An Ethnographic approach to the Study of The Psychological Welfare of Teenage Heads of Family

아동가장의 심리적 복지에 관한 문화기술적 접근

Employing an ethnographic approach, this case study analyzed the psychological welfare of 2 teenage and one early-twenties heads of family. The subjects were Sun-Ju (female, age 22, seamstress), Ji-Hyun (female, age 14, junior high school student), and Seung-Hwan (male, age 16, junior high school student). This study was processed between 9 March 1996 and 11 May 1996. The results show that teenage and early-twenties heads of family have ambivalent feelings, meaning two extreme psychological conditions that are not consistent. Three types of teenage-early twenties heads of family ambivalence were caused by diverse role dimensions (e.g., nursing, supporter, beneficiary, and independent subject roles). Revision of the present welfare system, particularly the protection system For teenage-early twenties heads of family was recommended. Further research is also needed to determine various factors harmful to their psychological welfare.