The current article attempts to understand the overall work-life balance of working people and to identify the relationship between work-life balance and life satisfaction. Because work-life balance is particularly affected by family characteristics, this article emphasizes the importance of providing various work-life balance environments by identifying the variations and characteristics of representative family-related factors. This article analyzes the work-life balance satisfaction level and the relationship between work-life balance and life satisfaction by marital status, children's conditions, and family types. Based on the results, I suggest policy directions for work-life balance. Political interest in the balance between work and personal life and quality of life is needed. Policies should focus on improving the work-life balance for women, workers in their 30s and 40s, and those with preschool children. Policymakers should also consider ways to improve work-life balance and life satisfaction not only for families with no primary caregiver but also for families that cannot purchase care services. Furthermore, work-life balance policies should reflect family changes in Korean society and take into account small families, such as single-parent families.
Women have their own health problems, such as breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Physical and physiological changes and socioeconomic circumstances affect women’s health throughout the life cycle. The ‘2022 Korean Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Survey’ examined the health status of 5,567 women from adolescence to old age. As age increased, the level of good subjective health decreased, and the number of chronic diseases increased. The prevalence of depression was high among adults aged 19-39. Anemia and low body weight were found in adolescents and early adults, and the prevalence of major chronic diseases, including obesity and reproductive system diseases, was high in middle-aged and elderly people. Underweight and obesity were related to poor subjective health levels in all life cycles except for the elderly. Because women have different risk factors and health problems by life-cycle stage, it is necessary to develop health promotion strategies and support chronic disease management from a life-cycle perspective.
Ensuring that women in Korea receive the gynecologic care they need in a timely manner requires identifying the current gynecologic health problems that women have, their utilization of gynecologic care, and the reasons why women have difficulty accessing gynecologic care. The healthcare utilization survey, conducted in 2022 as part of the Korean Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Survey, found that the prevalence of major gynecologic health problems and unmet healthcare needs varied across the life cycle. In early adulthood and adolescence, gynecologic health problems were generally more common than in the elderly. Among middle-aged women, only 1 in 10 had a procedure to remove fibroids. The main reasons for not seeking gynecologic care were lack of time and discomfort with gynecologic exams. Policies and programs are needed to reduce barriers to gynecological care, improve the quality of life of Korean women, and increase the ratio of healthy years to life expectancy.
Based on the results of the ‘Sexual and Reproductive Health Survey by Life Cycle of Korean Women’ conducted in 2022, this article explores the current status of Korean women’s contraceptive use by life cycle. Results show that about half of adolescents and young adults were always use contraception during sexual intercourse. And the majority of Korean women use menstrual cycles or extravaginal ejaculation along with other contraceptive methods. Practicing safe and effective contraceptive methods to prevent unintended pregnancy and infection from sexually transmitted diseases is an important aspect of women's health and sexual and reproductive health. Thus, it is necessary to expand contraception to the topics of sexual health, self-determination, and women’s health rather than considering contraception as a simple topic of reproductive health related to pregnancy and childbirth.
This study aimed to assess women’s health literacy levels and health literacy characteristics from a life-course perspective, with a focus on the relationship between health literacy and eight health behaviors. Analysis using a single-item health literacy measure (SILS) revealed that 24.6% of Korean women had ‘limited’ health literacy, with significant variations observed across different age groups. The risk of low health literacy among Korean women notably increased after the age of 65 compared to the 16-64 age group, and among older adults aged 75 and above, approximately 60% experienced health literacy problems. The group with low health literacy showed lower subjective health levels and appeared to engage in poorer health behaviors across all age groups. The association between health literacy and health behaviors varied across different life stages, as evident in indicators such as current and past smoking, binge drinking, physical activity, HPV vaccination, cervical cancer screening, and breast cancer screening. Therefore, there is a need for evidence-based health literacy programs in various domains to promote health equity and improve women’s health.
The current article attempts to understand the overall work-life balance of working people and to identify the relationship between work-life balance and life satisfaction. Because work-life balance is particularly affected by family characteristics, this article emphasizes the importance of providing various work-life balance environments by identifying the variations and characteristics of representative family-related factors. This article analyzes the work-life balance satisfaction level and the relationship between work-life balance and life satisfaction by marital status, children's conditions, and family types. Based on the results, I suggest policy directions for work-life balance. Political interest in the balance between work and personal life and quality of life is needed. Policies should focus on improving the work-life balance for women, workers in their 30s and 40s, and those with preschool children. Policymakers should also consider ways to improve work-life balance and life satisfaction not only for families with no primary caregiver but also for families that cannot purchase care services. Furthermore, work-life balance policies should reflect family changes in Korean society and take into account small families, such as single-parent families.
