• Journal of the Korean Society of Child Welfare
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• no.55
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• pp.113-141
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating roles of children interpersonal relations and mental health in the relationship between parent-child relationships and school life happiness, and the differences between single-parent and two-parent families, using structural equation modeling. Data were obtained from the 2013(second-wave) year of the Korean Educational Longitudinal Study. This study selected 6,643 elementary school 6th-grade students(756 from single-parent families and 5,887 from two-parent families). Data were examined with structural equation modeling and multi-group analysis using AMOS 18.0, and mediating effects were tested using the Sobel test. The results were as follows; First, the single-parent children reported lower levels of interpersonal relations, mental health, and school life happiness than the two-parent children. Second, interpersonal relations and mental health did play a mediating role in the relationship between parent-child relationships and school life happiness. Third, as a result of examining for total effect, the variable that most influenced school life happiness of children was interpersonal relations. Fourth, multi-group analysis did not show a statistically significant difference between single- and two-parent children in structural equation modeling.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.83-95
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• 2016

This study explored the processes of parental divorce and adaptation in single-parent families as well as examined how the experience of living in family welfare facilities influences the adaptation process of such families. The research question to achieve the study objective was, "What is the adaption process for a singlefather family, and what influence does living in a single-father family welfare facility have on that process?" Data collection was conducted between June 2013 and April 2014 that included an in-depth interview process and continuous participatory observations on 14 children residing in the facility. The study results were as follows. The theme in a two-parent family period was 'changes in reduction of family: serious conflicts between parents.' Children directly witnessed intense conflicts between parents and experienced anxiety from situations that involved verbal and physical violence during the two-parent family period. The experience of children prior to entering the facility was represented by "loss and confusion experienced." The theme for children of singlefather family in entering a facility was "selecting a realistic alternative." Children's daily activities consisted of being with friends of a similar age, which allowed them to play and support each other in building social skills. The facility departure theme for the children was "hope for a new life."

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.157-179
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to examine psychological and behavioral characteristics of parents from low income families and to figure out the influence of these parents' characteristics upon children's problematic behaviors by comparing two-parent families and single-parent families. The subjects in this study were 193 parents who participated in a dream- start program geared toward low-income families. Their psychological and behavioral characteristics were tested, and their children's problem behaviors were investigated. As a result, the children from intact families in the low-income classes showed more problem behaviors when their parents faced heavier parental stress, and they showed less problem behaviors when their parents were more satisfied with their relationship with them. In contrast, the children from single-parent families in the low-income brackets showed less problem behaviors when their parents had better dietary habits and were more satisfied with their daily routine life, and they showed more problem behaviors when their parents were under heavier parental stress. The findings of the study seem to suggest that the development of parental and parent education programs is required to relieve the problem behaviors of children from the low-income classes and improve the parental behavior of their parents, and that a wide variety of assistance should be provided in consideration of the current marital status of parents as well.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.711-720
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the general health behaviors of elementary school children in single- and two-parent families and to identify factors affecting health behavior. The study subjects were 1,023 students attending S elementary school in G province. Data was collected from March 5, 2018 to March 16, 2018. Collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, and logistic regression analysis using SPSS/WIN Ver. 22.0. The results of children with a single-parent mother were significantly different for 'regular breakfast' (p=.015) and 'counseling with homeroom teachers' (p=.019), and the results of children with a single-parent father were significantly different for 'wash hands before going out and before meals' (p=.035), 'someone you can talk to when you are worried' (p=.005), and 'often lonely and depressed' (p=.007). Logistic regression analysis showed that children with single-parent families were 7.670 times more likely to seek 'counseling with homeroom teachers' than children with two-parent families (p=.011). The results of this study provide basic data on the health behaviors of elementary school students with single-parent families.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.162-173
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• 2009

Purpose: This study investigated the health and socioeconomic status of single-parent and partnered families, and examined the intersection between sex and single-parent status focusing on inequalities of health and socioeconomic status. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using the data from the nationally representative 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A total of 14,827 respondents had custody of their own children and other family members (13,943 were coupled families and 891 were single-parent). Results: Our result indicate that single-parent had poorer health status and were more likely to have lower educational attainment, lower household income, no home ownership and be unemployed. However, the association between single-parent status and socioeconomic and health inequality were in divergent ways according to sex. The most socioeconomically disadvantaged were single-parent women. Inequalities in health differ markedly by sex but vary little according to single-parent status. Conclusions: An uneven distribution of socioeconomic resources might help us to understand why single-parent, both women and men, have worse health than parents who live together. Previously recognized sex gap with regard to health status also might help us to understand the difference in health between single-parent men and single-parent women found here.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.603-612
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• 2013

