• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.279-301
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• 2004

Relations of factors associated with burnout were investigated among 124 child protective service workers currently working in Korean Child Abuse Prevention Centers nationwide. Three categories of factors associated with burnout were examined; (1) individual characteristics, (2) job-related characteristics, and (3) job-satisfaction. Social survey method using questionnaires by mail was employed. MBI(Maslach Burnout Inventory) for measuring burnout, a part of Smith, Kendal & Hulin's JDI(Job Description Index) for job-satisfaction, and a scale measuring the special characteristics of job developed by researchers were used. Mann-Whitney test and Kruskal-Wallis test were employed to analyze the data. Across all burnout sub-scales(emotional depletion, dehumanization of clients, lack of feelings of achievement), subjects reported a high degree(above the cutting point) of burnout. Several factors were identified as associated with burnout. Child protective service workers who are young, single with front line worker status reported higher burnout. Lack of education and training before the job location were another factors which contributed to worker burnout. Lack of proper supervision stood out as another burnout provoking factor. Job-satisfaction was negatively correlated with all three burnout sub-scales, which meant the lower the job-satisfaction, the higher the burnout of service workers. The findings implicate that the administrators of Child Abuse Prevention Centers should pay close attention to their workers' sign of burnout and develop carefully designed support system which include provision of excellent supervision, proper education and training opportunities and organizational effort to strengthen employees' overall job-satisfaction to secure their quality of services toward abused children and their family.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.249-273
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• 2012

Certain professionals face repeated exposure to traumatic events throughout their career. Although typically linked to pathological outcomes, research has identified sustained positive benefits and posttraumatic growth (PTG) as consistent posttrauma outcomes in occupational exposed to trauma. This study investigated the association of occupation, subjective psychological distress to a traumatic event, and demographic characteristics with posttraumatic growth in emergency workers (firefighters, rescue, and ambulance personnel), subway operators, and child protective service workers. The study led to the following conclusions: First, all three groups are risk groups of PTSD, especially, subway operators demonstrated the highest degree. Child protective service workers demonstrated the highest degree of PTG and emergency workers and subway operators followed respectively. Second, vicarious trauma and PTG were significantly correlated, in particular, invasion and avoidance were more highly correlated. Third, multivariate analysis revealed that occupation, invasion, avoidance, religion, and sex were significantly associated with PTG. Discussion addresses the need to serve mental health service and to apply concept of PTG for occupations exposed to trauma.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.221-249
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• 2018

This study examined the co-occurrence of child maltreatment and domestic violence in South Korea, using the administrative data from Korean Child Protection Services. Existing literature showed that the co-occurrence rate was high and that the co-occurrence was important in prevention and intervention for child maltreatment. However, few studies have investigated the co-occurrence of child maltreament and domestic violence in South Korea. None of the studies have examined the co-occurrence from the perspective of child protective services. This study analyzed the rate of co-occurrence among abusive families involved with Korean Child Protective Services and examined the relationship between domestic violence and child maltreatment. Results showed that 21.4% of the abusive families had also experienced domestic violence. Various characteristics(i.e., detailed abuse characteristics, psychosocial characteristics of perpetrators) differed between co-occurrence families and maltreatment-only families. Domestic violence was a significant predictor of child maltreatment, but the detailed relationships differed according subtypes of maltreatment. Based on the results, implications for theory and service integration between services for domestic violence victims and child protective services were discussed.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.127-156
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• 2008

This study aimed to verify the mediating effects of cognitive function and social support and to establish a structural relationship between child maltreatment and resilience in school-age children (n=357) taken in by child protection service. In the first model (linear arrangement), each protective factor mediates independently between maltreatment and resilience; in the second model (arrangement in due order), cognitive function has mediating effects prior to social support. Analysis of data included descriptive statistics, Cronbach's a, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling. Results of the first model showed indirect effects of cognitive function and social support. Results of the second model significantly affirmed that the mediators, cognitive function and social support, diminish negative effects of maltreatment by bolstering resilience.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.358-368
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• 2013

Background: There are some data to support the theory of a protective effect of parenthood against suicide, as proposed by Durkheim in 1897. We conducted this study to examine the relationship between children characteristics and suicidal ideation among Korean married women. Methods: The data were obtained from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys IV, conducted in 2007-2009, respectively (3,202 married women aged 20-49 years). The children characteristics are the age of the youngest child and the number of children living with subject. Data were analyzed by using logistic regression with SAS 9.2. Results: The risk for suicidal ideation was higher among married women having a young child (aged <7 years). It had strong effect on suicidal ideation in non-employee subjects. The odds ratio for suicidal ideation of women having a youngest child aged 2-3 years compared with reference groups was 1.673 with statistical significance. But the association of suicidal ideation with number of children shows insignificant. Conslusion: The findings suggest a different result with the theory, the protective effect of being a parent of young child on suicide risk for women, first suggested by Durkheim and supported by previous studies and the need for further prospective investigation that lead to policies according children characteristics aimed at improving married women's life.

