Professor Kim Won-kyung: Mental Health is a Lifelong Journey

Professor Kim Won-kyung, a distinguished figure in the Counseling Psychology department at Korea Cyber University, dedicates her research to understanding the psychological landscape across the entire human lifespan. With a strong academic foundation, including master's degrees from Yonsei University and a doctorate from the University of Georgia, Professor Kim has explored diverse psychological phenomena, from childhood development and parental behavior to adolescent mental health and the well-being of the elderly.

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Psychology is a discipline that contributes to understanding humans and improving the quality of life. I want to continue contributing to building a healthy society through education and research.

Her research delves into the intricate connections between psychological development and behavior across different life stages. Professor Kim highlights that issues faced in old age are not isolated but rather reflections of an individual's entire life journey. She is particularly interested in the adaptive challenges and dynamic changes inherent in later life, acknowledging the biological, psychological, and social shifts that characterize this period.

Addressing contemporary concerns, Professor Kim notes the dual nature of the digital environment for adolescents. While it presents opportunities, it also poses significant developmental challenges. She points to the "looking-glass self" phenomenon, where adolescents' self-perception is heavily influenced by social media, potentially leading to chronic inferiority and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). Furthermore, the developing adolescent brain's heightened response to immediate digital rewards, like short-form content and games, can foster addictive tendencies and diminish responsiveness to slower, real-world stimuli.

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Adolescence is a very sensitive period where the frontal lobe of the brain develops, and identity formation and social relationships become central to life. The digital environment presents both opportunities and serious developmental challenges for them.

In the context of an aging society, Professor Kim stresses that psychological well-being in later life is not merely the absence of illness but the maintenance of self-worth amidst evolving circumstances. She advocates for community care to prevent isolation and emphasizes "psychological resilience", focusing on present capabilities rather than dwelling on losses. Ultimately, she believes that happiness in old age hinges on accepting one's life and finding a balance between personal abilities and environmental demands to maximize life quality and psychological contentment.

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In super-aged societies, the psychological well-being of the elderly depends on how they maintain their sense of self-worth in a changing environment, not just on the absence of illness. It is important to strengthen community care and maintain 'psychological resilience'.