural logarithmic transformation was applied to annual household income (amount of Korean won).
  2. NK, North Korea; SK, South Korea; NHI, National Health Insurance.
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