• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1-26
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• 2018

This study examines 17 ex-offenders' wives who is receiving housing support from the Korea Rehabilitation Agency to understood the difficulties child-rearing experiences with the grounded theory. Based upon the research outcomes, supporting that needs for prisoners' wives who feel a huge burden on taking care of infants and preschool children by themselves was discussed. The prisoners' wives with children at school age and initial/middle adolescent need to get strong support due to not only the shock about husbands in prison but also the burden and stress that should follow the role as parents of students. Those late adolescent/adulthood who were supposed to follow their dreams, were required for their financial and emotional sacrifice. Result indicates children need to get support to form the right identity, not to get exhausted or shrink from being stigmatized and prejudiced as children of released prisoners.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.223-261
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• 2016

This study examines the experiences of 17 ex-offenders' wives who received housing support by the Korea Rehabilitation Agency using Strauss and Corbin's grounded theory. In open coding, 143 concepts, 43 subcategories, and 16 categories emerged from the data. In axial coding, the causal condition were 'ambivalence of wives who encounter the husbands' release from prison', 'anxiety about the husbands' release from prison and recidivism', and 'trials and tribulations of everyday life after husbands' release from prison'. Central phenomenon was 'precarious livelihood by concealment of imprisonment'. Strategies were 'compromise with reality' and 'support husbands to reentry to the society'. Consequence was 'thanks to life via adversity' and 'the road less traveled.' In process analysis, main theme was 'process towards family resiliency after get over the stigma and family conflicts', and five phases were derived from the data and in selective coding. Based upon the research outcomes, psychological experiences of ex-offenders' wives and the needs for ex-offenders' families resiliency was discussed.