• Korean Journal of Rural Living Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.19-31
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• 1998

The purpose of this study is to examine the levels of maternal stress, social supports and child-rearing attitudes of the mothers of handicapped children by comparing those mothers of normal children. The subjects were 100 mothers of mentally handicapped children from elementary schools for handicapped children as well as 100 mothers of normal children from elementary schools in Pusan. The results are as follows : 1) The mothers of handicapped children showed significantly higher in maternal stress than the mothers of normal children. 2) For social support, the mothers of handicapped children recognized that they received significantly more insociable and emotional support than the mothers of normal children, but not in economic and service support. 3) For child-rearing attitudes, the mothers of handicapped children shelved significantly lower in lax attitude but not significantly different in affective, strict. punitive attitude than those of normal children. 4) For the mothers of handicapped children, they tend to be more affective and lax in child-rearing attitude when they receive more social support, while they tend to be more punitive when they have less sociable support.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.151-166
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• 1999

The purposes of this study were to measure the degree of perceived uncertainty, social support & powerlessness, to examine the relationship between the perceived uncertainty, social support & powerlessness and then to find the predictors of powerlessness in mother's of handicapped children. The subjects of this study consist of 102 mothers of handicapped children, registered at rehabilitation & handicapped children school. Data was collected from September 1998 to March 1999. The tools used in this study were Mishel's the Parents' Perception of Uncertainty Scale (28 item, 4 likert scale), Miller's Powerlessness measurement Scale(28 itewt 4 likert scale) & Cohen's Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (40 items, 4 likert scale). Data was analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Duncan comparison, Pearson Correlation coefficient & Stepwise multiple regression Results of this study are summarized as follows : 1. Mothers perceived their uncertainty to be slightly high(Mn 2.50). The degree of perceived uncertainty by the four components were followed as : lack of clarity(2.69), unpredictability(2.56), ambiguity(2.56) & lack of information(2.46). The degree of perceived uncertainty of the mothers of handicapped children revealed to be influenced significantly by age of children, admission experience, disability types of children. 2. The degree of mothers' powerlessness was measured to be slightly high(Mn 2.14). The degree of perceived powerlessness of the mothers with handicapped children revealed to be influenced significantly by age of children, duration of illness admission experience,8E marital status of the mothers. 3. Mothers perceived their social support to be slightly high(Mn 2.71). The degree of perceived social support revealed to be influenced significantly by sex of children, married state of mothers. 4. Mothers' uncertainty was related positively to the mothers' powerlessness(r=.33, p=.0008). And also mothers' powerlessness was related inversely to social support(r=-.50, p=.0001). But, mothers' uncertainty was not related to social support significantly. 5. To analyze the variables which affect powerlessness, stepwise regression was implemented. As a result, about 61% of the powerlessness were explained by social support, marital status of the mothers and perceived uncertainty. Based upon these results, it is recommended that the nurses, who are caring handicapped children and their families, provide various support programs for them to overcome their difficulties. Also programs which decrease the uncertainty & powerlessness used social support multidimensionally & individually are recommended to be developed.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.40 no.10
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• pp.191-200
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• 2002

The purpose of the study was to investigate parenting stress of mothers with handicapped children. The study employed an ecological model. Data were collected from 142 mothers of handicapped children enrolled in early childhood education classes at welfare facilities in Seoul, Korea. The main results of the study were as follows: 1. The parenting stress of subject mothers was at a severe level. 2. The hierarchical regression analysis yielded the results that mother's depression(β=.383, p<.001), the degree of child's handicap(β=.307, p<.001), child's age(β=.274, p<.01), and mother's participation at parent education program(β=.176, p<.05) were significant factors in explaining mothers' parenting stress. The research model explained 45% of variance.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.63-73
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• 1985

