• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.35-69
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• 2014

This study was conducted to explore initial motherhood experience of non-married mothers who decided to raise their babies. We applied Rennie's hermeneutic grounded theory for this study in which 7 non-married mothers participated. 9 hermeneutic categories which are 'decision to give birth', 'feeling of hitting bottom', 'ambivalence toward a life in stomach', 'realization of motherhood', 'motherhood anxiety', 'the bridle of social tag', 'hope of motherhood', 'encounter with new self' and 'visage of weary life' were constructed based on 145 meaning units, 34 subordinate categories. The core category that integrates motherhood experiences of participants was postulated as living with two conflicting visages of motherhood which are a cure and a poison at the same time. Motherhood experience processes were emerged in five stages which are decision to give birth, psychological frustration, realization of motherhood, confusion, and hope and discouragement of motherhood. Three types of motherhood experience were analyzed in the study which are adaptative, conflictive, and resistant. Based on the result of the study, the motherhood experience of non-married mother who decided to raise their babies are the process of emergence of new identity called mother. The non-married mothers formed their motherhood identities as they internalize socioculturally granted motherhood ideology. Moreover, the gap between socially oriented motherhood and realistic role of motherhood led to confusion. Based on this study, we suggest intervention plans to the field of social welfare practice that will support initial motherhood of non-married mothers who decided to keep their babies.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.541-559
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• 2024

The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of Korean mothers in relation to parent education. Parent education was broadly defined in this study to encompass the various educational experiences that parents "try" and "undergo" both before and after becoming parents. Rather than being confined to a single program, we aimed to understand parent education as a cumulative process, comprising diverse experiences that shape parents' lives and roles. We conducted in-depth interviews with seven mothers of infants and toddlers, followed by a reflexive thematic analysis of the data. Four major themes emerged from the analysis. The first theme, "confusion about becoming a parent," describes the initial challenges of adjusting to the loss of freedom and the adaptation to new responsibilities. The second theme, "parent education through observation and experience," highlights how parents learned by observing and engaging with real-life situations before and after the birth of their children. The third theme, "active participation in purposeful parent education," focuses on structured educational programs in shaping parental roles. The final theme, "reflective thinking and personal growth through parent education," illustrates how reflective practices as a mother contributed to the parental development. This study underscores the importance of adopting a long-term perspective on parent education, recognizing the interconnected nature of parental and child development and appreciating the experiences of mothers who grow through reflective thinking.