• Journal of the Korean Society of Child Welfare
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• no.36
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• pp.261-288
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• 2011

This study focuses on adolescent prosocial behavior as one of the necessary elements for youth to grow as a healthy member of the society. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of peer group on adolescent prosocial behavior by comparing the peer influence model and the individual characteristics model. For the study, we conducted hierarchical multiple regression analyses using the data from the Korean Youth General Survey 2008, administered by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Results show that friends' prosocial behavior had a positive impact, but friends' antisocial behavior had a negative impact on adolescent prosocial behavior. When individual characteristics including self-esteem and empathy were analyzed simultaneously, empathy, self-esteem, friends' prosocial behavior, and friends' antisocial behavior were found to be statistically significant. The strength of association between individual characteristics and adolescent prosocial behavior was greater than that of friends' behaviors. Also, significant moderating effects of individual characteristics on the relationships between adolescent prosocial behavior and friends' behaviors were found. For example, the positive effect of friends' prosocial behavior on adolescent prosocial behavior increased as adolescent's level of self-esteem increased. On the other hand, the negative effect of friends' antisocial behavior on adolescent prosocial behavior decreased as adolescent's level of empathy increased. Based on the findings, both the peer influence model and the individual characteristics model were considered valid in explaining prosocial behavior of Korean adolescents. Finally, implications of this study for positive youth development were discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Child Welfare
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• no.58
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• pp.47-76
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• 2017

This study aimed to examine how strictly child-related sexual crimes were sentenced in Korea. The target cases of the study included eight cases that were appealed to the Supreme Court between 2000 and 2015. The main findings of the assessment of the eight cases indicated that there were sentences with lower terms than laws regarding sexual crimes against children. While laws should be strictly applied to cases of sexual crimes against children, the level of penalty was found to be relatively generous compared to the applicable laws. In particular, the reason for the crimes, the lack of any history of sexual crimes by the perpetrator, the perpetrator's relationship with the child victim, forgiveness from the children, and regret of the perpetrator were found to reduce sentences. Comparatively, the exploitation of parent status, the accusation of the perpetrator, and the lack of mutual consent were factored in consideration of harsher sentences. The findings suggest that it is necessary to reexamine the levels of sentences related to sexual crimes against children.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.91-105
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between sexual development, sensation seeking traits, exposure to pornographic media, peer conformity, and potential delinquency on the part of Korean middle school students. In order to verify the model, we used structural equation model (SEM) analysis. 603 adolescents were participated in the study. The results were as follows; first, both male and female models goodness of fit and significant paths was proven. Second, it was also found that gender difference existed in the model. The implications of this study and the suggestions for future research were also discussed.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.225-234
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to examine moderating effect of social relationship on the relationship between academic stress and psychological health among of adolescents. This data used in this study used data was derived from the wave 2-4(2004-2006) of Korean Youth Panel Study (KYPS). The results show that social relationship(parent-child relationship and peer relationship) had a moderating effect on academic stress and psychological health of adolescents. In short, it was verified that in the case of good social relationship, academic stress could actually buffer the effect of psychological health. However, it terms of parent-child relationship, it was not confirmed to have a moderating effect on academic stress and psychological health in the 11th grade. The results from above suggest that schools and related facilities adolescent should consider the program to reinforce social relationship and the timing of the intervention.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.201-211
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to understand the role of specialists in child studies by analyzing child-related laws and policies and their service systems. Methods: We analyzed the aims, background, history, and related 5-year-plans in child-related laws and policies and their service delivery systems. Results: There were many difficulties in enforcing consistent policies. First, there was no unified age for implementing child and youth policy. Second, there was no comprehensive long-term policy. Third, many departments were involved. Conclusion: The study findings suggest the future role of specialists in child studies. First, they must take steps to introduce a monitoring system for the proper implementation of the first master plan for child policy. Second, they need to put effort into improving treatment of child-related workers. Third, they have to expand the academic area of child studies by reforming university curricula in a more pragmatic way. Fourth, the procedure to acquire different certifications in child studies and youth studies needs to be affiliated.

