• Human Ecology Research
• /
• v.51 no.6
• /
• pp.603-612
• /
• 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 Family Relations
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.75-95
• /
• 2018

Objectives: This study aims to examine a school adjustment trajectory of adolescents from continued single parent families and its associated factors by comparing it to that of adolescents of two-parent families. Methods: We selected 4th grade students from Korean Youth & Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS). Using a multi-level growth modeling, we followed the trajectory of school adjustment until 9th grade and the effects of family income, parenting styles, and academic motivations of adolescents on the intercepts and the slopes. Results: Adolescents' school adjustment were decreased from 4th grade to 7th grade and then increased from 7th to 9th grade. The adolescents of continued single parent families showed a lower school adjustment than those of two parent families and this trend remained constant during the period. The effects of family income, parenting style, and academic motivation were confirmed to explain the gap between the adolescents of single parent and two parent families. Conclusions: The results imply that an earlier intervention is necessary to reduce the gap. We need to offer income support and decent quality of work for single parent family to reduce the economic hardship and also provide parental education that is designed to enhance academic expectations and motivations.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
• /
• v.40 no.6
• /
• pp.145-158
• /
• 2002

The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate a family life education program for children of institutionalized single-mother famines. Based on the strong family perspective and empirical research in this field, the program was developed to enhance children's self-esteem and social ability, and to help children accept diverse family patterns. The program consists of four 60-minute sessions. Ten children and their mothers in two institutions for single-mother families participated in this program. The results of program evaluation revealed that this program was helpful for promoting children's personality development and strengthening their family life of institutionalized single-mother famines. Conclusions and implications are discussed.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.25-39
• /
• 2023

This study aims to analyze the differences in the strength of single-parent families based on family characteristics. Using a sample of 267 female single parents, we explore the factors that impact family strength. We found that several variables impact the strength of families headed by a female single parent: the length of time members had lived together as a single-parent family, co-residents, interactions with ex-spouses, full-time work, and household income. Based on these findings, we suggest that the length of time that single-parent families have lived together is an important criterion for planning and evaluating the family policies and services offered by healthy family support centers. Furthermore, in the context of family resource management, family policies and programs that address time management and family life planning for full-time single parents should be developed and implemented.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.19-34
• /
• 1998

The purposes of this article were to find the general trends of single mothers' stressor, self-esteem, family resources, coping, stress and psychological well-being, and to test a causal model of family resources, coping and stress influencing on psychological well-being. The data were analyzed from the 283 single mothers living in Kwang-ju. The major findings were as follows; 1. Scores of single mothers' stress, family resources were lower than median. But scores of single mothers' stressor, self-esteem, coping, life satisfaction and depression were higher than median. Their problem-focused coping scores were higher than emotion-focused coping. 2. Single mothers' life satisfaction were directly affected by self-esteem, family resources, problem-focused coping and stress, and were indirectly affected by stressor, emotion-focused coping. Single mothers' depression were directly influenced by self-esteem, family resources, emotion-focused coping, problem-focused coping and stress, and were indirectly influenced by stressor.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.167-177
• /
• 2018

Purpose: This study examined the factors that affect suicidal ideation among Korean adolescents according to their family type. Methods: The data of the 2017 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey was used in this study. Out of 62,276, a total of 60,077 adolescents (51,367 adolescents from two-parent families and 8,710 adolescents from single-parent families) were included in the analysis. Results: This study demonstrated that the level of suicidal ideation of the adolescents in single-parent families was significantly higher than that of the adolescents in two-parent families. The factors that affect suicidal ideation among the two-parent family adolescents were gender, grade, economic status, academic performance, smoking, drinking, physical activity, subjective health status, subjective body image, subjective happiness, stress, and depression. The factors that affect suicidal ideation among the single-parent family adolescents included gender, grade, smoking, subjective health status, subjective happiness, stress and depression. Conclusion: Single-parent family adolescents are likely to have a higher level of suicidal ideation along with higher levels of depression and stress and lower levels of subjective health and happiness, compared to single-parent family adolescents. For this higher-risk group of suicidal ideation, more thoughtful attentions and proactive policies are needed to manage their mental health and stress in school and family situations.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.307-315
• /
• 2000

