• Human Ecology Research
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.419-431
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• 2017

This study examined the effects of children's shyness and relationships with their teacher in regards to social withdrawal. Two questionnaires were conducted with mothers and teachers of 242 three to five-year-olds attending a childcare center in Sejong city. SPSS 18.0 was used to implement descriptive analyses and hierarchical regression analyses. The results indicated that main effects of lack of sociability and assertiveness as well as interaction effects between lack of assertiveness and intimate relationship on social withdraw were found when the childteacher relationship was intimate. The results suggested that intimate child-teacher relationships adjusted to lack of assertiveness in the child. Meanwhile, interaction effects between lack of sociability and lack of assertiveness and between self-consciousness and child-teacher conflictual relationship were found in child-teacher conflictual relationships. The results indicated that the influence on alleviating social withdrawal behavior of children with a high level of shyness was limited despite establishing a close relationship with a teacher. However, the social withdrawal behavior of children became more intense if they were in a conflict relationship with a teacher; this tendency was also shown more significantly in shier children. This suggests that children's unamicable relationship with a teacher may function as a risk factor to cause social withdrawal behavior. Therefore, it is important that a teacher has the capability to understand the individual characteristics of children, particularly shyness, and encourage their sociability of children through positive relationships.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.15-32
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• 2018

This study analyzes difference in consumers' and front-line workers' perceptions on 'consumer complaint behavior with hateful intentions' though the Co-orientation Model in three dimensions. In addition, we seek to contribute to reducing the conflict between consumers and front-line workers in the service contact point by finding factors that affect the difference in perception between two parties. This study findings and implications are as follows. First, Taking a look at the mutual orientation between consumers and front-line workers, mutual perceptions have been found to match in agreement but with a significant difference in perceived agreement (congruence), which indicates that the internal perceptions of both consumers and front-line workers do not match. The findings confirm that consumers and front-line workers have different perspectives on consumer complaint behavior with hateful intentions and therefore raise a need for efforts and institutional devices for improvement. Second, the study has found that consumers' economic responsibility as part of their social responsibilities and front-line workers' perceptions on consumers' civic responsibility affect the perception difference between these two groups and suggest a need for educating consumers about economic responsibility. Meanwhile, unlike consumers, front-line workers view consumers' complaint behavior with hateful intentions from an ethical point of view, raising a need for a transition of perspectives on complaint behavior with hateful intentions.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.247-261
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of consumer consumption behavior on sustainable consumption through social media and to verify the mediating effects of social connectedness on sustainable consumption. A survey comprising 222 men and women in their 20s and 30s was conducted in which their consumption expression behavior, sustainable consumption and social connectedness were measured. The results were analyzed using SPSS Process Macro Model 4 and it was found that consumers who shared a considerable amount of personal information on their lifestyle on social media as a means of self-expression exhibited a higher level of sustainable consumption. It also became apparent that the degree of consumption expression behavior had a positive effect on social connectedness and that social connectedness had a positive impact on sustainable consumption by mediating the degree of consumption-focused self-expression on social media. Based on these results, it was confirmed that social media can serve as a mechanism to lead consumers' consumption behavior beyond providing a basis for forming a human network. Implications for the impact of social media on consumption behavior were presented, and proposals for exploring the environment in which sustainable consumption can be activated were suggested, together with ways in which new media can be utilized. The findings from this study indicate that sharing consumption behavior and having a broad range of connections on social media can create an environment in which sustainable consumption is promoted.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.303-315
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• 2024

In response to recent changes in gender equality and social awareness among female college students, we sought to investigate whether there were corresponding changes in their preferred fashion styles and items. A survey was conducted with 200 women in their twenties to determine whether they were aware of gender equality and social change, as well as their preferred fashion styles and items at both the time of college admission and the current time. Awareness of gender equality was divided into two factors: feminism and a perceived increase in women's social power. A significant difference was observed in the fashion styles of female college students in their twenties between the time of admission and the current time. Compared with the past, the preferred style has changed to gender-neutral rather than feminine, useful rather than aesthetics, character rather than fashion, sporty rather than elegance, and casual rather than formal. Preferred items included pants rather than skirts, sneakers rather than shoes, socks rather than stockings, long skirts rather than short skirts, and backpacks rather than handbags. The level of attention paid to campus attire per week decreased over time. No correlation was found between gender equality awareness and preferred fashion style, while feminism was correlated with preferred fashion items. The degree to which attention was paid to campus attire per week was correlated with feminism, but was not correlated with a perceived increase in womens' social power.

• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.87-100
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• 2012

Smart wear integrates computing technology into fabric or a garment for additional functionality. This research explored the attitudes and opinions of the use of smart wear from the viewpoint of caregivers. Thirty two individuals including care providers of children and adult family members with health problems participated in focus group interviews. Participants reported being interested in smart wear because of the potential to detect the location (GPS) of a dependent (e.g., child, elderly) and to monitor vital signs. Participants indicated perceived advantages of smart wear such as identifying geographical location and effectiveness. Perceived concerns mentioned were privacy/security issues and accuracy of data. Participants taking care of dependents without a specific disease were hesitant to adopt and pay for smart wear. However, caregivers of elderly individuals expressed positive adoption intentions and willingness to reasonably pay for smart wear. They indicated expectations that potential insurance would provide coverage for cost savings. Caregivers expressed the need of specific requirements for future adoption such as customizability, and comfort/safety. Specific to smart wear clothing, most respondents preferred it be an undershirt or a jacket with a sensor located in the shoulder area. The findings from this study can be used in product development, promotion and marketing of smart wear.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.447-461
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• 2020

