취약·위기가정 양육역량 지원 방안 연구(Ⅱ): 청소년부모 양육역량 지원 방안

Abstract

This study is the second installment in a five-year research series focusing on supporting parenting competence in vulnerable families. The target population for this research includes adolescent couples and single adolescent parents, encompassing individuals below the age of 24 who are raising young children. The objective of this study is to enhance the parenting competence of adolescent parents, addressing both internal and external dimensions, and to explore avenues for improving parenting support. The ultimate goal is to develop and disseminate a parenting guidebook specifically tailored for adolescent parents raising children. The research methodology encompasses literature review, surveys, in-depth interviews, expert consultations, expert advisory meetings, policy implementation workshops, development, and promotion of parenting guidebook, as well as policy seminars. A total of 285 adolescent parents (160 adolescent couples and 125 adolescent single parents raising children) participated in the survey to explore not only their experiences during pregnancy and the child-rearing period but also their policy demands. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 adolescent parents who have children (7 adolescent couples and 8 adolescent single parents). Adolescent parents faced economic burdens during pregnancy and reported a lack of support (10.2% to 18.6%). Postpartum depression was prevalent (84.4%), with 25.3% seeking counseling. Economic strain was highest during pregnancy and the child-rearing period, but parents generally assessed their parenting positively. Interactive competence was considered crucial for effective parenting. 70.9% of adolescent parents graduated high school; 30.9% were working. Monthly household income (excluding government support of overall adolescent parents) was around 1.52 million won, higher than for single parents (approximately 610,000 won) but lower than for couples (approximately 2.24 million won). Monthly government support of overall adolescent parents was approximately 800,000 won, higher for single parents (approximately 1.06 million won) than for couples (approximately 600,000 won). The top priority support for adolescent parents was childcare assistance (38.9%), followed by pregnancy and childbirth support (21.4%), family housing support (19.3%), and parental employment support (16.1%). According to the combined results of the top two preferences, childcare assistance (74.7%) and family housing support (53.0%) emerged as the most critical, followed by parental employment support (28.4%) and pregnancy and childbirth support (25.6%). Despite variations, it was evident that the foremost support desired by adolescent parents narrowed down to childcare assistance and family housing support. The parenting guidebook developed in this study for adolescent parents focuses on acquiring skills to manage their emotions and practicing healthy 'interaction' methods to maintain positive relationships with their children, spouses, parents and families of origin. While maintaining the format (e.g., overall title, design) of the parenting guidebook created for foster parents in the first year, the content has been tailored to reflect the characteristics of adolescent parents. The parenting guidebook for adolescent parents is structured into three main sections. Firstly, it provides ways for adolescent parents to understand and take care of themselves ('Self-Care'). Secondly, it offers guidance on how adolescent parents can engage in appropriate interactions with their children and provide the necessary care ('Child Care'). Thirdly, it provides methods for forming positive relationships with partners, spouses, parents and families of origin ('Relationship Care'). Based on the research findings, the suggested foundational direction for policies regarding adolescent parents includes the need for flexible and inclusive approaches that consider the diversity of adolescent parenting. To enhance the parenting competence of adolescent parents, it is crucial to establish a direction that provides support for adolescents (promoting independence) and support for parents (strengthening support during pregnancy and the early postpartum period), along with the establishment of a sustainable delivery system for integrated case management.