This study aimed to examine the effects of parental parenting attitudes on suicidal ideation among out-of-school youth and to verify the mediating effect of emotional maladjustment in this process. By analyzing how positive and negative parenting atti...
This study aimed to examine the effects of parental parenting attitudes on suicidal ideation among out-of-school youth and to verify the mediating effect of emotional maladjustment in this process. By analyzing how positive and negative parenting attitudes perceived by the parents of out-of-school youth influence their children’s suicidal ideation, the study seeks to explore more appropriate approaches to parental parenting attitudes for this population. In addition, by examining whether emotional maladjustment among out-of-school youth plays a mediating role between these variables, this study aims to consider concrete interventions and forms of support necessary to alleviate suicidal ideation among out-of-school youth.
This study analyzed the research model using data from the 2021 Survey on the Mental Health of Adolescents conducted by the Korea Youth Policy Institute. A self-administered online survey was conducted between July and August 2021 with 752 out-of-school adolescents registered at 220 out-of-school youth support centers nationwide. Among them, a total of 210 adolescents who reported having suicidal ideation were selected for analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics 25.0 and Amos 21.0. To test the research hypotheses, reliability analysis, frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, Pearson correlation analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, measurement model analysis, structural model analysis, and bootstrapping were conducted.
The analysis results of the model showed that among the five paths specified as direct paths, three paths—excluding two—demonstrated statistically significant direct effects. Among the two paths specified as indirect paths, one path showed a statistically significant indirect effect. The major findings are as follows.
First, positive parental parenting attitudes perceived by out-of-school youth were found to have no direct effect on suicidal ideation or emotional maladjustment. Second, negative parental parenting attitudes perceived by out-of-school youth were found to have direct effects on both suicidal ideation and emotional maladjustment. Third, emotional maladjustment among out-of-school youth was confirmed to have a direct effect on suicidal ideation. Fourth, emotional maladjustment perceived by out-of-school youth did not mediate the effect of positive parental parenting attitudes on suicidal ideation. Fifth, emotional maladjustment was found to mediate the effect of negative parental parenting attitudes on suicidal ideation.
Based on ecological systems theory and escape theory, this study is meaningful in that it constructed relationships among various factors related to suicidal ideation among out-of-school youth and proposed a theoretical model. In addition, by presenting empirical evidence on emotional maladjustment based on parental parenting attitudes as an approach to alleviating suicidal ideation among out-of-school youth, this study adds significance by offering a meaningful perspective for supporting this population.
Based on these findings, policy and practice implications for social welfare practice are suggested as follows. As policy recommendations, first, considering that male out-of-school youth access support systems less frequently than female out-of-school youth, efforts are needed to strengthen accessibility through exploration of structural causes. Second, in order to strengthen policy-level interventions for the mental health of out-of-school youth, the government should support family therapy and individual counseling to help them develop the capacity to manage stress appropriately. Third, since parents are variables that significantly influence children’s overall mental health, a legal basis should be established to mandate the provision of family-based emotional programs at support institutions. Fourth, in addition to proactive approaches to suicide, research efforts should be strengthened to enhance the appropriateness of interventions. Fifth, out-of-school youth who already experience suicidal ideation should be supported in developing and discovering inner capacities to care for themselves in the aftermath.
As a practical implication, first, counseling and guidance should be provided to help out-of-school youth objectively understand their emotions and feelings, while more comprehensively considering parental intentions and situational contexts. Second, when family health among out-of-school youth is compromised, there is a possibility of inappropriate object relations due to negative relationships with caregivers; therefore, efforts should be made to build trust-based relationships and to form new and positive object relations. Third, parents of out-of-school youth, as well as the youth themselves, should be included within the scope of support. That is, emotional support should be provided with an attitude of empathy and respect for the difficulties and inner conflicts experienced by parents.
This study examined the effects of parental parenting attitudes as perceived by out-of-school youth. Caution is required, as these perceptions may differ from parents’ actual intentions, and further research is needed to examine the gap between adolescents’ perceptions and parents’ actual intentions. In addition, as the study was limited in that it did not include all the key variables suggested by ecological systems theory and escape theory adopted as theoretical perspectives, follow-up studies are needed to further test these theories. Moreover, if comparative studies are conducted between out-of-school youth with and without suicidal ideation, meaningful strategies for supporting out-of-school youth with suicidal ideation could be proposed. Finally, empirically verifying the theoretical discussion that emotional vulnerability among out-of-school youth reduces their capacity to accept positive stimulus would contribute to identifying factors that hinder growth and to eliminating such factors.