• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to explore the dynamics of stepfamilies and the adjustment difficulties such families may experience. The study describes some sociodemographic characteristics of a sample of 117 stepfamilies. The independent variables were stresses due to adjustment difficulties, which were defined as "role strains". Sociodemographic variables included gender, family income level, length of time since remarriage, type of stepfamily, and the existence of any children born to the new marriage. The dependent variable was the extent of stepfamily adjustment, expressed as a scale. The factors influencing family adjustment included stepparent gender, family income level, type of stepfamily, and various role strain variables (family boundary ambiguity, role conflict, etc.). Practical recommendations for social work are made and possibilities for future research in this area are discussed based on the results of this study.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.505-520
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• 2023

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of the Marriage Checkup (MC) in community settings. Participants (N=57) were recruited from family centers and participated in the MC, which consisted of assessment and feedback visits. Participants completed marital satisfaction assessments before and after the MC. Overall, the participants reported significant improvements in terms of marital satisfaction with a large effect size (d=0.87). Specifically, 77.2% of participants demonstrated an increase in marriage satisfaction. Among them, 30.6% experienced a clinically significant change (from a clinical state to a non-clinical state). The reliable change index (RCI) identified 15.8% of participants as showing reliable improvement. Changes in marital satisfaction were larger for men and participants who experienced more positive changes during the MC in terms of intimacy and understanding of how to improve their marital relationships. This study supports the MC as an evidence-based approach for improving relationship health in community settings.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.177-194
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• 2008

The purpose of this article was to be offered data for the efficient management of healthy family support center as the deduction of the standard job of healthy family supporter. The process of this study take the major steps as subject selection based on career, investigation about range and contens of healthy family support work and deduction and examination job areas, duty and task. Consequently, the job areas of healthy family supporter are generalization, counseling, education, culture, administrative affairs, taking care of children and taking care of children for family living with a handicapped child. The standards of job analysis are frequency, importance and number of human power. The result and procedure of this article provides the main data and idea for the development of a tool of measurement, ajob analysis and information of the specialty and role of healthy family supporter.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.25-40
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to find out the amount of the household work time related to food and examine the factors affecting the time accomplished by married female home-based workers and on-site workers. The data were collected from 165 married female home-based workers, and 292 married female on-site workers in Pusan and Kyungnam province, by the self-administered questionnaire. frequency distributions, Cronbach's alpha, t-tests, Pearson's correlations, and multiple regression analyses were conducted by SPSS/PC+. The major findings of this study were as follows: (1) both married female home-based and on-site workers spent more time on household work related to food in a weekend than in a weekday, (2) in a weekday, occupation was significantly related to the amount of time that married female home-based workers spent on food household work, whereas age and occupation were significant for married female on-site workers, (3) on Saturday, the significant factors of the time spent on food household work were the number of family and occupation for married female home-based workers, and educational level, occupation, sex role attitude, existence of children of 6 years or under, and existence of elders/disability within the family for married female on-site workers, and (4) on Sunday, for married female home-based workers, the number of family, occupation, and the level of market good substitution had significant effects on the amount of time spent on food household work, and for married female on-site workers, age, the number of family, occupation, sex role attitude, work hours on Sunday, and the level of market good substitution were significant.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.63-78
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• 2018

This study examined the insolvency of debtors using multiple-indicator approaches and compared the outcomes across income levels with the 2016 'Household Financial and Welfare Survey'. This study used (1) the total debt to total assets ratio (DTA), (2) the total debt service ratio (DSR), and (3) the Household Default Risk Index (HDRI) recently developed by the Bank of Korea. Households in the lowest income quintile were more likely to be insolvent than any other income group. Demographics, such as age and gender of the household head, and most of the financial variables significantly increased the likelihood of insolvency based on the DTA. The number of household members and job status increased the likelihood of insolvency based on the DSR. Also, age, gender of the household head, and most of the financial variables increased the likelihood of household insolvency based on the HDRI after controlling for other demographics and financial variables.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.17-29
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to identify the needs of marriage education programs for multicultural couples based on their socio-demographic characteristics. A total of 816 multicultural families (247 Korean husbands and 569 foreign wives) were recruited through 99 Multicultural Family Support Centers across Korea. Descriptive statistics and multiple regressions were conducted. The program needs that were relatively higher than other areas included the need to develop education on "understanding the culture and language of partner," "increased intimacy of the couple," "multicultural awareness," and "set goals for life." We also found that each participant's gender, foreign wife's country of origin, participant's education level, and marriage duration were significantly related to the needs of marriage education programs. These findings suggest that family life education for multicultural couples should be based on the characteristics of the program participants such as socio-demographic characteristics and family life cycle instead of providing a universal program for all multicultural couples.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 2024

