This work examined the mother's self differentiation as psycho-emotional factor giving influence on the children autonomy and mother-adolescent communication recognized on the part of adolescent. It also looked into how the channel effect of mother-ad...
This work examined the mother's self differentiation as psycho-emotional factor giving influence on the children autonomy and mother-adolescent communication recognized on the part of adolescent. It also looked into how the channel effect of mother-adolescent communication functions toward the mother's self differentiation level recognized by her adolescent and adolescent's autonomy. By doing this, the paper would aim at finding what maternal aspect could be improved in order to promote the adolescent's autonomy and approaching the orientation for parental education and children's consultation.
With a view to obtaining this goal, the following were examined to see if: first, any difference takes place in mother's differentiation, mother-adolescent communication, and emotional autonomy according to adolescent's general characteristics such as gender, grade, and score; second, what correlation might exist among the mother's self differentiation level sensed by her adolescent, the mother-children communication, and the emotional autonomy; third, what influence might be given to the mother-children communication level perceived by her children; fourth, what influence might occur to the adolescent children's emotional autonomy due to mother's differentiation level recognized by them; and fifth, what influence might be given to adolescent's autonomy by the mother's differentiation and mother-children communication perceived by adolescent.
For the research method, theoretical research was performed based on the domestic and foreign literature, journal, and dissertation, and the questionnaire survey was followed up for empirical study against 32 classes in middle and high schools in Seoul with a total of 899 subjects. Data analysis for the results was carried out by PASW18.0 program and other analyses were also done such as independent sample t-test, analysis of variance, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis.
In this analysis, the following results were summarized.
First, for the difference of level in mother's differentiation according to adolescent's general characteristics (gender, grade, score, and such), it showed by the gender that female students had the higher degree than the male students. Based on the grade, high school students indicated the higher degree than middle school students, and based on whether or not parents have an occupation, the parents with a job revealed the higher level than those without a job. In addition, the more the economic capability of parents, the higher the mother's differentiation.
Second, for the difference in mother-children communication, it turned out that the female students showed in more openly manner than the male students and that the high school students had a higher communicative level than the middle school students. When the parents had a high level of economic capability, the communication was practiced in more openly manner.
Third, as to the category about mother-children communication by mother's self differentiation level perceived by adolescent, the mother-children communicative level became high when mother's differentiation was high. The mother's self differentiation explained 22% in mother-children communication.
Fourth, for the mother's differentiation level recognized by adolescent that gives an influence on the adolescent children's emotional autonomy, the high autonomy level was also shown when the mother's self differentiation was high and its differentiation explained 10% in the autonomy level.
Fifth, for the mother-children communication influence recognized by children on the adolescent autonomy, it turned out that the adolescent autonomy level became high when the mother-children communication level was high and its communication was performed well in the open manner, accounting for 34% of explanation. This means that the virtual fostering quality provided by mother as a principal subject responsible for fostering is important (Nam Sangcheol and Yu Yeongdal, 2007). Mother's recognition of her adolescent child as an independent personality and exercise in an open manner in communicating are very significant elements for the purpose of autonomy improvement for the youth.
Sixth, in the correlation analysis of adolescent-recognized mother's differentiation, mother-adolescent communication, and emotional autonomy, the emotional response in mother's self differentiation indicated the positively significant emotional correlation for such categories as integration with others, emotional interruption, emotional integration, open communication, and problematic communication except for self-standpoint. As to self-standpoint, the positively significant correlation appeared among the relation of open communication, problematic communication, and adolescent autonomy. But in the relation of self-standpoint and emotional integration, the negative significance came up, from which it might be inferred that the emotional integration influential from others is one thing and the self-standpoint with independent attitude rationally is another.
Lastly, for the mother-children communication influence regarding the relation between adolescent-recognized mother's differentiation level and adolescent autonomy, any significant result was not indicated that the mother's differentiation gave influence on the adolescent's autonomy when the variable of mother-children communication was controlled, meaning that the mother-children communication was functioning as a complete medium in the relation of mother's differentiation and adolescent autonomy. Namely, it showed an important result that though high in the level of mother's differentiation and children's autonomy, the positive relationship could not be established unless there was an open communication. Also, in the case of high level of children's autonomy, the maternal influence from differentiation on mother's children could be realized also only when the communicative relation existed between these two parties.
Particularly, it was a meaningful result that the mother-children communication channel should be a must in such a correlation even though there was a positive relation between the mother's differentiation perceived on the part of adolescent and the adolescent's autonomy in this study performed furthered from the precedent works including the self differentiation and adolescent's self esteem, communications, delinquency, anxiety, and the like.
It is necessary to develop the accessible consultation framework and the promoting program for the juvenile autonomy, based on the findings from the analysis of parent-children differentiation and the types of communication. As the medium effect in communications was found to be the most important in the relation of parents-children as well as the significance of parent's self differentiation, the results suggest that application of such practical program and educational program as parental education training (PET) through which mutually accepted communications and open communication skill can be obtained and appropriate consultation skill are needed. This would be helpful for promotion of juvenile autonomy and improvement of integral personality.