Ratio of physically and mentally handicapped people among the total population is about 3∼4%. Regardless of the extent of seriousness of handicaps, they have to sustain various difficulties in their life time and pose challenging problems to their homes, community and nation. In the spectrum of their problems, measures such as treatment, rehabilitation and welfare work all occupied important part but most significant measure is the prevention. Such handicaps items from health care of maternal and child, mostly causes throughout the process of pregnancy, delivery and upbringing. And then this study is focused on the pregnant history of the mothers with handicapped children. The objective of this study is to identify the basic factors which can create a handicapped child during pregnancy and is to prevent the birth of such a child. For this study, 301 mothers who have handicapped children were selected, now receiving various training at 5 rehabilitation and educational facilities. And questionnaires distributed to them during the period of Oct, 1983 to Dec, 14. The collected responses have been analized in terms of significant numbers, percentage and metic average. Their related results are as follows: 1. The sexual ratio between the male and female was 58.5% compare 41.5%. The average age of the handicapped children was 10.1 years old and that of mothers at the time of the children's birth was 28.9 old years. They were born as 2.14th in their family, the ratio of antenatal care for pregnant mothers was 36.2% and 22.9% were abnormally delivered. 37.9% out of the total were born from mothers with ages above 35 years and as their first baby. 2. The time of confirming the handicapped nature of children was during babyhood by 97.1% and discovery of these misfortunes were made by chance. As for causes of those-handicapped status 20.9% disease from complication, 15.3% from difficulties experience at the time of delivery, 11.3% from heredity and 10% were results of drug abuse during pregnancy, and 49.8% of the handicapped children were mentally retarded.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 2007

Objective : The purposes of this study were two-fold; First it investigated self-esteem, stress and coping behaviors of mothers with handicapped children as a function of their and their children's characteristics; Second it examined the relationship among these variables. Method : The subjects were 294 mothers of handicapped children who were receiving treatment in one of the sixteen special therapy institutions in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, and Gangwon-do. Rosenberg's(1965) Self-Esteem Scale translated by Jeon Byung-Jea(1974) was used to measure the degree of mothers' self-esteem. Mothers' stress was assessed using the Support Burden Scale revised by Seong Jong-sook(2000) and their coping behavior was examined using Folkman's(1986) Coping Scale translated by Jeon Sung-hye. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA and Pearson's Correlation. Result : The major results of this study were as follows; First, working mothers of handicapped children showed higher self-esteem and problem solving coping behavior more than non-working mothers. Self-esteem was found higher with high-income mothers than with low-income ones. Stress was shown more intense to low- and middle-income mothers than to high-income ones. Problem solving coping behavior was preferred more by high-and middle-income mothers than by low-income ones. Second, mothers with the mild-handicap children showed higher self-esteem than those with the first-degree handicap ones. Mothers of children with first-, second- and third-degree handicap perceived more stress than those with mild handicap. Coping behavior was significantly different depending on the severity of children's handicap, but no significant difference was found among the groups. Third, the higher the self-esteem of mothers was, the less they perceived stress and used more of problem solving coping behavior. When mothers perceived a great deal of stress, they used more of emotion-oriented coping behaviors.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.673-682
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between self-esteem and quality of life (QOL) and between coping type and quality of life (QOL) in mothers of handicapped children and (further to identify the level of self-esteem and quality of life of the subjects. The subjects of this study were the 51 mothers of handicapped children who were registered in two special schools in Taejon. The data were collected using a questionnaire and the period of the data collection was from April 18th to May 26th, 1997. The instruments for this study were Rosenberg's self-esteem scale, Folkman & Lazarus's Ways of Coping Checklist(WCC) and the quality of life scale designed by Ro, You Ja. The results were analyzed using SPSS/PC/sup +/. Data analysis included the descriptive correlational statistics of ANOVA. Pearson Correlational Coefficient, and t-test. The results are as follows : 1. The level of self-esteem showed a mean score 34.51 and the level of QOL, a mean score 137.55. An Active type of coping was used more of fen than a passive one. 2. The level of self-esteem differed according to monthly income and was significantly higher in mothers of children with acquired handicaps than those of children with congenital handicaps. The level of QOL differed according to monthly income. 3. There was a positive correlation between health status and self-esteem(r=.355, p<.05), and between health status and QOL(r=.367, p<.01). 4. Test for hypothesis ; Hypothesis 1, "The higher the level of self-esteem in mothers of handicapped children, the higher their level of quality of life will be. "was supported (r=.755, p<.001) Hypothesis 2, "The QOL level for the active coping group as compared to the passive coping group will be higher. " was not supported.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.439-452
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• 1997