The aim to this study was to investigated the effects of family type on the health-related behaviors, food behaviors, and nutrient adequacy ratio of the elderly. Studies were performed on 109 home-bound elderly in a rural area of Asan city, in 1996. Subjects were divided into two groups by their family type, one was single-elderly family(n=58) and the other was extended family(n=51). The results obtained by questionaires and personal interviews as follows. 1) The average age 68.6. They served in primary industry, and 89.1% of responders received less than a primary school education. There was no significant difference by family type. 2) Single-elderly family members themselves felt more negative about their health than extended family members. 3)Each nutrient adequacy ratio of single-elderly family/extended family members was 0.72/0.76 of energy, 0.73/0.76 of protein, 0.59/0.66 of Ca, 0.98/0.99 of Fe, 0.62/0.74 of vitamin A, 0.86/0.87 of thiamin, 0.72/0.73 of riboflavin, 0.71/0.77 of niacin, 0.90/0.91 of ascorbic acid, and 0.76/0.80 of Mar. The NAR of vitamin A of the single-elderly family members was significantly lower than for extended family members(p〈0.05). Energy, protein, Ca, vitamin A, riboflavin showed insufficient intake for both groups. The percentage of INQ〈1 of the single-elderly family/extended family members was 45.6/51.0 of protein, 66.7/66.7 of Ca, 64.9/56.9 of vitamin A. By NAR and INQ, the most insufficient nutrient to the elderly in this rural area was Ca. We there for suggest that it is needed for elderly in rural areas to receive of food that is higher ING of Ca.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
• /
• v.40 no.10
• /
• pp.17-31
• /
• 2002

The number of single family is increasing because of individualism, resistance toward patriarchal family system, forced independence of women, absence of proper spouse and divorce rate, and aging. This study is to find out welfare needs in order to make family welfare measures toward continuously increasing single family. Data analysis has been tried to accomplish the purpose of study by in-depth interview, and structural questions were asked according to characteristics and degree of communication. Difficulties that single testers go through are social prejudice, financial problems, emotional and psychological factor, reduction of social network, and health. Lack of publicity, limit of welfare beneficiary, lack of service are suggested as problems, and what needs to be changed are formation of self-reliance meeting, financial independence, preparation of health and one's declining years.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.99-118
• /
• 2018

This study examines household expenditure patterns for single-parent families to better understand the decision-making process and to consider the appropriateness of the decisions on monetary allocation. This study investigates the household expenditure patterns and the determinants of expenditure patterns for single-father families as compared to those for single-mother families. A series of analyses of the data, which was gathered from the 2015 Single-parent Family Survey on household expenditures, were conducted. The results show that there are differences in the household expenditure volumes and patterns between single-father families and single-mother families. Differences in the categories of expenditure and variations in the share that was allocated for each expenditure category in single-father families as compared to in single-mother families were both statistically significant. Disparities were found in seven categories of household expenditure between single-father families and single-mother families. The amount allocated from total expenditures for each expenditure category was also significantly different between single-father families and single-mother families in regards to clothing, home equipment, housing, water/light/heat costs, transportation, and telecommunication. The determinants of the total household expenditure for single-parent families were age, level of education, number of family members, public transfer, household income, assets, and debt.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.89-105
• /
• 2009

A family resilience approach aims to identify and fortify key interactional processes that enable families to withstand and rebound from disruptive life challenges. Walsh(1998) described family belief systems, organizational patterns, and communication processes as the three main keys of family resilience. The purpose of this study was to identify the three key factors of family resilience in case of divorced female single-parent families in Korea. The study participants were seven divorced mothers who were living in the institutional facility for female single-parent families. Using a qualitative approach, in-depth interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim for analysis. The study findings were as follows. First, the participants showed positive thinking rather than fear about the adversity induced by the divorce. They also showed the senses of competence, control, and self-esteem. However, the senses of transcendence and spirituality were barely evident. Second, emotional and economic supports from parents, brothers and sisters, and community networks (i.e., mother-child protection institution, healthy family support center) enhanced the family resilience of the participants. Third, the participants showed clear communication, open emotional expression, and shared decision making. This study suggests that more counseling services and parent education be provided by healthy family support center and institutional facilities as important family resilience factors for divorced female single-parent families who are below the poverty line.