Earticle

The purposes of this study were to find the correlation between daily life conflicts, depression, social support, family resilience and marital happiness, and to explore the mediating role of family resilience between daily life conflicts, depression and marital happiness. The subjects of the survey were 184 intermarried Korean men. The data were analyzed with frequency, Pearson's correlation and structural equation modeling by SPSS and AMOS. The instruments included Jang (2007)'s Daily Life Conflict, Shin (2001)'s Mental Health Scale, Yu (2004)'s Family Health Scale, and Natham et al. (1973)'s Marital Happiness Scale. The major findings were as follows: Daily life conflicts and depression were negatively correlated with family resilience and marital happiness. Family resilience was positively correlated with marital happiness. Family resilience mediated the effects of daily life conflicts, depression and marital happiness. Daily life conflicts and depression influenced family resilience. In conclusion, in order to build family resilience it is important to intervene in intermarried Korean men's marital happiness through special education programs and counseling

The purpose of this study is to propose the direction of environmental education for early childhood children based on the environment-friendly life style and to improve the possibility of application of it at home and kindergarten. This study reviewed reflectively the early studies on the concepts of ecocentrism, the emerging process of it, the importance of environmental education for early childhood children based on the ecocentrism, and the practice of these kinds of education at home and kindergarten. The main concepts connected to the environment-friendly life style based on ecocentrism, that is, 'preservation of nature', 'interdepentence', 'wholeness', 'equilibrium' are the foundations of environmental education for early childhood children. When these kinds of concepts are considered, the aims of environmental education for early childhood children should be focused on the life style that attaches great importance to the symbiosis of human being and nature. The educational contents and methods in harmony with ecocentrism are as follows: The educational methods should be connected to the education based on ordinariness, the learning through adults' model, the family-community-centered activities, and ways of thinking of the unity of knowledge and conduct. And educational contents should include all of the life styles in clothes, food, and shelter. And the educational methods also should be connected to the education through joint working of children and teacher, play-centered education, activities considering ages and individual variations, and education connected home. And educational contents should include many different kinds of activities of experiencing nature outside home and kindergarten.

Recently, Korean baby boomers, which make up approximately 15% of the total population, have begun to retire. Their economic well being is one of Korea’s most important social issues. The purpose of this study was to compare the economic structure of baby boomers’ households with that of the prior generation, as well as to analyze the determinants of economic satisfaction from the perspective of "work" and "child educational burden." In addition, group comparisons were made regarding economic resource allocation between baby boomers and the prior generation and within baby boomers of different work and child educational burden statuses. Data from the 2nd wave of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA), including baby boomers and the generation prior to the baby boomers, were used. The major findings were as follows. First, the baby boomers had a different economic structure, level of economic satisfaction, and economic resource allocation when compared to the prior generation. The economic structure of baby boomers in terms of income, expenditure, savings and assets, debts, and trust in policies significantly differed from their counterparts. Second, the determinants of economic satisfaction and the propensity of resource allocation were different depending on whether they worked or had a child educational burden, respectively. Based on these empirical results, policy implications for the future economic well being of baby boomers were provided.

Baby boomers are often defined by their support of their parents and their devotion to their children’s educational success by providing financial and emotional aids. Now, 7.12 million baby boomers in South Korea are retiring, or are about to retire, without any retirement plans. Similar to financial stability, health, and leisure life, social capital is another important element in the quality life after retirement. This is because social capital can function as a potential resource network. Social capital is a source that provides money, information, goods, services, emotional aids, social relational opportunities etc. In the past, family and community provided social capital for the aged. However, the baby boomer generation cannot expect the same. The baby boomers have the task of creating new social capital that can assure their quality of life. Therefore, this study examines cohort characteristics of the baby boomer generation and, based on the examination, seeks an alternative for social capital. The results are as follows: First, social capital from the local community can be an alternative source of caring for the baby boomers in old age. Second, among the social capital of the local community, elderly care supported by a family friendly community is proposed. In addition, baby boomers must become the primary social capital that contributes to a mature civil society rather than a beneficiary of welfare for the aged.

This study aims to identify the propensity to consume and housing characteristics according to life cycle as the main independent variable. It also tries to understand the consumption power and housing style of each cycle and analyze whether there are differences between each life cycle, ultimately aiming to match the propensity to consume and housing style with each cycle. For empirical analysis, on and off-line surveys of 488 people were collected and analyzed by cross analysis, factor analysis and analysis of variance. The prime research findings are as follows: First of all, factor analysis on propensity to consume showed four main sub-factors as rational consumption, conspicuous consumption, trend consumption, and status consumption. Secondly, current and preferred housing styles ranked from modern, natural, casual, classic and romantic, which proved that people are currently housed in preferred housing styles. Thirdly, in case of housing-related characteristics of life cycles, the size of the house increased as the levels progressed, and then decreased at level 6 when the children grew into adulthood. The majority of the population was paying a monthly rent, a few were leasing, and a very few owned their housing. 58% were living in apartments, but in levels 1-2, more were living in row houses and high-rise residential buildings, while in level 6 it was detached houses. Fourthly, the propensity to consume according to life cycle tended to shift from conspicuous and trend-based consumption to rational consumption as the cycles progressed. Fifthly, the preferred housing styles were modern and natural styles, regardless of life cycle. These study results can be applied to product development and marketing activities based on their accurate analysis of customers' needs, which can thus bring further customer satisfaction.

