The Change of Family Relations by the Internet Use of Housewives. - Focused on the Intimacy among Family Members and the Equality between Couples -

주부의 인터넷사용으로 인한 가족관계의 변화 - 가족원간의 친밀감과 부부간 평등성을 중심으로 -

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of family relations following the Internet use of housewives. The survey was performed on-line and off-line. 582 housewives who used the Internet at home gave valid responses to the questionnaire. The findings of tills study were as follows. First, after having started using the Internet, housewives felt that intimacy among family members has increased while the level of equality between couples unchanged. Second, the change in intimacy among family members has significant differences according to family adaptability and family cohesion. Whether or not other family members used the Internet also affected the intimacy among family members. Third, the change in equality between couples depended on their ability to use the Internet. This suggested that the ability to use the Internet was the core element to an equality. The results of this research suggested several implications for the public policy.