This study aimed to explore the psychological and emotional distress experienced by mothers of adolescents who have been victims of school violence, their efforts to resolve these issues, and the processes of change and recovery they undergo. Data col...
This study aimed to explore the psychological and emotional distress experienced by mothers of adolescents who have been victims of school violence, their efforts to resolve these issues, and the processes of change and recovery they undergo. Data collection for this study was conducted from July 2024 to February 2025 through in-depth interviews with three research participants who had experienced their children's school violence incidents, during which they shared their life stories and recounted their experiences. Data analysis involved repeatedly reading the interview transcripts and organizing the field texts with a three-dimensional narrative exploration model of temporality, place, and sociality in mind. Specifically, the experiences were organized chronologically with reference to their temporality, place, and related characters, and the narrative structure was connected by identifying the spatial context.
The research questions are as follows. First, what was the life of mothers of adolescents who were victims of school violence like before their children experienced school violence? Second, what did mothers of adolescents who were victims of school violence experience during the process of resolving the school violence incident? Third, what kind of life are mothers of adolescents who were victims of school violence living after their children experienced school violence? Fourth, what is the meaning of life for mothers of adolescents who have been victims of school violence?
The meaning of life that emerged from the life experiences of research participants who lived with their children who were victims of school violence is as follows: first, finding new meaning in the midst of suffering; second, moving forward toward growth despite the circumstances; third, supportive resources that served as pillars of strength; fourth, the strength to live again; and fifth, the family as a crucible of healing and growth.
The analysis results of this study confirmed that school violence victimization causes psychological and physical trauma not only to children but also to mothers, and that the pain is exacerbated by the school system's inadequate response and secondary victimization. However, the study participants achieved post-traumatic growth despite these difficulties. They experienced changes in self-awareness, interpersonal relationships, and worldview, positively transforming their parenting attitudes and contributing to the restoration of family relationships. Furthermore, they showed a practical willingness to help others who are experiencing similar pain.
The significance of this study is as follows. First, it is significant in that it deeply examined the impact of school violence on not only children but also mothers' lives, highlighting that mothers are also major victims and play a key role in the recovery process. Second, it presented empirical evidence of post-traumatic growth achieved through suffering by sharing the vivid experiences of mothers who have been victims of school violence. Third, based on the experiences of mothers who have suffered from school violence, it suggests the need for practical intervention measures such as the practice of restorative justice, the establishment of a family-based support system, and changes in the counseling field.
In terms of counseling recommendations, it suggests the establishment of an integrated support system for families who have suffered from school violence, specialized education and strengthened ethical supervision for professionals involved in school violence cases, promoting genuine apologies and accountability from perpetrators and their families through restorative justice practices, developing programs to support post-traumatic growth for families of victimized students, refining customized policies tailored to school characteristics, strengthening parent education for school violence prevention, and expanding psychological and emotional support for victimized families along with establishing an active promotional system.