• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.35-50
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• 2012

This study explored the moderating effects of self control and social support in terms of the relationship between stress and problem behaviors of children of divorced single parent families according to gender. A questionnaire was administered to elementary school-aged children (grades 3-6). 266 children from divorced single parent families were surveyed. The major findings were as follows : first, self control had a moderating role to play in the relationship between stress and problem behaviors for girls. Second, social support also had a moderating effect in the relationship between stress and problem behaviors for boys. Third, the variables having a moderating effect in the relationship between stress and problem behaviors of children also differed according to gender. Therefore differences in gender should be considered when seeking moderating the relationship between stress and problem behaviors of children.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.47-55
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• 2005

The purposes of this study are to examine the economic conditions and parenting of custodial fathers/mothers and to explain their impacts on the children's social adjustment after divorce. A total of 185 custodial parents divorced within the last 5 years completed a structured questionnaire. Children's social adjustment was the dependent variable in this study and was defined as their school performance and behavior problems. Results show that compared with divorced custodial fathers, divorced custodial mothers demonstrate more effective parenting, but there were no differences in economic conditions between them. In addition, children in single-father divorced families have lower school grades and more behavior problems than those in single-mother divorced families. Results also indicate that the economic conditions and parenting have different effects for children across family type. For children raised with a custodial father in divorced families, the economic conditions and the divorce duration are associated with lower school grades and behavior problems. For children with a custodial mother, however, the effective of parenting and the children's age have significant effects on the children's social adjustment after the parent divorced. Based on these results, this study proposes strategies for the improvement of children's adjustment in divorced families.

• 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 Families and Better Life
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.181-191
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to examine the social support network for divorced single mother families. The data were gathered through in-depth interviews with seven divorced single mothers who had at least one school-age child. Qualitative analysis of data showed that divorced single mothers evaluated themselves based on other people's perception. There were mainly three different kinds of self-images, which were “a competent divorced woman,” “a bad child to my parents,” and “a socially weak person.” We also found that there were two factors that influenced the everyday lives of single mothers: all of them .;offered hardships in living as a divorced woman with children, and they also had to deal with the weakened solidarity with family of origin, relatives, and neighbors. Single mothers shared common problems yet their lifestyles and adjustment strategies were diverse. Therefore, diverse social welfare policies for education and counseling for single mothers are urgently needed to support and empower divorced single mothers.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.59-75
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• 2013

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how divorced mothers had decided to take custody of their children and became single mothers. The experiences of their lives after divorce were also explored. Data were collected from 17 Korean divorced mothers who were divorced between 2004 and 2009, and were raising at least one minor child. The data were analyzed based on the phenomenological data analysis method. Three main themes were identified: (a) reasons for deciding to have physical custody of the children, (b) mothers' experiences of adjustment after divorce, and (c) mothers' need for a policy concerning the well-being of their families. According to the divorced mothers, they decided to have physical custody of the children since they believed raising children was their natural duty of mothers or they were the most appropriate ones to raise the children rather than the fathers. While the mothers were satisfied with their lives after divorce in general, they also experienced difficulties including child care and financial strain. In particular, most mothers experienced work-family conflict related to the lack of reliable child care. When their family lives and work lives collided, the mothers put their children first and chose jobs that helped them take care of their children at the same time. The divorced single mothers hoped that the social safety net for single parents would expand to support their independence. Implications for single-parent policy are discussed.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.465-475
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to explore predictors of positive changes in children with divorced parents and to demonstrate the structural path among the perceived experience of social discrimination, parenting difficulties, parent-child communication, and internet use of children that related to positive changes based on family incomes. The subjects for this study were 1,114 single parents from divorced families sourced from a study on the status of single-parent families in 2015. The results of this study by using the structural equation model of the moderating effect verification with family incomes and multi group analysis are as follows. First, single-parent's perceived experience of social discrimination turned had a significant positive effect on parenting difficulties( =.354) and children's internet use ( =.234). Single-parent's perceived parenting difficulties also had a significant positive effect on children's internet use ( =.440) but a significant negative effect on both parent-child communication( =.192) and positive changes of children( =.218). Interestingly, internet use of children demonstrated a significant negative effect on their positive changes. Second, parent-child communication, parenting difficulties, and children's internet use had a negative mediating effect with the relationship where single-parent's perceived experience of social discrimination had an effect on positive changes of children( =.167). Second, between the family groups based on family incomes, there was no statistically significant difference in the structural relationship. Based on these results, this study presented a practical proposal to help single parents not experience social discrimination and to help decrease the internet use of children to improve positive changes.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.17-43
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• 2011

