This study aims to provide guidance for nursing college students to enhance their overall happiness and to support the development of internal resources that contribute to improved physical and psychological health as they progress in their nursing careers.

A descriptive survey design was employed.

The study was conducted among nursing students enrolled at four nursing colleges in South Korea.

The final sample comprised 302 nursing students who met the following criteria: (1) enrolled in their third or fourth year of study, (2) engaged in club activities for more than 6 months within the previous year—considering the period during which face-to-face classes resumed following the COVID-19 pandemic— and (3) voluntarily consented to participate after receiving detailed information about the study.

The dependent variable was happiness. Candidate explanatory variables included college life adaptation, leisure satisfaction from club activities and family strengths. Data were collected between 5 and 30 June 2023, and analysed using SPSS/WIN V.22.0 software in accordance with the study objectives.

The multiple regression model was statistically significant (F=28.60, p

These variables collectively explained 42.0% of the variance in happiness. Future interventions aiming to enhance mental health and happiness among nursing students should consider these key influencing factors.

This study assessed changes in the prevalence of malnutrition and obesity in children from North Korean (NK) refugee families resettling in South Korea (SK).

A longitudinal cohort study.

This study, conducted between 2017 and 2023, recruited participants through snowball sampling using local Hana Centres, alternative schools, religious organisations, civic groups, and other community-based networks.

Of the 441 children initially recruited, 406 participated in the baseline survey after excluding 35 with missing height or weight data. Among them, 187 (46.1%) completed a follow-up survey conducted at least 1 year later.

The prevalences of stunting, underweight, wasting and obesity were defined according to the 2017 Korean National Growth Chart: stunting as height-for-age below the third percentile, underweight as weight-for-age below the fifth percentile, wasting as weight-for-height below the fifth percentile for ages 0–23 months or body mass index (BMI)-for-age below the fifth percentile for ages 2–18 years and obesity as BMI-for-age at or above the 95th percentile for ages 2–18 years.

The prevalence of stunting was 7.5% at baseline and 5.4% at follow-up, while those of underweight and wasting were 6.4% vs 5.4% and 11.2% vs 5.9%, respectively; however, none of these changes were statistically significant. In contrast, the prevalence of obesity increased significantly from 11.1% at baseline to 18.8% at follow-up (p=0.045).

Despite residing in SK for an extended period, children from NK refugee families continue to experience malnutrition, while the prevalence of obesity is rising significantly.