• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.61-87
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• 2004

In Korea, since the systematic efforts to help unmarried mothers are rather limited, the unmarried mother's social relationship is expected to play a critical role in the adjustment of unmarried mothers after the birth of a baby. The purpose of this study is to identify the effect of social relationship on unmarried mother's self-esteem. Especially, this study focused a negative aspect of social relationship, social conflict, which has been ignored by the previous researches. For this study, survey method was employed. The respondents of the questionnaire were 205 unmarried mothers staying at six out of eight institutions for unmarried mothers available in Korea. The multiple regression and other descriptive statistical methods were conducted and the results of analysis are as follows. First, the higher the level of perceived social support was, the higher the level of self-esteem of unmarried mothers was. Second, the higher the level of perceived social conflict was, the lower the level of self-esteem of unmarried mothers was. Third, even though the level of perceived social conflict was much lower than the perceived social support, the effect of social conflict on unmarried mothers' self-esteem was as powerful as the social support. This means that the effect of social conflict also can be very important. These findings suggest a new direction for intervention for unmarried mothers. Until now, the major target of intervention in social relationship was to strengthen existing social support or establish new social support system. Now, in addition to augmenting social support, we should pay attention to removal of social conflict, since it has significantly powerful effect on the adjustment of unmarried mothers.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.5-35
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• 1998

This study attempted to determine the relation between the maternal role strain and their husbands' support in employed and nonemployed first-time mothers, and how it changed over time. A descriptive, longitudinal and comparative study design was conducted to collect and analyzed the data at three times(at 3-4days, at 4-6wks and at 3-month postpartum) regarding the change of maternal role strain and their husbands' support in employed and nonemployed first-time mothers. The subjects were 133 first-time mothers who delivered vaginally at K university hospital in Deagu, Korea from Dec., 1994 to Oct., 1995. Among these 58 were employed and 75 were nonemployed first-time mothers. This instruments used to data collection in this study were by Hobbs(1968 : The Difficulty Index for First-time Parents), Staffensmeier(1982: Transition Difficulty Measure), Tayer(1976: Emotional Support from Husband), Lee, Hae Kyoung(1992 : Physical Support from Husband). The analysis of data was done with SAS/PC program which included percentage, $x^2$-test, Pearson correlation, Repeated Measure ANOVA, Time Contrast Analysis and t-test. The results were as follows : 1. There was a significant negative correlation only at 3-4days(r=-.19, P=.0265) and at 4-6wks postpartum(r=-.18, P=.0392) between maternal role strain and husband's support of the first-time mothers. Thus, the more support from husband, the less maternal role strains the first-time mothers felt. Therefore, the 1st hypothesis that "the more husband's support the first-time mother felt at all the time of testing, the less maternal role strains they got" was partially supported at 3-days and 4-6 weeks postpartum. There was no correlation between maternal role strain and t husband's support of the employed first-time mothers at al testing times(at 3-4days postpartum : r=-.95, P=.9548, at 4-6wks postpartum : r=-.0960, P=.4733 and at 3-month postpartum : r=-.05, P=7306). On the contrary, the unemployed first-time mothers felt less maternal role strain when they received more support from their husband at 3-4 days postpartum(r=-.31, P=.0073) and at 4-6wks postpartum(r=-.23, P=.0490). 2. There was no difference of maternal role strain between two groups with regards to employment status(F=.97, P=.3270). But the maternal role strains of two groups were changed differently each other over time(F=3.89, P=.00234). Therefore, the 2nd hypothesis that "there was the difference in the maternal role strains with regard to employment status and over time" was rejected. 3. There was no difference in husband's support between the employed and the nonemployed first-time mothers(F=3.06, P=.0826). But there was a significant interaction between employment status and over time(F=3.64, P=.0267), so the support from husband of the employed and the unemployed first-time mothers was changed differently each other over time. The support from husband of the employed first-time mothers was lowered significantly and continuously at 4-6wks (F=5.20, P=.0263) and at 3-month postpartum(F=6.47, P=.0137) than at 3-4 days postpartum. On the contrary, there was no difference in change of husband's support of the employed first-time mothers between the 3-4 days and the 4-6wks postpartum(F=1.70, P=.1962) and between the 3-4 days and the 3-month postpartum(F=.21, P=.6513). Mean husband's support of the nonemployed first-time mothers was raised at 4-6wks postpartum than at 3-4 days postpartum but lowed at 3-month postpartum. The support form husband of both groups was tending downwards at 3-month postpartum than at 4-6wks postpartum, but the one between two groups was changed differently each other over time. The husband's support of the employed first-time mothers(M${\pm}$SD=64. 26${\pm}$8.63) was higher than the one of the nonemployed first-time mothers(M${\pm}$SD=59.16${\pm}$11.11) (t=-2.98, P=.0035), so the 3rd hypothesis that "there was the difference in the husband's support with regard to employment status and over time" was supported. On the basis of these conclusions, the following suggestion is proposed. This study examined the change and relationship between maternal role strain and husband's support in the employed and the nonemployed first-time mothers. So the further study regarding the comparison between the employed and the nonemployed multiparas is necessary.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.22 no.3 s.27
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• pp.389-397
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• 1989

