The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of local children’s centers (after school programs) on social adjustment of children in low-income single-parent families. For the research of social adjustment, a survey was conducted through q...
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of local children’s centers (after school programs) on social adjustment of children in low-income single-parent families. For the research of social adjustment, a survey was conducted through questionnaires which consistedof four sub factors including self-conception, achievement motivation, study habits, and mental health.
Elementary school grade fourth- through sixth-grade children in low-income single-parent families residing in Daegu were divided into two groups, according to whether they made use of a local children’s center or not, participated in the survey. The period of time to collect data was October 1-15, 2007, and the data from a total of 157 children, including 72 children who made use of a local children’s center and 85 children who didn’t, were analyzed. Collected data was analyzed by the SPSS 10.0 statistical program, and descriptive statistic, independent sample, and One-way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) were used. The following summarizes the results of the study.
First, looking at the activities of children in the low-income single-parent families after school, over 62.3% children spent most of their time alone or with friends, and only 9.4% children had time with their parent. For answers to the question about which person you could request help from, 48.2% children answered "nobody" and 16.5% answered "parent".
Second, major activities which children in low-income single-parent familiesusually do after school were enjoying amusements and using PC rooms at a very high 81.5%.
Third, as for social adjustment of children in low-income single-parent families, while general environmental characteristics had no significance, dwelling form had an effect. Children living in a house on a deposit-money basis or their own single-family house were superior in social adjustment to the children living in a house with monthly rent or a permanently-leased house.
Fourth, in the survey investigating whether a local children’s center is a help to the children, 43 children out of 72 answered that it was helpful for preparing and reviewing their lessons, and 30 children out of 70 (41.7%) answered that they were pleased to have a place to study. Among other good points, they said that it was a good opportunity to make friends and raise confidence.
Fifth, compared to the children who made use of a local children’s center and otherwise among children in low-income single-parent families, the former were better than the latter in social adjustment.
Sixth, looking at social adjustment according to hours and times of use of a local children’s center, children who made use of a center three or fewer hours a day didn’t show a significant difference from children who didn’t use one, but children who made use of a center more than four hours a day showed high social adjustment. As to frequency to use a center, children who made use of it four times a week or everyday were superior to children who didn’t use it, but children who used it about three times a week didn’t show a significant difference.
Seventh, looking at social adjustment according to years to use a local children’s center and other sub factors, children who made use of it for over a year were superior to children who didn’t use it at all, but the difference according to years of use was insignificant. However, social adjustment level of children who had been using a local children’s center for three years was a little bitlower than the children who used it for one or two years.
On the basis of the results of the study, I would like to propose the following social welfare policy and initiatives for local children’s centers.
First, because of their given circumstances, most children in low-income single-parent families starve for the affection and protection of a parent and have been living alone. As stated above, the children who made use of a local children’s center were superior to the children who didn’t in social adjustment. Therefore, to improve children’s social adjustment, expansion of children’s centers which are available for use by children in low-income single-parent families after school and institutional arrangements to induce voluntary service organizations to collaborate for children’s active participation are required.
Second, to improve children’s social adjustment through local children centers, continuous participation and a long period of attendance are needed. Therefore, interesting and various programs to draw children’s spontaneous participation and an aggressive support policy for them are required.
Third, local children centers are places which emphasize self-controlrather than being controlled by others, which could make children feel they are a place where kids are left to themselves and, consequently, it could harm their social adjustment. Therefore, recognizing the anatomy of organizations, policy,and training for professional teachers who are in charge of local children’s centers, and program examination and supplementation for children are needed.
Fourth, compared to using local children’s centers four times a week, using one every day didn’t have a bettereffect on self-conception, achievement motivation, or mental health, except for study habits. The children’s family circumstances, which prevented making use of the center every day, were shown as the cause. Therefore, careful concern to consider their circumstances, special programs to help children to have more fun, especially on the fifth day at local centers, and greater efforts by center operators are required.