This study explores how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed family life and relationships as well as how these changes affect perceived stress among married men and women. This study investigated changes in family time use, household work, child care, leisure activities, income and expenditures along with relationships between spouses and children using a sample of 627 married persons surveyed online from May 19 to 25, 2020. The results showed that the amount of time spent on household work, child care, and family leisure have increased and that the perceived burden of household work and child care has also increased. Gender differences were found in time use, household work, and child care. Leisure activities have changed toward more time watching TV or online media and playing online games and less time on outdoor activities, shopping, and meeting friends. About 38% of respondents reported a reduction in household income and 22% reported an increase in household debt. The majority experienced no change in the quality of relationships with spouses and children, approximately 20% of the sample reported a positive change in relationships with spouses and children. The findings of multivariate regression indicated that change in work time, negative change in household economy, negative change in household work and negative change in relationships with spouses were associated with marital stress. However, this study found that negative changes in child care and in relationships with children did not affect stress among married parents with children in elementary or secondary school.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.131-148
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• 2020

This study examined the dual mediating effects of preschoolers' executive function and counterfactual thinking in the relationship between maternal reflective functioning and preschoolers' higher-order thinking. Participants included 293 preschoolers and their mothers in Daegu city and Gyeongsang province. The mothers completed questionnaires regarding their reflective functioning, preschoolers' executive function, and creative thinking. Teachers completed questionnaires regarding preschoolers' critical thinking and caring thinking. Preschoolers' counterfactual thinking was measured by interviews. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis with SPSS 25.0. Path analysis and bootstrapping were used with AMOS 25.0 program. Also, specific indirect effect were analyzed using AMOS user-defined estimand function. The primary results of this study are as follows. Maternal reflective functioning had an indirect effect on preschoolers' critical thinking and caring thinking through preschoolers' executive function and counterfactual thinking; however, maternal reflective functioning had no indirect effect on preschoolers' creative thinking through preschoolers' executive function and counterfactual thinking. This study revealed that maternal reflective functioning and preschoolers' executive function and counterfactual thinking need to be considered simultaneously to explain the level of preschoolers' higher-order thinking. The results highlight the dual mediating effects of preschoolers' executive function and counterfactual thinking in the relationship between maternal reflective functioning and preschoolers' higher-order thinking.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.325-340
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to examine that multiple mediating effects of self-determination and self-efficacy in the relationship between the parental control and career maturity. In the study, 747 university students in Daegu, Busan and Seoul area were surveyed on their perceived level of parental control, career maturity, self-determination and self-efficacy. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation analysis with SPSS 25.0 program, Hayes'Process Macro program and bootstrapping. The major results of this study were as follows; First, there were significant differences in college student's career maturity by grade, major, experience in career-related services and part-time job experience period. Second, there were significant correlations between parental control(behavioral control and psychological control), career maturity, self-determination and self-efficacy. Third, self-determination and Self-efficacy had multiple mediating effects in the relationship between parental control and career maturity. In conclusion, this study found multiple mediating effects of self-determination and self-efficacy in the relationship between parental control(behavioral control and psychological control) and career maturity. It was also found that parental behavioral control had a positive effect on career maturity by increasing self-determination and self-efficacy while parental psychological control had a negative effect on career maturity by decreasing self-determination and self-efficacy.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.549-564
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• 2022

This study aimed to develop an e-mentoring youth financial education program and verify its effectiveness for promoting financial empowerment and establishing financial capabilities among independent consumers. A four-session, eight-hour "Youth Financial Empowerment Mentoring Program" was developed. This program dealt with financial literacy and financial psychology factors in an integrated fashion. We used the nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design to evaluate the program's effectiveness. Specifically, by using Zoom, a virtual conference platform, four mentors of college students were trained for four sessions over two weeks. Meanwhile, four groups were formed with four mentors and 18 high school mentees to implement a four-week e-mentoring program. As a result of the analysis of covariance, significant differences were found between the two groups in all financial psychology factors and financial literacy variables. In addition, the score of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group. As a result of qualitative evaluation through FGI for mentees and mentors, mentees experienced positive changes in financial behavior, beliefs, attitudes, and personal relationships, as well as increased financial knowledge. Meanwhile, mentors experienced positive changes in their introspection into financial behavior and consumption. Considering these results, we can conclude that this program effectively induces participants to learn and reflect on their initiative, which is in line with the original goal of "improving financial empowerment".

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.647-661
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• 2023

This study explored the relationship between Generation MZ female consumers' participation in sports activity, consumption of body-exposing sportswear, body-esteem, and appearance management behavior. In-depth interviews were conducted with twenty Generation MZ female consumers who regularly participate in sports activity and consume body-exposing sportswear. Based on transcriptions of in-depth interviews conducted with research subjects, the researcher and two assistant researchers collectively categorized and compared common characteristics found in their responses, categorized according to themes using units of words/terms and paragraphs. The main finding were as follows. Firstly, Generation MZ female consumers participated in various sports activities for an average of approximately one hour, three times per week. The effects of such participation were improvements in physical and psychological health. Secondly, Generation MZ female consumers considered aesthetical, functional, and economical factors when they consumed body-exposing sportswear, regardless of the activity in which they participated. This sportswear served to increase the efficiency of exercise and also played a motivational role. Thirdly, the overall body-esteem of Generation MZ female consumers who participated in sports activity regularly and consumed body-exposing sportswear was high. Fourthly, Generation MZ female consumers who regularly participated in sports activity and consumed body-exposing sportswear were practicing active appearance management behavior in order to show how their body had been shaped by sports activity. In addition, they were pursuing four self-images: "polished image pursue", "self-care image pursue", "natural image pursue", and "trustworthy image pursue".