To identify the problems in child rearing practice of employed mothers in urban poor area, all of 201 women with children under 6 years old living in Yun San 3 Dong, a poor area of Pusan city, were interviewed with a questionnaire by a trained interviewer from 10th April to 10th May 1989. Among 201 women, 51 women were employed and 150 women were unemployed. Of the employed mothers 78.5% got their jobs because of economical need and 31.4% of them worker for 60-69 hours per week. Their average monthly income was 100,000-190,000 Won in 33.4% and 200,000-290,000 Won in 25.4% Breast milk was fed in 66.0% of the children of unemployed mothers while 49.0 of the children of the employed mothers were breast-fed (p<0.05). The most common reason for not breast feeding was shortage of breast milk among unemployed mothers (58.9%) but that of the employed mothers was their job(63.6%). The basic immunization for children was completed in 70.5% of children of employed mothers as compared with 82.0% of the children of the unemployed mothers were completely immunized (p>0.1). Accident experience rate of children among the employed mothers was 23.5 a and that of the children of the unemployed mothers was 17.3% . The most common cause of acident in children of the unemployed mothers was carelessness while they were playing(34.6%) but in children of the employed mothers it was traffic accident(25.0%) and falling(25.0%). Most of the traffic accidents took place while the children's brother or sister of age under 14 years were baby sitting. When the accident took place 73.1% of the unemployed mothers were just at home, but 58.3% of the employed mothers were out of home for work. In case of the employed mothers, 58.7% of their children were looked after by an adult mainly grandparents, 15.7% by the children's brothers and sisters under 14 years old, and 3.9% of the children were left alone. A majority of the unemployed mothers wanted to get a job if someone could take care of their children. To facilitate the women employment and for the safety and health of the children, good nurseries for working mothers need to be established at a cost they can afford.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.306-313
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• 2015

Purpose: The objective of this study was to examine the factors associated with initiation and continuation of breastfeeding among Korean women in relation to their employment status. Methods: Data were collected using a web-based self-administered questionnaire from 1,031 Korean mothers living in Seoul with babies younger than 24 months. Demographic characteristics, education on breastfeeding, rooming in, breastfeeding during hospital stay, and breastfeeding knowledge were examined. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with initiation and continuation at 1, 6 and 12 months according to mothers' employment status. Results: Breastfeeding initiation rates were similar regardless of mothers' employment status. Continuation rates decreased for both groups of mothers, but were significantly lower among employed mothers at all duration points. Unemployed mothers who were able to keep their babies in the same room during the hospital stay were more likely to initiate breastfeeding. The factor that was consistently associated with breastfeeding continuation for all duration points among unemployed mothers was whether the mother breastfed during the hospital stay. Higher knowledge scores and having an infant with atopic dermatitis were also associated with breastfeeding continuation at 6 months and 12 months, respectively for unemployed mothers, and receiving education on breastfeeding was associated with 12-month continuation for employed mothers. Conclusion: These results emphasize the significant roles of hospitals for breastfeeding initiation and continuation, with rooming-in, initial breastfeeding practice and education during hospital stay as important practices. In addition, for working mothers to continue their breastfeeding, significant support from the workplace is crucial.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.107-116
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• 1984

In order to obtain an information for the improvement of wives' meal management especially in dual-income families, the survey was carried out through questionaires to 159 married women teachers(employed wives: EW) and 157 housewives(HW) in Daejeon city, from the Sep. 20 to 30, 1983. Most of the two groups' wives did not plan menu(74.7 %), and considered taste firstly when meal preparation and food buying. In EW, time was more considered than the other points for meal preparation and cookbook was more used than other sources of cooking methods, while in HW, cost, and, the mass media (p<0.01). Among 6 convenience foods, sausage, ham were used more frequently in EW and instant noo-dles and fried fish cake, in EW. Both the two groups' dietary pattern of three meals was similar, but much more of the EW(56.1 %) purchased foods for between meals rather than prepared at home in comparision with the HW. Almost all the HW prepared three meals themselves but the EW did not so. In the EW, husband and mother-in-law often assisted with meal-related activities, but in the HE, daughters (p<0.01) . HE spent more time on meal-related activities than do EW (Hw: 4.1 hrs/day, Ew·: 3.2 hrs/day) . The preparation time for supper was longest among three meals. As the problems of meal management, both the two groups' wives pointed 'too much time' (43.1 %), 'lack of nutrition knowledge '(42.8 %), but EW' husbands, 'no variety of cooking method'(42.8 %), while HW' husbands, 'lack of nutrition knowledge'(34.3 %).