• Korean Journal of Family Social Work
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• no.54
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• pp.225-262
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• 2016

This article reports on the analysis of the patterns and frequency of recurrences of substantiated instances of maltreatment in the Child Protective System (CPS). The data was collected from 2012 to 2014 by the CPS. Five-thousand-five-hundred-forty-two cases were substantiated in 2012 and then 323 cases were exposed recurrence during that time. Most recurrence families experienced only one recurrence. Results from survival analyses instances indicated that risk of recurrence was greatest during the first one month following a report. The prior CPS report, multiple type of abuse, physical abuse, and services type was linked the pattern of recurrence of maltreatment. Also, victim's age and the number of problematic behavior, perpetrator's stress and social isolation, intra family member as perpetrator, prior CPS report, and the number of reports was linked recurrence.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.88-99
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• 2019

Objectives: With increasing concerns for the rapidly growing minority population in South Korea, this literature review addressed a range of mental health risks among multiethnic youths (MY) in South Korea by 1) comparing mental health outcomes with those of native-born youths and 2) identifying multiple layers of relevant environmental factors, from family and school relationships to culture. Methods: We reviewed 54 studies that fulfilled specific inclusion criteria. Results: Multiple common risk/protective factors, including family separation, family relationship quality, parental socioeconomic and mental health status, social relationships at school, and cultural acceptance, were noted. Conclusion: In general, empirical evidence indicates that minority youths have relatively heightened risks for emotional and behavioral problems. Future studies must elucidate the complex interplay between multiple risk and protective factors and the long-term adaptation and mental health service utilization of MY.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.167-195
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to suggest the revision direction of the Korean Child Welfare Law based on the results of the comparative analysis on the Korean Child Welfare Law and the Japanese Child Welfare Law. The main results are: Both laws have only two provisions about children's participation right. The child protective system in Japan secures the swiftness of within-two-months period of temporary protection through the child consulting center, the investigation right by the child welfare worker, publicity, enforcement on the parents' rights, and the network with the nearest child supporting center. Furthermore, those provisions with the notifying obligation by a finder of the child who needs protection and the limit of protection period are guaranteed in order to ensure the effectiveness of law enforcement. However, Korean child protective system functions only as pre-substitutive service. While the provisions for the disability children account for 21.2% of the total Japanese law, there is no provision on that in the Korean law. The Japanese law is substantially different from the Korean law in a sense that it obligates the minimum quality criteria of child service and national financial burden on the child welfare. While the Japanese law clearly stipulates the national responsibility in relation to the degree of the rights, the Korean law does not directly touch upon it. Furthermore, the Japan's law guarantees that not only children but also protectors retain the right to choose and apply for services.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.356-369
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• 2024

Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore healthcare providers' experiences in managing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its impact on healthcare services. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted with 34 healthcare professionals across 15 districts in Bangladesh. Among the participants, 24 were health managers or administrators stationed at the district or upazila (sub-district) level, and 10 were clinicians providing care to patients with COVID-19. The telephone interviews were conducted in Bangla, audio-recorded, transcribed, and then translated into English. Data were analyzed thematically. Results: Most interviewees identified a range of issues within the health system. These included unpreparedness, challenges in segregating COVID-19 patients, maintaining isolation and home quarantine, a scarcity of intensive care unit beds, and ensuring continuity of service for non-COVID-19 patients. The limited availability of personal protective equipment, a shortage of human resources, and logistical challenges, such as obtaining COVID-19 tests, were frequently cited as barriers to managing the pandemic. Additionally, changes in the behavior of health service seekers, particularly increased aggression, were reported. The primary motivating factor for healthcare providers was the willingness to continue providing health services, rather than financial incentives. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic presented a unique set of challenges for health systems, while also providing valuable lessons in managing a public health crisis. To effectively address future health crises, it is crucial to resolve a myriad of issues within the health system, including the inequitable distribution of human resources and logistical challenges.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.53-76
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• 2008

The aim of this study is to understand the ethical struggles of Child Protective Service(CPS) social workers and to indicate some implications for future studies by conducting research focusing on their ethical dilemmas and decision-making. This study used qualitative methods, in particular the phenomenological approach and 14 in-depth semi-structured interviews with CPS social workers, and were conducted and analyzed using the procedures of Colaizzi(1978). This study looks at the following research questions: 1) What kind of ethical dilemmas do CPS social workers encounter? This means what ethical dilemmas do they directly or indirectly encounter because of policy or system inadequacies and huge caseloads. 2) How do the CPS social workers make decisions when they are faced with ethical dilemmas? Making the best decisions with all of their responsibilities and burdens is the focus of this question. This study suggests the following discussions: First, efforts to emphasize 'ethics' at CPS are needed. Second, proper policies and systems based on the Korean situation are needed so that CPS social workers won't have to face 'needless' ethical dilemmas. Third, an index of ethical problems or ethical codes is necessary because principles are important to those social workers who face ethical dilemmas. Fourth, an ethical committee that protects the CPS social workers by supporting their decisions and being responsible for them is needed. Last, a debriefing system that reduces a CPS social worker's psychological trauma caused by ethical dilemmas should be available.