• Journal of Child Welfare and Development
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.25-45
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to analyze influences of home punishment, school punishment, stress on school refusal of elementary schoolers. For this, the data using the maternal 'Korean Survey on the Rights of Youth and Children in 2013'. Data for the analysis was limited to the analysis objects who made sincere replies on the major variables, and 2,894 students were included in the final analysis objects. The result of the study showed that stress had a direct impact on school refusal, and home punishment, school punishment has a direct impact on stress. In particular, home punishment was having a higher impact on stress than school punishment. Also home punishment and school punishment stress-mediated have an indirect effect on school refusal. These results suggest the following truancy and school refusal should be addressed to educational, social, legal issues by family, school, community. Therefore, it suggests the need for close cooperation of home and school.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.337-361
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• 2005

This study seeks the implications for the Korean family welfare policies after examining the characteristics of fertility rates and family welfare policies of advanced OECD countries, and comparatively analyzing the fertility rates among clusters of countries having similar family welfare policies. The fertility rates of most advanced OECD countries declined below the population replacement level in the 1970s, and continuously declined slowly after that period. But in the 1990s the fertility rate of some countries increased, on the other hand that of other countries declined. Such a difference of fertility rates suggests that there is some correlation between the fertility rate and the family welfare policy of each country. Advanced countries became concerned about the decline of fertility rate, established the government Population Issues Committee in order to deal with population problems, and increased family welfare supports. But the level and pattern(focusing on maternal employment supports or child-rearing supports) of each country's family welfare policies are differently developed according to its political ideology, cultural and historical background, and economic environments. A comparative assessment of the fertility rate among clusters of countries having similar family welfare policies demonstrates that the higher the level of family welfare supports is and the level of maternal employment supports in comparison with that of maternal child-rearing supports is, the higher of fertility rate is. And a comparative assessment of the fertility rate changes among clusters of countries also shows that the higher the level of family welfare supports is and the level of maternal employment supports in comparison with that of maternal child-rearing supports is, the higher the increase of fertility rate is or the lower the decrease of fertility rate is. The implications for the Korean family welfare policies are summarized as follows. First, it is necessary to establish the government Population Issues Committee which can study systematically fertility rates and population problems, and provide comprehensive population measures. Second, family welfare supports should be expanded through the establishment of family allowances, the prolongation of maternity leave and child-care leave and the upward readjustment of child-care leave benefits, and the extension of public child-care facilities. Third, maternal employment supports such as public child-care facilities and maternity leave should be given more weight than maternal child-rearing supports such as family allowance. Fourth, it is required to prepare social environments which can provide the youth with the hope that child-rearing is not difficult and gives them happiness.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Child Welfare
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• no.54
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• pp.113-144
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether children's social capital(both within and outside the family) and happiness would vary depending on poverty, as well as the effects of poverty on the happiness of children through their social capital. The 2013 Korea Youth General Survey data were utilized. We analyzed data from 766 children between the ages of 9 and 12, as well as their parents. Data were examined using structural equation modeling analysis. The bootstrapping method was used to test the mediating effects of social capital. The results showed that poor children had lower levels of social capital(both within and outside the family) and happiness than non-poor children. Second, poverty had indirect effects one happiness. In particular, poverty affected children's happiness through their social capital obtained both from within and outside the families. The mediating effects were statistically significant. Based on the results, we suggested policy and practice implications, including various interventions for children in poverty that may improve their social capital, which influences children's happiness.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.235-252
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to construct and test a social relation model of youth school adjustment, based on Hirschi's social bonding theory and the previous findings in the area of youth school adjustment. The social relation model included parent-child relation, peer relation, and teacher-student relation variables. The sample consisted of two groups, 494 adolescents: 351 high school students and 143 adolescent residents at the shelter for runaways. For data analysis, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were performed. The main finding was that the social relation model of youth school adjustment was significant in explaining the general school adjustment and academic performance. Specifically, the better relations with parents, peer, and teachers, the higher the degree of youth school adjustment. Among the significant variables, teacher-students relation was the most important variable. Based on these results, this study provided some practical suggestions to effectively enhance the relations with teachers, peer, and parents.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.47 no.10
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• pp.123-136
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to examine whether childbirth encouragement policy is actually helping those childbirth, and also discuss the possible directions of this policy to unfold in the future, should take. For this, We have surveyed 412 married and 437 unmarried men and women in order to investigate the individual values that influence childbirth, From these respondents and we interviewed and surveyed recipients of grants (244people), administrative officers in charge (41people), and experts (34people) to investigate their social view on the Korean government's impact. The results of this study are as follows: Firstly, most of the people (unmarried 70.3%, married 69.1%) surveyed said that important life objectives for them. Secondly, most of the people(male 44.4%, female 73.8%) surveyed said that once married shied away from having babies, (a) due to the finance and childcare burden is heavy of running a family while both parents are fulltime employed (b) because it is difficult to get pregnant due to health problems, and (c) foremost because having several children exacerbates their financial burden. Thirdly, grant recipients(75.4%), administrative officers in charge(65.9%), and experts(53.0%) all said that childbirth encouragement policy currently being implemented has little impact on their childbirth. Finally, it was established that the incentives to encourage childbirth is best suited for individuals that favor having many children.