With the increase of single-parent families in the Korean society, the perception of the function and structure of the family is changing. Thus, a public transition toward embracing single-parent families as another form of family is necessary. This study focuses on the families of divorced female single-parents using Walsh's family resilience framework with a strengths-based perspective. It aims to provide the basic data necessary for deducing policy-related and practical ways of supporting the families and for developing programs that help divorced female single-parent families maintain and reinforce resilience. Qualitative analysis was used as the research method. A preceding literature review was also carried out to collect data. The major findings of this study include the following: First, it was found that the average age of divorce is around 30-40, with children of school age. The mothers' level of education was relatively high, ranging from high school graduates to graduate school students. On Rothwell and Cohen's happiness scale, their objective level of happiness was higher (74.1) than that of the average Korean (64). Second, it was found they were very careful to avoid violence in everyday life as an after-effect of domestic violence, which was the major cause of their divorce. Third, their positive and optimistic attitudes about life even in adversity can be interpreted as Walsh's belief systems taking a more important role among other characteristics of family resilience.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Child Welfare
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• no.56
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• pp.221-251
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine whether single-parent family status affects children's school adjustment through children's self-care and media exposure. In addition, the study investigated the mediating effects of self-protection and media exposure of children by analyzing whether single-parent family status has effects on school adjustment through self-care and media exposure of children. For this purpose, we used data of 1,916 students in the 4th grade who participated in the 4th year of the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS). The results of the structural equation modeling showed that single-parent family environment not only had direct effects on the school adjustment, but also had effects on school adjustment through self-care of children. In addition, it was revealed that self-care of children influenced school adjustment through media exposure. One of the covariates, monthly income of households, did not affect the level of children's self-care. This result draws attention to the problems of the structural deficit of single-parent families. Therefore, political measures that correspond to the structural characteristics and special needs of single-parent families, along with their current financial support, are needed to improve the level of school adjustment of children from single-parent families.

• Korean Journal of Family Social Work
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• no.54
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• pp.297-331
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating roles of neglectful rearing attitudes and mental health in the relationship between economic status of single-parent famillies and school adjustment, and the differences between single-parent and two-parent families, using structural equation modeling. Data were obtained from the Middle School 1 Panel(third-wave) of the Korean Child and Youth Panel Survey 2010. This study selected 2,195 middle school 3th-grade students (249 from single-parent families and 1,946 from two-parent families). Data were examined with structural equation modeling and multi-group analysis using AMOS 21.0, and mediating effects were tested using the Sobel test. The results were as follows; First, the single-parent children reported lower levels of economic status and school adjustment, and higher levels of neglectful rearing attitudes than the two-parent children. Second, multi-group analysis showed a statistically significant difference between single-parent and two-parent in structural equation modeling. Economic status of two-parent famillies affected school adjustment of children, but economic status of single-parent famillies did not affect school adjustment of children. Third, as a result of examining for total effect, the variable that most influenced school adjustment of children was neglectful rearing attitudes. Fourth, neglectful rearing attitudes and mental health did play a mediating role in the relationship between economic status and school adjustment in case of two-parent famillies, but neglectful rearing attitudes and mental health did not play a mediating role in case of single-parent famillies. Based on the result, this study stressed the following; First, the study suggested that problem of the single-parent famillies supporting standard which is concentrated on the low income single-parent famillies. Second, the study proposed multifaceted support measures which reflects characteristics of single-parent famillies to increase school adjustment of the single-parent children.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.39-49
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• 2008

This research reports on a qualitative analysis of email facilitated reflective dialogue with seven college students whose parent dies. The study was exploratory in considering cultural values on intact family and asked the question: What do children experience after parental death in terms of the relationships with intra and extrafamily systems? Young adult children of single parent family expressed that they felt social pressure to practice filial piety toward their single parent. They made efforts to fulfill the social expectation and to achieve social desirability. Social stigma from extrafamily systems affected the experiences of the bereaved children. In terms of intrafamily system, young adult children tend to idealize their deceased parent. Single parents depended on the young adult children, which made parent-child relationship enmeshed or conflicting. The holistic view of the study highlights the importance of interactions between individuals and the intra and extra family systems when understanding family loss experience of the bereaved young people.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-22
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to propose measure for the effects of perceived parenting attitudes and emotional problems on life satisfaction among adolescents in single parent families with the parent resource perspective. The study consisted of 230 first grade middle school students from single parent (living with either mother or father only) families in the 4th year panel (2013) of the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS), National Youth Policy Institute (NYPI). All statistical data analyses were performed using SPSS version 21.0. The findings of this study are as follows. First, lower levels of depression and aggression were found among adolescents who perceived parenting attitude as more affectionate. On the contrary, higher levels of depression and aggression were detected among adolescents who perceived parenting attitude as more intrusiveness. The more the inconsistent parenting practices perceived by adolescents, the higher the degree of depression. Second, a higher level of life satisfaction was found among adolescent who were more likely to perceive positive parenting attitudes including monitoring, affection and reasoning. However, there was no significant correlation between negative parenting behavior and life satisfaction. Third, a lower level of life satisfaction was observed among adolescent who were more likely to perceive emotional problems such as depression, aggression and social withdrawal. Fourth, according to the analysis on the effects of parenting attitudes and emotional problems on life satisfaction, affection parenting of all positive parenting styles and depression among emotional problems had an impact on life satisfaction. The more affectionate a parent is with his/her children in parenting, the lower the degree of depression in adolescents, and the lower degree of depression in adolescents, the higher degree of life satisfaction was found among adolescents from single parent households.