Mothers of handicapped children experience many problems and difficulties related to the child's prolonged dependency and demands for special care. Social support can be identified as stress-relieving factor, social support is considered to decrease the amount of negativeness in an individual or family. This study attempted to identify the level of burden and social support in mothers of children who are handicapped, and to determine whether social support is an effective strategy for burden relief in these mothers. The method used in the study was a correlational descriptive survey using a questionnaire. The subjects for the study were 42 mothers who have the handicapped children, between two to twelve years of age, being treated at S General Welfare House for Handicapped and S Rehabilitation Center in Seoul. The data were collected during 1 month from March 20 to April 20, 1996. The instruments used for this study was a structured questionnaire which was the Burden scale developed by Suh Mihae and Oh Kasil(1993) and the PRQ(Personal Resource Questionnaire) scale developed by Brandt & Weinert(1981). The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS computer program, yielding frequencies, percentiles, means, standard deviations, $x^{2}$-test, Pearson's correlation coefficienct, t-test and ANOVA. The results of this study are as follows ; 1)The range of age in the subjects was $29{\sim}44$ years, the range age in the handicapped children was $2{\sim}12$ years. 2) The mean score of burden, for the mothers of the handicapped children was 2.75(standard deviation was 0.47) of a possible total of 5. 3) The mean score of social support, for the mothers of the handicapped children was 4.99 (standard deviation was 0.59) of a possible total of 7. 4) There was an negative correlations hip between burden level and the social support, but there was no statistically significant correlationship between burden level and the social support(r = -.2252, p = .076) 5) In the general characteristics influencing on the burden level was significantly related with the sex(t = - 2.87, p = .007) and the degree of child's handicap level(F = 11.8680, p = .000l). In the general characteristics influencing on the social support was significantly related with the family(husband) support(F = 3.5199, p = .0240). There were significant differences in the mother's levels of burden depending upon the severity of child's handicap. In other words, the degree of mother's burden was directly proportionate to the degree of child's handicap level. There were significant differences in the mother's levels of social support depending upon the family(husband) support. In conclusion, on the basis of the results of this study, there was no statistically significant correlationship between burden level and the social support. Above results suggest that strategies for the intervention programs in diminishing the mother's burden and reinforcing the social support.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.7-16
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• 1998