This paper used data which consisted of 109 female managers who married and 109 female managers who gave birth over a 2-year period (2008-2010) by 'KWMP: Korean Women Manager Panel' from Korean Women’s Development Institute (KWDI). The results of this empirical study exhibit that 1) female managers’ marriages and childbirth did not have significant effects on job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and plans to leave. 2) Female managers’ marriages also did not have significant effects on life satisfaction, however, their childbirth did (t=2.49, df=108, p<.014). We used to believe that female managers’ marriages and childbirth could disturb their work. However, this study disproved the previous stereotype that female managers’ marriages and childbirth would have negative effects on job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and plans to leave. The results of this study will provide useful information to human resource departments or female rights and interests organizations.

The main objective of this study was to investigate how people prepare for old age by looking at financial statements from single-person households in Gyeonggi province; the policy implications regarding low fertility and population aging are considered. The subjects were members of 600 households who were aged 26 to 44 years old and not married. The data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, and dichotomous logistic regression using SPSS WIN 12.0. Respondents pointed out that financial problems are the greatest challenges for those facing old age in single-person households; they said that a stable job is the most important factor for secure living. About 57% of household residents responded that they have prepared for retirement, and a majority of them said they hoped to spend their elderly years with a marriage partner. The financial statements from single-person households were inferior to those from other types of households. The assets of single-person household members were less than those of other households. Only 10.5% of respondents have owned homes. The study discusses policy implications for those who want marriage and for those who don't want it. For those who want marriage, job-seeking support was proposed, and for the others, tax deductions and family programs for single-person households were proposed.

The purpose of this study is to find out marital conflicts and coping strategies among married female immigrants and Korean men in multicultural families. The data were collected by in‐depth interviews with 12 female immigrants and 5 Korean men. The major findings of this study are as follows: Female participants suffered from marital conflicts with their spouses, conflicts with mothers‐in‐law, stereotyped gender roles as a wife and a daughter‐in‐law, economic conflicts, and cultural differences between Korea and their country. In addition, male participants reported conflicts from economic support for their wife’s family, gender role differences, and cultural differences. Coping strategies used to deal with the conflicts, such as mutual dedication and understanding their spouse’s stance, and developing a compromise for the family’s happiness were mentioned. A personal positive nature and attitude helped them to meet the marital conflicts. Supports from their husband, parents‐in‐law, and society also helped female immigrants to adapt to cultural differences. However, some of them used negative coping strategies which did not reduce conflicts, and resulted in separation and divorce. The coping strategies to deal with the conflicts depended on the participants’ personal ability. While female participants who had English language skills took advantage to adapt to Korean society, those who did not have any other natural abilities could develop a definite position in their family and society with their diligence and positive attitude. The results showed that female participants who were supported by their family and society tended to cope successfully with conflicts and also showed that multicultural families’ marital adjustment was maintained with their efforts as well as by relationships with their relatives and society.

Women's education activity(yejeol)has seen changes and improvements, as Korean society has evolved overtime. Women have been actively addressing contemporary demands by contributing to the establishment of today's women-centered education environment. As a result of this study, the characteristics of yejeol can be summarized as follows: First, yejeol was mainly driven by women wanting to participate in social and volunteer activities, asameans of self-improvement. Second, as field of service, yejeol has become more lucrative ; increasing numbers of young women are participating in the yejeol service industry. Third, yejeol is taking place nationwide. Women are constantly making efforts to acquire expertise by participating in yejeol instructor training programs and obtaining licenses. Fourth, the writing of yejeol books by women scholars has improved the yejeol environment. Further improvements to yejeol in Korea can only be achieved through an in-depth and critical study of its origins, current state, and future direction(s).

Studies of leisure time generally have been concentrated on the amount of time spent by each family member in Korea. In this study, the shared leisure time among family members in various leisure activities was mainly investigated. Purposes of this study were to describe how family members spent the leisure time together and to investigate the determinants that affected whether or not family shared leisure time together. The data source was the ‘2009 Time Use Survey’ conducted by the Korea National Statistical Office. The person involved in each activity was surveyed for the first time in the survey. The data from 17,470 diaries(10,359 weekdays and 3,549 Sunday) from 8,745 individuals aged from 20 to 59 who had a spouse were analyzed. The descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were used. On average, married couples spent leisure time together with spouses 36 minutes a day on weekdays and 1 hour and 38 minutes on Sunday, respectively. Parent did with preschool children 5 minutes a day on weekdays and 15 minutes on Sunday, respectively. The shared leisure time with other family and relatives was 22 minutes a day on weekdays and 1 hour and 13 minutes on Sunday, respectively. Although there was a wide variation on the shared family leisure time by the types of activities, the main shared leisure activity was using mass media, which accounts for about two third of all shared leisure time together with family. Independent variables, including the age, sex, education level, working hours, personal income, presence of preschool children, marital status, sex role attitude, and dual or single income earner were the significant determinants of family’s or couple’s parent-preschool children’s shared leisure time on weekdays or Sunday. Based on the results of this study, family and leisure policy were suggested to increase active family shared leisure time.