• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.107-133
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• 2010

This research identified the normal structures of separated families, "wild-geese families"(husbands living in Korea apart from their wives and children who are studying abroad) as we called, in Korea. In particular, this study conducted in-depth interview, using qualitative research method, with 7 wild-geese fathers (fathers who are in order to understand their experiences of separated families. The research findings classified the wild-geese father's experiences into three phases which as "decision-making," "initial," and "maintenance." These phases can be described by five higher factors. First of all, in the phase of decision-making "internal or external needs of children studying abroad at early age" was found to be a crucial factor. Liberation and deficiency as results of separation" mainly described the initial phase. In the phase of maintenance, families experience "exhausted solitary lives," "filling up the families' empty space," and "double jeopardy-worry about both reunifying the family or separating the family, as the longer they are separated."

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.77-87
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• 2010

The purpose of this research was to explore Korean-Chinese women's experiences of family separation. A qualitative approach was used to analyze the in-depth interviews with 14 Korean-Chinese women who lived away from their families in China. Korean-Chinese women showed the child-centered family values. The main reason of family separation was to provide children of better educational opportunities. Korean-Chinese women, their husbands, and their extended family members worked as a team to support children. Their cohesive family relationships reflected the unique sociocultural context of Korean-Chinese society. Family separation seems to be normalized for the purpose of child education. The research would contribute to understand how family values affect family life style.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.11-23
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• 2012

This qualitative study attempts to analyze the separation experiences of wild geese families from a social exchange perspective. The participants of this study were 16 mothers who lived apart from their partners for the purpose of educating their offspring. To collect data, in-depth interviews were conducted with the mothers about the decision-making process and the separation experiences. The results showed that there was a unique educational factor in Korea that affected wild geese families' decision on family separation. Geese families had to face psychological inconvenience caused by negative eyes from society. In addition, the fathers suffered loneliness and had difficulties in doing household chores, and the mothers experienced an overload of child parenting. On the other hand, emotional relationship between the husband and wife was enhanced, and the friendly relationship between a mother and her children was built. The biggest reward from the wild geese families turned out to be the educational achievement of their children.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.171-189
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• 2007

The purpose of this ethnography is to describe and analyze the process of becoming a wild geese mother. Thirteen mothers from New York, California, and Texas of U.S.A. were interviewed with an unstructured questionnaire. There are several different patterns of the process; 'the short term', 're-departure after returning to Korea', 'a step to initiate their family's immigration', 'sudden and unintentional'. In the first stage of the family living rearrangement, the main issues are about the wider free world, proper time for leaving and proper period for staying, where to live and my husband's independent living. The wild geese mothers perform the concrete tasks about the everyday living for the new mother-child family in the foreign country. They report their subjective interpretation for their new life.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.53-70
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• 2022

This study aimed to develop a scale to measure the family strength of single-parent families. We analyzed the everyday life and demands of single-parent families using the theory of family strength to draw 78 items that encompass family basis, relationships, roles, social networks and family culture. Using a sample of 286 single-parent families through an online survey platform, we examined the factor structure of the items and selected 48 items based on the results of the factor analysis. Reliability, criterion and construct validity were also examined. The final scale comprised of five domains ; basis, parents' role, work-life balance, social network, lifestyle and household management. This scale can be used as an assessment measure of the family strength of single-parent families for consulting, case management and suggesting various programs in the field. This merit will help enhance the quality of programing for single-parent families at the Healthy Family Support Center and the development of family strength scales for various types of families.