이금희, et al. J Korean Acad Nurs. 2020 Jun;50(3):349-368. https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.19186

Background: As smart device overdependence among preschoolers could adversely affect their overall development, it is essential to understand the related factors of such overdependence. Mothers have a large influence on preschoolers; however,, the relationship between mothers’ emotional intelligence, negative parenting behaviour, preschoolers’ attachment instability, and smart device overdependence remain unclear. This study aims to develop and test a structural model to explain smart device overdependence among preschoolers. Methods: The study collects and analyses data from January to May 2021 from 283 mothers raising children aged 3–6 years in South Korea. Questionnaires regarding mothers’ emotional intelligence and negative parenting behaviour, as well as preschoolers’ attachment instability and smart device overdependence, were used to collect data. The data were analysed by SPSS23.0 and AMOS 23.0 software and a structural equation model was constructed; p ≤ 0.05 was taken as significant. Results: Mothers’ emotional intelligence had a direct negative relationship with mothers’ negative parenting behaviour (β = − 0.44) and an indirect negative relationship with preschoolers’ attachment instability (β = − 0.25) and preschoolers’ smart device overdependence (β = − 0.24). Mothers’ negative parenting behaviour had a direct positive relationship with preschoolers’ attachment instability (β = 0.56) and both direct and indirect positive relationships with preschoolers’ smart device overdependence (β = 0.55). Preschoolers’ attachment instability had a direct positive relationship with preschoolers’s smart device overdependence (β = 0.46). Conclusions: Mothers’ emotional intelligence, negative parenting behaviour, and preschoolers’ attachment instability are associated with preschoolers’ vulnerability to smart device overdependence. These results are shown that more attention is needed to these variables in order to reduce preschoolers’ overdependence on smart devices. Additionally, we propose to develop and provide interventions based on these results.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the structure of variables in studies related to unmarried mothers (UMs) based on Neuman's systems model, and the stressors and stress responses of UMs. Methods: Whittemore and Knafl's methodology for integrative reviews was applied. The literature was searched using five electronic databases (KISS, KMbase, KoreaMed, NDSL, and RISS) and a total of 99 variables were collected from 15 studies published between 2009 and 2019. Results: The main stressors for UMs were a sense of loss and burden caused by childbirth and childrearing. The main stress responses were parenting stress and depression, respectively. Within the basic structure of variables related to UMs, self-esteem played a crucial role by helping UMs adapt to their situation. Meanwhile, social support of UMs was significantly correlated with parenting stress, depression, and self-esteem. Conclusion: In order to understand UMs' stress, is necessary to explore their sense of loss, burden, and self-esteem. Furthermore, it is important to assess the level of parenting stress and depression of UMs and to provide effective interventions to alleviate these stressors. The results of this study provide useful knowledge that can be applied to nursing assessment and interventions for stress management in UMs.

Lee G, et al. J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs. 2019 Mar;28(1):64-78. https://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2019.28.1.64

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze current research trends on parenting stress of unmarried mothers in Korea and explore the related concepts. Methods: For searching the literature, KMbase, Korea Med, RISS, NDSL was used. Fourteen studies from 2009 to 2019 were selected, and National Institute of Health (NIH) Study Quality Assessment Tool (SQAT) was applied. Results: Among the 14 studies, most frequently used study design was correlational study (64.3%), and majority of the study (78.6%) was conducted in the field of social welfare. Only one study was found in the nursing journal. Related concepts can be categorized as individual (cognitive, emotional, and behavioral) factors, and social/environmental factors. Among these, self-esteem, parenting self-efficacy, and health perception in cognitive concept domain, depression in emotional concept domain, parenting behavior in behavioral domain, and lastly, social and interpersonal support were studied as related factors with parenting stress. Overall parenting stress level was higher than moderate, and it was positively related to depression, and negatively related to health perception and social support. Various study tools were used even the original foreign tool was the same, thereby comparisons among studies were difficult. Conclusions: Future studies are suggested to explore unmarried mother’s physical health problems as well as emotional problems, and to develop reliable measurement tools which can be used in Korean situation. Also, various nursing intervention programs for health promotion and child rearing competence for unmarried mothers should be developed.

Smart device overdependence adversely affects the overall development of preschool children. This study aimed to provide an emotion coaching group programme to mothers raising preschool children who are overly dependent on smart devices and to confirm the programme’s effectiveness. This concurrent embedded mixed methods study used a non-equivalent control group pre-post design to verify the quantitative effect of the programme, and a descriptive research design to verify the qualitative effect. The study collected data from June 2019 to March 2021 from 51 (25 experimental, 26 control) mothers raising children aged 3–6 years in South Korea. The quantitative study examined the effects of an eight-session programme, conducted once a week for two hours, on mothers’ emotional intelligence, parenting behaviour, and their children’s attachment stability and smart device overdependence using a non-equivalent control group pre-post design. The analysis used a generalized estimate equation. For qualitative research, focus group interviews were used as a descriptive research design method, and content analysis was used for analysis. Quantitatively, the results showed significant differences between the experimental and control groups in terms of changes in maternal emotional intelligence (χ² = 14.99, p = .001), maternal positive parenting behaviour (χ² = 9.32, p = .009), children’s unstable attachment to their mothers (χ² = 9.49, p = .009), and children’s overdependence on smart devices (χ² = 14.48, p = .001). Qualitatively, the study derived five themes for the experiences of mothers who participated in the programme: “hope for desirable parenting without emotional difficulties,” “feelings touched by reflection,” “warm but authoritative parenting,” “children who became responsible by gaining psychological stability,” and “changed view of my home.” The emotion coaching group programme was effective in improving the emotional intelligence and parenting behaviour of mothers raising preschool children. The programme also improved preschool children’s attachment stability to their mothers and overdependence on smart devices. The programme can be useful in community practice, and the present study can be used as evidence for education and research related to device overdependence.