Purpose: This study examined the perceived quality of life of families of individuals with developmental disabilities who regularly participate in physical activities. It also explored differences in the quality of family life based on variables such as family relationships, family income, gender, disability type, and age. Methods: A survey was administered to 69 family members of individuals with developmental disabilities who regularly participate in physical activities. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, and one-way analysis of variance. Results: The average overall quality of life for families of individuals with developmental disabilities who participate in continuous physical activities was 3.49. After analyzing each subtype, psychological health was found to be 3.91, the burden for people with developmental disabilities was 2.75, community participation was 3.76, cohesion was 3.83, and openness was 3.49. No statistically significant differences were found in family relationships or family classes, disability type, age, or gender of the individuals with developmental disabilities across the variables. Conclusion: When planning service development and support to improve the quality of life for families of individuals with developmental disabilities, it is necessary to develop systematic programs at the family level rather than providing support based on various variables.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.31-45
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• 2021

Despite efforts to expand public care services as social demands increase, the problem of the after-school self-care of elementary school students who were in the situation of care cliff remains. Thus, this study focused on community-based childcare to solve the issue of school-age childcare in Korea. The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of community-based childcare of participants who had school-aged children who lived in Seoul and GyeongGi province (Korea). Focus group interviews were conducted with ten married working mothers among clients of a community-based childcare provider that has been operating for more than five years. Based on the findings of this study, it is clear that community-based childcare is a useful welfare resource. In addition, the results of this study can be used as data for developing policies and programs for school-age childcare or the after-school self-care of elementary school students. Furthermore, it may broaden the horizons of research related to community-based childcare.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.24 no.6 s.84
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• pp.161-176
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to conduct a family impact analysis to examine the effects of policies to lower fertility in families in Korea. Data were collected from a purposive sample of three groups of government officials, family scholars, and staff at family-related organizations and associations. 105 family policy professionals responded to the self-report questionnaire. The family impact analysis scale was formulated by the researcher based on Ooms'(1995)'A checklist for assessing the impact of policies on families' and Lawson & Lawson's(2001)'An example on family impact analysis checklist or inventory.' The results showed there were eight factors in the family impact analysis on the policies to low fertility in Korea; strengthening family membership and stability; providing various convenient public services; recognizing family interdependence; recognizing the efficiency of implementing policies and support of vulnerable families; strengthening the family function of childbirth; recognizing family relationships; preventing family problems and empowering families; and recognizing family diversity. The conclusions and implications of these findings were also discussed.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.331-344
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• 2004

Korean society recently realized the needs for a system that may effectively prevent and/or resolve different family problems caused by the rapidly changing modem society. In order to carry out this objectives. The Healthy Family Act has been legislated and is to be enforced from the 1st of January, 2005. Legislating the law is a means to establish an administrative and institutional structure that may bring in the total welfare system centered around family, so as to promote healthy families in our society. This is also a land marking event that has shifted the paradigm from the welfare system focusing on individual protection to the total welfare system based upon family units. Hence, this study is to examine the specific concepts of 'healthy family,' which is the goal of The Healthy Family Act, and thus to propose the objectives of the law by analysing the institutional system of it. The Healthy Family Act, which consists of major 37 items of 5 chapters with supplementary provisions, aims at the five ideals as follows. The first is to promote the healthy family which is the basis of individual welfare and well-to-do society. The second is to emphasize the importance of family and to provide total service system for family unit. The third is to establish the family value which supports gender-equality and democracy. The fourth is to reinforce the governmental support for independence and cooperation of family. And the fifth is to promote the in-advance and precautionary support for family problems. The law also includes administrative methods for Strong Families Center, different projects and programs for promoting healthy families, roles of Healthy Family Specialist and means to cultivating them, and the policies to specifically carry out the ideas of the law. It is now important to recognize that the development of nation is based on the healthy families and to put much effort in carrying out the ideas and goals of The Healthy Family Act.