• Journal of Family Relations
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.87-109
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• 2017

Objectives: While employed mothers' use of maternity and parental leave has increased, the contexts that facilitate or hinder mothers' leave policy use have been under examined. The purpose of this study was to explore mothers' experiences of using maternity and parental leave. Method: Twenty-two mothers with young child under age three participated in this study. Results: All 22 mothers used maternity leave and 12 mothers used parental leave. Three main themes were identified: different experiences of maternity leave, experiences of parental leave, and skepticism about the leave policy but with some hope that it will improve. Regarding the mothers' experiences of maternity leave, the mothers thought that maternity leave was easily accessible but some mothers still felt guilty for using maternity leave. They also prepared for their work gap before the leave to avoid harming their colleagues. Accessibility to parental leave varied according to the characteristics of the organizations (i.e., family-friendly organization culture, supportive supervisor) and family contexts (i.e., availability of child care from family members, financial issues). The mothers perceived that while parental leave helps working mothers coordinate their family and work life, it is not as accessible as maternity leave in Korea. They suggested extending the maternity leave duration and improving accessibility to parental leave. Conclusions: These findings suggest that policy support is warranted to help employed mothers with young children remain in the workforce. This study also has implications for supporting employed mothers' work and family life.

• Journal of Family Relations
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.131-156
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• 2016

Objective: This study aimed to examine parenting education participation of Korean mothers in the transition to parenthood and its related variables. Method: A study sample was composed of 870 mothers whose first child was younger than one-year old from the Panel Study on Korean Children in 2008(mean age=30.1, SD = 3.69). The descriptive statistics of parenting education participation were presented. In addition, negative binomial and logistic regression models were used in Stata13 in order to examine the variables related to parenting education participation of mothers in the transition to parenthood. Results: Approximately 82% of the mothers reported that they had participated in at least one parenting education program. Further, mother's educational level, monthly household income, mother's working experience, and community type generally predicted parenting education participation of mothers. However, the effects of these variables varied by the subjects and the providing institutions. Conclusion: This study provides the overall picture of parenting education participation of Korean mothers in the transition to parenthood and its related variables. The findings can be utilized to plan more effective parenting education programs for new parents.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.441-481
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• 2022

This study attempted to explore the experience related to the work-family balance of working moms during the COVID-19 period. To this end, in-depth interviews were conducted by recruiting 17 part-time and full-time working moms with at least 1 child under the age of 13. As a result of analyzing the data using the method of grounded theory, 106 concepts, 50 subcategories, and 24 categories were derived. The central phenomenon that working moms experienced in the process of work and family balance were "physical and emotional exhaustion", "anxiety and guilt about not doing well in situations of role conflicts between various roles", "job crisis experienced by working mothers" and "deepening family conflicts". The process of working moms overcoming the central phenomenon and achieving work-family balance was identified as five stages: the 'shock and confusion stage', the 'struggling stage', the 'actively coping and making compromise stages', the 'acceptance stage', and the 'post-traumatic growth stage'. Based on these results, discussions on the work-family balance of working mothers during the COVID-19 period was dealt as well as suggestions for follow-up studies.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.182-192
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• 2022

Objectives: Understanding the factors influencing mothers' decision to breastfeed their infants is essential to formulate effective breastfeeding interventions. This study explored the determinants of optimal breastfeeding indicators in Indonesia. Methods: We used the 2017 Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey to analyze factors associated with early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), and continued breastfeeding at 1 year (CBF-1) and 2 years (CBF-2). Multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine bio-demographic, socio-cultural, and behavioral characteristics associated with breastfeeding after considering the survey design effect. Results: The risk of delayed breastfeeding initiation was higher among infants who were born smaller, first-born children, were delivered via cesarean delivery, and did not have immediate skin-to-skin contact (p<0.01). Infant's age, birth pattern, household wealth index, and the mother's occupation and smoking status were predictors of EBF (p<0.05). CBF-1 was less common among first-time mothers and those working in the non-agricultural sector, mothers from wealthier families, and mothers who had cesarean deliveries (p<0.01). Infant's age was negatively associated with CBF-2 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74 to 0.99). Mothers attending college were less likely to practice CBF-2 than those with no education or primary education (aOR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.26 to 0.77). The absence of postnatal visits was a risk factor for CBF-1 and CBF-2 (p<0.05). Conclusions: Breastfeeding interventions in Indonesia should pay particular attention to at-risk groups such as women from wealthier families, working outside the agricultural sector, and with a higher education level. Nutrition-sensitive programs (e.g., postnatal care and smoking cessation) should also be encouraged.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.1-19
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• 2018

