Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association 2012;50(3):1-14 http://dx.doi.org/10.6115/khea.2012.50.3.001 A Study of Depression in Children of Divorced Families: Focusing on the Comparison of Family Structures Department of Family Environment & Welfare, Chonnam National University Doctor : Seon Rye Ji Professor : Sook Lee Abstract This research focuses on the characteristics of children of divorced families, particularly their psychological adaptations. A questionnaire was given to elementary school-aged children(grades 3-6). 310 children from divorced families were surveyed. The major findings were as follows: first, there were no statistically significant differences between depression scores by family structure among these children. Second, the variables that affected depression among the divorced family children were relatively different. Third, through this comparison, this study examined the relative influence of variables that affected children s depression. This study proposes interventions to improve their psychological adaptation mechanisms. (children of divorced families), (depression) Corresponding Author : Sook Lee, Department of Family Environment & Welfare, Chonnam National University, 300 Yongbong-Dong, Buk-Gu, Gwangju, 500-757, Korea Tel: +82-62-530-1323 Fax: +82-62-530-1329 E-mail: sookleej@hanmail.net *. - 1 -
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Table 1. Sex among the children by family structure sex boy girl 50 95 single mother families (38.8%) (52.5%) 53 59 single father families (41.1%) (32.6%) Grandparent- Grandchildren families Total score 26 (20.2%) 129 (41.6%) 27 (14.9%) 181 (58.4%) Total score 145 (46.8%) 112 (36.1%) 53 (17.1%) 310 (100.0%) α - 4 -
α α α α α α χ Table 2. Difference of divorced variables among the children by family structure single mother families family structure single father families Grandparent- Grandchildren families meeting of noncustodial parent meeting telephone e-mail meeting no 26(28.3%) 11(12.0%) 55(59.8%) 26(29.9%) 10(11.5%) 51(58.6%) 9(31.0%) 3(10.3%) 17(58.6%) 61(29.3%) 24(11.5%) 123(59.1%) Total score 92(44.2%) 87(41.8%) 29(13.9%) 208(100%) transfer of school transfer no 81(76.4%) 73(74.5%) 29(82.9%) 183(76.6%) transfer 25(23.6%) 25(25.5%) 6(17.1%) 56(23.4%) Total score 106(44.4%) 98(41.0%) 35(14.6%) 239(100%) explanation for explanation no 58(63.0%) 56(65.1%) 24(80.0%) 138(66.3%) divorce explanation 34(37.0%) 30(34.9%) 6(20.0%) 70(33.7%) Total score 92(44.2%) 86(41.3%) 30(14.4%) 208(100%) Total score χ 2.14 1.01 3.01-5 -
Table 3. Difference of depression among the children by family structure N M SD F single mother families 145 29.83 7.32 single father families 112 29.77 7.18.59 grandparent-grandchildren families 153 31.04 8.82 Table 4. Correlation among variables of children of single mother families 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1. social support 1 2. economical level.15 1 3. parenting behaviors.45***.19* 1 4. interparental conflict.19*.24**.29*** 1 5. divorced perception.03.04.10.11 1 6. self control.26**.19*.41***.10.14 1 7. depression.43***.27**.45***.38***.39***.36*** 1 *p <.05 **p <.01 ***p <.001 Table 5. Correlation among variables of children of single father families 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1. social support 1 2. economical level.07 1 3. parenting behaviors.44***.06 1 4. interparental conflict.21*.10.35*** 1 5. divorced perception.21*.02.26**.22* 1 6. self control.19*.23*.20*.09.18 1 7. depression.33***.19*.51***.32**.30**.35*** 1 *p <.05 **p <.01 ***p <.001-6 -
Table 6. Correlation among variables of children of grandparent-grandchildren families 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1. social support 1 2. economical level.21 1 3. parenting behaviors.65***.27 1 4. interparental conflict.32*.26.55*** 1 5. divorced perception.41**.21.62***.76*** 1 6. self control.32*.25.48***.27.18 1 7. depression.51***.23.68***.55***.65***.40** 1 *p <.05 **p <.01 ***p <.001 β β β β β - 7 -
β β β β - 8 -
Table 7. The effects of variables on the depression of children of single mother families depression(single mother families) variables variables model model model model B β B β B β B β demographic sex.51.03.36.02 1.11.07.97.06 grade.47.08.20.03.41.07.47.08 environmental social support 0 0.61.33**.33.18.33.18* economical level 0 0 2.71.25** 2.23.21* 1.85.17* parental parenting behaviors.54.36***.37.25** child divorced perception 1.48.37*** self control 0 0 0 0 0 0.34.18* F.36 6.54*** 8.85*** 12.83*** R 2.01.20.30.47 Note. sex 0: boy 1: girl *p <.05. **p <.01 ***p <.001 R 2.01.19.10.17 D.W 2.12-9 -
Table 8. The effects of variables on the depression of children of single father families depression(single father families) variables variables model model model model B β B β B β B β sex 1.49.10.64.04.48.03.70.05 demographic grade.21.04.16.03.40.07.43.07 environmental social support economical level.52 1.81 1.31**.15.17 2.06.10.17.07 1.61.04.14 parental parenting behaviors.56.45***.49.40*** child divorced perception.68.17 self control.35.20* F.56 3.47* 7.07*** 6.85*** R 2.01.13.28.35 Note. sex 0: boy 1: girl *p <.05. **p <.01 ***p <.001 R 2.01.12.15.07 D.W 1.70 Table 9. The effects of related variables on the depression of children of divorced grandparent-grandchildren families depression(grandparent-grandchildren families) variables variables model model model model B β B β B β B β demographic sex 3.31.19.69.04 1.49.09 2.39.14 grade.71.09.67.08.42.05.24.03 environmental social support.95.52**.12.07.04.02 economical level 4.09.29 2.82.20 2.48.17 parental parenting behaviors.77.69***.72.65** child divorced perception 1.18.31* self control.50.19 F.73 4.70** 9.60*** 10.00*** R 2.04.37.61.71 R 2.04.33.24.10 D.W 1.55 Note. sex 0: boy 1: girl *p <.05. **p <.01 ***p <.001-10 -
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