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.422-430
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• 2023

Objectives: Prolactin is vital for breastfeeding and milk production, and its secretion is influenced by factors related to the mother, infant, and environment. To date, no study has concurrently investigated the correlation of these factors with serum prolactin levels during lactation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the correlations among maternal and infant factors, lead exposure, and serum prolactin levels during lactation. Methods: A cross-sectional approach was employed in Surabaya, Indonesia, among 110 exclusively lactating mothers. The mothers' daily diets were determined using multiple 24-hour recalls, while blood lead levels were measured with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Serum prolactin levels were assessed using the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. For bivariate analysis, we employed the Spearman correlation, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests, while for multivariate analysis, we utilized multiple linear regression. Results: The average serum prolactin level of the lactating mothers was 129.19±88.96 ng/mL. Positive correlations were found between serum prolactin levels and breastfeeding frequency (p<0.001), protein intake (p<0.001), and calcium intake (p=0.011) but had negative correlation with blood lead levels (p<0.001) and vitamin B6 intake (p=0.003). Additionally, prolactin levels were not significantly associated with maternal age; parity; intake of calories, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc, folic acid, magnesium, or iron; infant age; or infant sex. Conclusions: Breastfeeding frequency had a stronger positive relationship with serum prolactin levels than protein and calcium intake. However, lead exposure was associated with reduced serum prolactin levels during lactation. Consequently, specific interventions from policymakers are necessary to manage breastfeeding in mothers exposed to lead.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.315-323
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was performed to compare mothers' health promotion behaviors between those who have a disabled child and those who have a healthy child. Method: The participants were 243 mothers from 24 Daycare Centers for Children with Disabilities and 310 mothers from 5 child daycare centers. Mothers with preschool children completed self-report questionnaires, asking about health behaviors for preschool children. Data from these surveys was analyzed using the ANOVA, t-test, and $x^2$-test with the SPSS 15.0 Win program. Result: Mothers with disabled children showed less health promotion behaviors than the mothers' of children without disabilities. Two sub-categories, activity-exercise and health perception-health management pattern, showed significant differences between the two groups. In addition, mothers' health behaviors for disabled children were significantly different according to the children's age, mothers' employed status, and number of children in the family. Conclusion: These results suggest that mothers with disabled preschool children are likely to practice less health promotion behaviors with their children compared to others. These findings suggest that health promotion support programs for mothers with disabled children should be developed and offered. For effective intervention, pediatric nurses also need to be involved in the health of disabled children.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.329-337
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was done to describe the essential structure of the lived experience of working women raising children. Method: Data were collected from 10 employed women with children who were under 2 years of age. The analysis of the data was done using the phenomenological analytic method suggested by Colaizzi (1978). Results: In this study, 6 essential themes were extracted: 'knowing by intuition child-rearing is difficult', 'having guilt-conscious of not being able to perform duties as a mother', 'hard work of maintaining two jobs', 'Lost self', 'realizing that one has become amother', 'thirsting for a social support system'. Conclusion: With a rapidly increasing number of working women, the significance of this study in the field of nursing is in understanding the child-rearing experience of working women. The findings indicate the need for a systemic and emotional support system for working women raising children.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.131-145
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• 2014

This study examines the effects of maternal behaviors and children's self-control ability on their subjective well-being. Data were collected from 416 fifth- and sixth-graders residing in Kwangju, Korea. Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ and the hierarchical regression analysis method were employed for a statistical analysis. According to the results of the hierarchical multiple regression analysis, children's self-control ability best explained their subjective well-being. For individual factors, motivational self-control had the greatest effect on subjective well-being, followed by behavioral self-control, cognitive self-control, the level of income, gender, and the employment status, in that order. The results for effects of maternal behaviors and children's self-control ability on children's subjective well-being highlight. The important roles played by the mother and the child's self-control ability in improving the child's subjective well-being. The study contributes to the literature by providing fundamental insights into children's higher quality of life.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate resilience of children with cancer and their mothers. This study aims to identify the main factors behind the resilience of these patients and their mothers. Method: To measure the resilience of cancer patients, Kim's (2002) resilience scale was utilized. The Korean Family Functioning Scale revised by Chae (2004) was used to calculate the resilience of mothers. Respondents for this study consist of 60 pediatric cancer patients and their mothers. Data was collected a Medical Center in Seoul, Korea. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and the Pearson's correlation coefficients were used for data analysis. Results: The resilience mean of pediatric cancer patients is 98.32 ($3.09{\pm}0.03$) and of mothers is 64.95 ($3.08{\pm}0.25$). There appears to be a high resilience in pediatric cancer patients who hold religious beliefs. Similarly, there is a high resilience for mothers who are employed. And there is a significant positive correlation between the resilience of pediatric cancer patients and their mothers. Conclusions: As the study indicates that there is a definite relationship between the resilience of pediatric cancer patients and their mothers, it is vital to improve the condition of both the patient and his mother to augment the healing process.