Effects of Parenting Stress in North Korean Refugee Fathers on Their Parenting Behavior

Abstract

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to identify effects of parenting stress in North Korean refugee fathers on their parenting behavior. Methods: A descriptive study design was used. Data were collected during 2014 and 2015 in a settlement support center for North Korean refugees and 99 North Korean refugee fathers participated. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0. Results: Warmth ․ encouragement parenting behavior received the highest score. The score for parenting stress was 81.98 out of 180, and 32.3% of participants were found to need professional help ( ≥ PSI 90). There were significant negative correlations between warmth ․ encouragement parenting behavior and parenting stress. There were also significant positive correlations between rejection ․ neglect parenting behavior and parenting stress. Predictors of warmth ․ encouragement behavior were parent-child dysfunctional interaction which explained 10.1% of the variance. Predictors of rejection ․ neglect behavior were parent-child dysfunctional interaction, number of children and wife's education level which explained 33.4% of the variance. Conclusion: Findings show that North Korean refugee fathers' parenting stress significantly influenced warmth ․ encouragement and rejection ․ neglect parenting behavior indicating a need to identify ways to decrease parenting stress. Parenting education can guide North Korean refugee fathers to strengthen parent-child positive interactions and therefore promote their children's growth and development.

Influence of parenting efficacy, parenting stress, and acculturation stress on parent-child relations among North Korean refugee mothers

“…In recent years, crimes against humanity-including violence against and abuse of children-have become an increasingly important social issue, and proper parenting education is becoming increasingly necessary due to the behaviors and attitudes of parents who are unable to distinguish between violence and discipline and believe that children are their possessions [1]. It is important to establish a desirable parental view on social issues such as child abuse that are frequently reported by the media.…”

“…North Korean refugee families experience psychological and economic burdens related to their family members left behind in North Korea, a lack of understanding and low intimacy in parent-child relations, economic difficulties and unstable jobs, stress in adapting to their life in South Korea, and traumas from their journey of defection [4]. In particular, the rise in the number of North Korean family refugees has increased the social interest in the nurturing and development of children [1,4,5].…”

“…In particular, low-income families show a relatively high level of parenting stress due to insufficient social support and their low economic level, and as economic stress increases, children are also more likely to be exposed to negative and poor parenting conditions [10]. Therefore, considering the economic level of vulnerable North Korean refugee families [1], the parenting stress levels of North Korean refugees may be high.…”

Structural Equation Model for Psychosocial Adjustment in North Korean Adolescent Refugees

“…Thus, there is a need for a democratic, warm, peaceful and positive attitude-not neglect, inconsistency, or abuse, as supported by the results research that confirms that attitude of parenting has a critical effect on the psychosocial development of children. In a study by Lee and Jeon [7], many fathers among North Korean refugees displayed a positive attitude of parenting, such as affection and encouragement, though over 30% of subjects needed clinical help due to high parenting stress. Since the attitude of parenting perceived by children can be different from the actual attitude of parenting, it is important how children perceive different experiences [6].…”

“…The attitudes of parenting of North Korean parent refugees that was formed due to various social and cultural experiences during their stay in China or a third country is also likely to be transferred to children, or at least shared with them. As the socioeconomic stress they have experienced is also expected to negatively affect the attitude of parenting [7], there is a need to identify the association between the psychosocial adjustment of North Korean adolescent refugees and their parents' attitude of parenting.…”