This study aimed at suggesting welfare policies for grandparents raising grandchildren in rural areas. The study examined difficulties they faced in raising grandchildren and, based on that, analyzed their welfare demands.
The following research ques...
This study aimed at suggesting welfare policies for grandparents raising grandchildren in rural areas. The study examined difficulties they faced in raising grandchildren and, based on that, analyzed their welfare demands.
The following research questions were set in this study.
First, what are the reasons that grandparents in rural areas raise grandchildren instead of the children's parents? Second, what are the difficulties grandparents in rural areas face in raising grandchildren? Third, what are the areas that grandparents raising grandchildren in rural areas consider to need welfare benefits to reduce their problems? Fourth, what welfare policies can be used to support grandparents raising grandchildren in rural areas?
Qualitative research methods through interviews were used in this study. The subjects of this study included grandparents in 13 households in Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do who raised grandchildren aged below 12 years old.
The results were summarized as follows.
First, the general features of the grandparents raising grandchildren accessed in this study were examined. Their average age was 65.9 years. The majority of children they were raising were the children of their sons. They had been raising children for more than five years on the average.
Second, the most frequent reason that the grandparents raised grandchildren was the divorce of children's parents. Besides, children were left to be raised by their grandparents when their mothers ran away from home, when both parents worked full time, when parents were separated, and when they were born to single mothers. Not a single, but composite reasons played in the establishment of grandparent-grandchildren family.
Third, the examination of the difficulties the grandparents faced in raising grandchildren found that most of the grandparents were experiencing financial burdens. The costs of raising and educating grandchildren aggravated their financial situations. In addition, medical expenses and household debts also increased their financial difficulties.
Fourth, raising grandchildren aggravated the grandparents' burden of labor. Grandparents in the rural areas usually continue to do income-producing activities. Raising grandchildren made it difficult for them to concentrate on the activities. Besides, bringing up grandchildren doubled the domestic labor of the grandparents who did cooking and cleaning themselves. Furthermore, their role of academic assistant of their grandchildren and physical health problems aggravate their burden of labor.
Fifth, raising grandchildren aggravated the social burden of the grandparents in rural areas. Their social relationship was reduced due to a decline in the opportunity to strengthen their relationship with friends and neighbors, and friends' and neighbors' negative perceptions of them.
Sixth, the grandparents had sentimental burdens attributed to concerns over grandchildren, responsibility of discipling them, burden of carrying out the role of parents, differences between expectations and reality of raising grandchildren, resentment over the parents of grandchildren, and the damage of self-esteem.
The grandparents wanted welfare benefits in the following areas.
First, the grandparents raising grandchildren in rural areas demanded financial support. They wanted more opportunities for them to participate in economic activities. In addition, they demanded that financial support be provided to reduce their financial burdens such as living costs and educational costs. Furthermore, they wanted their housing environment repaired and altered by government money.
Second, the grandparents raising grandchildren demanded the provision of high quality education and educational facilities for their grandchildren.
Third, they wanted to get along with friends and neighbors, and demanded supports for them to participate in social activities through group meetings.
Fourth, the grandparents raising grandchildren needed sentimental support through the person who reduces their stress and listens to their stories.
Based on these results, the following suggestions were made for welfare policies for grandparents raising grandchildren.
First, in order to resolve financial problems of the grandparents raising grandchildren, selection criteria for recipients of national basic livelihood security needs to be amended and the grandparents should be granted more opportunities to participate in economic activities.
Second, the service hours of child care facilities should be extended and educational programs after school need to be enhanced.
Third, academic assistants should help grandchildren with studying and a group study program needs to be established and maintained in every Myeon district. In addition, the informationalization of education of children brought up by grandparents need to be facilitated.
Fourth, domestic assistants should relieve grandparents' burden of domestic labor.
Fifth, the provision of counseling and the maintenance of group meetings are suggested to reduce grandparents' sentimental and social burdens.
Sixth, a variety of programs need to be developed for grandparents raising grandchildren and children being brought up by grandparents.
Seventh, facilities like a Health Family Support Center should be established in every Gun to acquire information necessary for welfare benefits.