Various difficulties and inconveniences arise from having a mentally handicapped child in a family and these place many demands on mothers. There are few studies in Korea on these demands nor on what mothers go through with their mentally handicapped daughters' menarche and puberty. The purpose of the study was to examine the experiences of mothers of mentally handicapped daughters, as it relates to their daughters' menarche and the beginning of puberty. With indepth interviews, both in person and by telephone and participant observation the study used a qualitative research methodology to attempt to understand the experiences of these mothers. The data were gathered from October 1995 to April 1996. The subjects for the research included nine mothers of mentally handicapped daughters whose ages ranged from 12 to 18 and who attended one of three special schools located in either Inchon or Seoul. The data were recorded and analyzed : meaningful statements were grouped according to subjects raised by the mothers. Content Analysis was also applied to identify similar content and confirm common experiences. and to highlight concepts and categorized them. The results of this study are as follows. Five categories were identified : mothers' emotional responses to their mentally handicapped daughters' menarche and menstration were of severe despair accompanied by anxiety, guilt, fear, anguish, shame and pity because the mothers were afraid their daughters would not be able to use appropriate hygienic measures during menstration and the mothers felt heavily burdened in having to look them. The mothers also had negative feelings about their daughters' physical development. The experience of mothers related to their daughters' possibilities for marriage and pregnancy were of powerlessness, distress, withdrawal, fear. pity and desperation and they were afraid that their daughters might be violated sexually. The mothers rejected the possibility of marriage and pregnancy for their daughters and instead planned very restricting futures for them. The mothers used various coping methods to bring meaning to their lives. Because the negative emotional responses of the mothers. nurses need to work to empower mothers to overcome these negative responses. Sex education can also play an important role especially for the daughters especially through the use of visual aids. Further, nurses should understand the tearing difficulties of mentally handicapped daughters, what mothers need and also what they experience with their mentally handicapped daughters. In conclusion, nurses should understand the negative experiences of the mothers in relation to their mentally handicapped daughters' menarche, help the mothers cope with the negative. emotions through real life education and counselling. In addition, there is a need for nursing interventions and an administrative system which will minimize the prejudices of society towards handicapped people.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.100-112
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• 1999

Objective：In life-long disabilities like autism and mental retardation, the authors thought that it is important for clinician to consider the quality of life of a primary caregiver for long-term management and prognosis. This study was to investigate the factors of children and family environment affecting the quality of life and depression in mothers with autistic and/or mentally retarded children. Methods：41 autistic and/or mentally retarded children aged 5-12 years with their mothers were surveyed from September, 1998 to January, 1999, with K-CBCL, K-BDI, K-FES, and K-SBQOL scale and compared with data from 35 normal control subjects. Results：1) Total K-BDI and K-SBQOL scores of mothers with mentally handicapped children were significantly poorer than the scores of normal control group. Independence, intellectual/cultural orientation and active recreation subscales of K-FES in mentally handicapped children were significantly decreased than those in normal control group. 2) Total K-BDI score of mothers with mentally handicapped children was correlated with their children’s behavioral problems, especially internalizing and thought symptoms, and with family cohesion, expressiveness, conflict and independence. 3) Totol K-SB quality of life score of mothers with mentally handicapped children was correlated with their children’s behavioral problems, especially attention problem, and with family cohesion, conflict, independence, intellectual/cultural orientation, and moral-religional emphasis. 4) The quality of life of mothers with mentally handicapped children was predicted by attention problem($R^2$=.36, p=.000) and social competence($R^2$=.07, p=.038) in children and family cohesion ($R^2$=.16, p=.001). 5) Depression of mothers with mentally handicapped children was predicted by internalizing symptom ($R^2$=.21, p=.003) and thought disorder($R^2$=.06, p=.048) in children and family cohesion($R^2$=.14, p=.008). Conclusion：Reducing behavioral problems and family therapeutic intervention in autistic and mentally retarded children can improve the quality of life of primary caregivers and long-term prognosis of the children, although those are not curative.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.24 no.2 s.80
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• pp.149-163
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• 2006

The purposes of this study were to explore ecological variables that affect family functions and to analyze relative magnitudes of significant predictors. The study employed ecological model. Data were collected from 143 mothers of mildly handicapped children enrolled in integrated kindergartens in Seoul, Korea. The results of the study were as follows : 1. The level of family functions with mildly handicapped children were found to be moderate(M=3.21, SD=.49). 2. The hierarchical regression analysis yielded Model V as the most powerful model, explaining 79%$(Adjusted\;R^2=.787)$ of the variance. 3. The most powerful predictors throughout Model I to V were found to be maternal efficacy $({\beta}=.578,\;p<.001)$, maternal satisfaction with parent-education and counseling programs $({\beta}=.249,\;p<.001)$, husband's helps $({\beta}=.207,\;p<.01)$, and the availability of assistance other than family members $({\beta}=.232,\;p<.05)$ in the order.