This study was aimed at exploring gender differences in time use and time famine between single-parent families. Data were obtained from the time use surveys, that were conducted by the Korea National Statistical Office in 2014. A total of 500 time diaries (168 from fathers, 332 from mothers) from single-parents aged between 20 and 59 were analyzed. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and t-test were used for the statistical analyses. Results indicated that the single-parent families exhibit gender differences in time use and subjective time famine. The single-mothers spend a significantly longer amount of time on housework and less time on leisure than do the single-fathers. The single fathers and mothers also differ in time use and time famine according to employment status and working days on/off.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.89-110
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• 2005

Subjects were 66 3- to 4-year-old-Children of unemployed mothers from upper middle class families. Attachment behaviors were measured with the Preschool Strange Situation(Cassidy and Marvin, 1992) and classified as secure, avoidant, dependent, or disorganized. Narrative representations of mothers by Children were obtained by video taped interviews using the MacArthur Story-Stem Battery and coded by the MacArthur Narrative Working Group(1997) system. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and t test. Results were that children in the secure group showed more positive representations of their mothers, more prosocial story themes, had higher scores in theme coherence and showed more positive emotional expression than those in the insecure group. The attachment behaviors of the 4 groups(A, B, C, D) were closely correlated with the attachment representations shown in MSSB.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.298-307
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• 2001

This study assessed behavioral characteristics of 73 normal neonates in Daegu area using the NBAS. Being one of few studies on this topic, the study is to document and to accumulate data on the neonatal behaviors of Korean babies. Overall scores were at moderate levels in 6 behavioral clusters including Habituation, Social Interactive, Motor System, State Organization, and State Regulation. Autonomic Stability showed relative stableness. Scores of Orientation were higher in neonates of working mothers and rural mothers. Neonates of mothers with no abortion history have higher scores in Motor System and State Organization. Score of State Organization was higher in neonates of mothers with no habitual use of amenity during their pregnancy. Scores of Habituation and State Organization, as well as scores of Motor System with State Organization, State Regulation and Autonomic Stability were positively correlated. Scores of Habituation and State Organization indicate that babies are agreeable and even tameable that is advantageous for attachment to caregiver.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.35-50
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• 2000

The objective of this research was to determine the relative impact of demographic variables and ecological factors on the parenting stress of dual earner families. Subjects were 318 fathers and 405 mothers who completed the questionnaire on parenting stress and ecological factors. Results showed that mothers perceived high parenting stress compared with fathers. Degree of satisfaction with child care was a significant correlate of parenting stress. Demographic and ecological factors were also important in understanding the variation in parenting stress of dual earner families. These findings imply that the formal child care systems and parent education programs are needed for working parents.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.155-173
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• 1995

The purpose of this research was to obtain information about the performance of breast-feeding by employed mother and the supportive accommodation in the work place. The survey questionnaire was answered by 323 employed mothers who had child over the six months and visited the pediatric clinic in the hospital and the public health center in Seoul. The results were as follows : 1. Of the 323 employed mothers, 4.7% of mothers performed breast-feeding, 58.3% of mothers did artificial-feeding and 37% of mothers did mixed-feeding during the six months after birth of baby. 2. The characteristics of employed mothers found to be related breast-feeding include Age, Education, Number of Baby, Type of Delivery, Place of Delivery, Obtaining Information On Breast-Feeding. 3. The performance of breast-feeding during the work was different significantly according to the mother's job(medical and non-medical) and the method of feeding. 4. The reasons why they could not perform the breast-feeding include not enough time because of working(80.4%) and lack of knowledge about breast-feeding method with combining employment. 5. The results showed that the rest supports of the work environment was insufficient to perform breast-feeding in he workplace except maternal leave.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.139-161
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationships of mothers' parenting stress and young children's adjustment to the child care centers they attend. The subjects for this study comprised 401 young children from 1 to 4 years of age from 11 child care centers in C-si, Chungnam, and their mothers. The results of this study were as follows : First, there were no significant differences in the parenting stress of mothers related to whether they were working or not, the age of the children nor their gender Second, there were no significant differences in the adjustment of young children to their child care center related to their mothers' work status nor age of the children themselves. However, there was a significant difference in relation to the gender of the young children in that girls were better in their adjustment to the child care center than boys. Third, a negative correlation appeared between mothers' parenting stress and their young children's adjustment to the child care center in that the higher maternal parenting stress was, the greater the difficulties for their young children in their adjustment to the child care center. There were significant negatively correlations between most sub-factors of maternal parenting stress and the adjustment of those children to the child care center.