With a substantial rise in divorce rates since the mid 1990s, single-parent households are increasing rapidly in Korea. Often it is believed that children in single-mother households suffer the most economically and socially with the marital disruption of the parents. This study hypothesizes that in Korea the socioeconomic status of single-father households may be lower than that of single-mother households mainly because low-income divorced women are not able to form their own households with children. The analysis is based on two sub-samples from the 2% sample of the 2005 Census, one, with children 12 years old or younger and, the other, with divorced mothers of children of the same ages. The findings support the hypothesis that previously-married single fathers show the lowest educational and occupational status among 6 groups of parents: fathers and mothers from two-parent families, fathers and mothers from married but spouse-absent families, and previously-married single fathers and mothers. Divorced mothers'likelihood of living apart from their children has a strong negative association with their educational attainment, with the highest likelihood among women of middle school or lower education and the lowest likelihood among women with college education. Although single mothers comprise a larger percentage of single-parent households, single-father households demonstrate a particular vulnerability with their weak socioeconomic status.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.565-583
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• 2023

This study sought to examine the effects of current single-parent family policies on the psychological adaptation of family members in single-parent homes, while also confirming that visitation and child support are indeed in the best interests of children in such cases. An online survey was conducted in 2021 for divorced single mothers and their children (aged 11 to 19) living in metropolitan regions (Seoul, Kyunggi, and Incheon). A total of 171 dyads, comprised of single mothers and their adolescent children, participated in this study. Using the collected data, descriptive statistical analysis and structural equation modeling were performed. The major results of this study are as follows. First, visitation with fathers was not significantly associated with self-esteem, aggression, or life satisfaction among the participating adolescent children. On the other hand, when child support was paid, aggression among adolescents was lower than when child support was not paid. Second, neither visitation nor child support was significantly associated with single mothers' levels of depression and life satisfaction. The enforcement of child support guarantees the welfare of children and conforms to the principle of promoting the best interests of minor children. Therefore, child support should be continuously encouraged and supported by agencies in accordance with current law. In order for the implementation of visitation to be in the best interest of the child, the amount and quality of visitation should be secured so that the child can still recognize their non-custodial parents as "caregivers."

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.1-13
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• 2022

This study was aimed at exploring the parenting experience of fathers in single parent families as well as comprehensively determining their parenting experiences and the various parenting resources and support systems that have emerged in the process. The subjects were five divorced fathers who had not remarried and had been raising their children on their own. This qualitative case study involved data collect through in-depth interviews. The inter-case analyses derived two topics, five categories, and 17 concepts related to the issues of interest. The results indicated, that, first, there was "psychological confusion in the early stages of parenting" because of the sudden onset of this responsibility after divorce. Second, in the parenting experience, the fathers felt that "family survival was at stake". Third the support systems that the fathers had in raising single parent families were "social resources" made available through workplaces, acquaintances, institutions, and the government. Such systems also took the form of "family resources" including brothers and parents. An "internal resource" was the presence of children along with psychological sources of support, such as responsibility and the satisfaction experienced by the fathers through parenting. This study, uncovered the reality, resources, and support systems of fathers in single families. It is meaningful in that it will serve as a basis for supporting practical measures and educational interventions for fathers in single-parent households.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.163-176
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• 1997

Using survey data collected from 275 adolescent children of widowed or divorced single mother families, this study investigated the characteristics of family coping resources, including individual, financial, social, and mother-child relational resources and their effects on the psychological wellbeing of these adolescents. After controlling background variables of the family, higher depression among adolescents was associated with low grade point average, mother's high exposure to negative experiences after loss of father, low attachment to mother, and low sense of self-control. Furthermore, higher grade point average, strong attachment to mother, and high self-control in problem solving were factors predicting higher self-esteem of adolescents. Social network resources were not related to the psychological well-being of the adolescents. Discussion included recommendations for future research. Implications for policy and parent-child relations were discussed with a view to enhancing family functioning of adolescents in single-mother families.