Soo Mi Jang ¹, Hye Sun Bang ², Sunju Sohn ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Social Welfare, Cheongju University, KR
2 Planning & Research Team, Cheongju Welfare Foundation, KR

Abstract

Korea's experience with reform of its social service delivery system at the national level inevitably suggests that a new form of networking structure is indispensable for an improved social service delivery. This network, in social work practice, refers to a partnership between various social service agencies, including both private and public sector agencies. While these agencies unfortunately have minimal shared budgetary characteristics, they share trained manpower, and a wide range of available services and networks, and thus benefit from a close relationship. Using mixed methodology, this study was intended to understand the extent of current networking between various social service agencies and to learn about social workers' experiences in this emerging networking paradigm, with particular focus on learning about barriers to integrated case management in the social work field, where an aggressive collaboration between both public and private sectors is important yet presently absent. Findings from qualitative analyses fall into the following three overarching themes, which are also supported by quantitative outcomes: (1) consensus on the need for an integrated case management in social work; (2) the existence of major barriers hindering efficient collaboration; and (3) strategies for improved practice outcomes. Implications include the need to: (1) establish a more intensive supervision system; (2) build a healthy relationship that bridges the communication gap between the public and private sectors; (3) improve community leaders' understanding of the urgent necessity for integrated case management; (4) co-develop and share local resources across public and private sectors; and (5) establish a functional organization that can play an important role as a control tower in assisting integrated case management efforts.

Keywords

Barriers, Integrated Case Management, Mixed Methodology, Public and Private Sector.

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Sunju Sohn ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Social Welfare, Cheongju University, KR

Abstract

One of the major reasons as to why Korean adults fail to seek medical attention is their concerns with medical expenditure. However, delayed medical treatment leads to more serious problems, contributing towards individuals' limited ability to perform daily functions, which could also result in psychological distress, frustration, and care burden. In our previous study, we learned that the lower the income, the more frequently married women are likely to experience frustration and problems with daily function, due to unmet medical needs, and in turn, experience depression and anxiety issues. In the current study, the focus was on exploring possible gender disparities with regard to the impact of limited health care on mental health. This hypothesis was based on the fact that gender differences are often alluded to in health-care seeking behaviors. This study examined whether or not our model, which is based on data from female respondents, fits the data from male respondents. Based on a secondary analysis of the Korea Health Panel (KHP) survey's 2011 data, this study tested a Structural Equation Model (SEM) involving income, problems with daily function, depression and anxiety experiences, which were relevant to Korean women, while controlling for subjects' education level. The sample included 3,340 married men between the ages of 25 and 65 years. The results showed that our previous model, which was based on the data obtained from women, did not fit well with the male respondents' data. However, upon taking further steps to identify the best fitting model, the exclusion of the frustration factor, resulting from unmet medical needs, led to a better fit [(Model χ² (6) = 24.877, p < .01, CMIN/df = 4.146, CFI = .995, RMSEA = .031)]. This means that, the lower the income, the more likely (or frequently) married men are to experience daily functional issues associated with unmet medical needs, which in turn, directly affects their subjective depression and/or anxiety. Similar to the study on women, we suggest that the Korean government actively address low-income families' (including both men and women) ability to keep up with their medical needs, to further prevent the deterioration of their mental health.

Keywords

Gender Differences, Health, Income, Mental Health.

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Sunju Sohn ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Social Welfare, Cheongju University, 28503, South Korea

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of the current study was to examine parent’s level of depressive symptoms, education level, and their association with their child’s aggression and delinquency level. Methods/Statistical Analysis: Using Mplus, path analysis was conducted using the most current 2014 Korean Welfare Panel Study data (KWPS) including a total of 471 adolescents’ cases. Parents’ depressive level was measured using the CES-D 11 scale, parent’s education level, parents’ positive and negative parenting style based on their level of physical, emotional abuse, and neglect experience in children, and children’s aggression and delinquency level were also examined. Findings: Overall, the results showed a satisfactory model fit [(Model χ² (22) = 272.37 p<.001, CMIN/d.f. = 12.38, CFI = .992, TLI = .987, RMSEA = .020)]. The CFI value obtained in the current study was .992, indicating that the hypothesized model well fits the data. The RMSEA value was .02, which also indicates a very good fit (< .05). TLI value of .987 also supported the notion of a good fit. There was a positive relationship between mother’s education level and positive parenting, while father’s education level had no effect on parenting styles. As expected, positive parenting was associated with less aggression and delinquency. As for parents’ level of depressive symptoms, against the expectation, there was no direct impact on parenting and children’s aggression or delinquency. In short, the findings suggest the importance of parenting, rather than the existence of mental issue itself in parents. Improvements/Applications: Future research should study individuals with actual clinical diagnosis, measure level of care management, and obtain more diverse and accurate operationalization of emotional or behavioral problems in children.

Keywords

Child Aggression, Delinquency, Education Level, Parent Mental Health, Path Analysis.

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Jaeyeon Kang ¹, Sunju Sohn ²

Affiliations
1 Office of Public Health Care, Chungbuk National University, KR
2 Department of Social Welfare, Cheongju University, KR

Abstract

Given the rapidly growing population of the have-nots, the rate of unmet medical and mental health needs is expected to increase considerably. According to a recent study using the Korea Health Panel (KHP) survey’s 2011 data, lack of time and money were found to be some of the main reasons for individuals’ failure to seek medical attention. Delayed medical treatment leads to serious health problems, contributing towards limited ability to perform daily functions, which could also result in psychological distress and care burden. This study examined the roles played by income, frequency of problems in daily functioning due to limited access to health care, and frustration in married women’s subjective evaluation of their depression and anxiety. Based on a secondary analysis of the KHP survey’s 2011 data, this study adopted a confirmatory approach in testing a Structural Equation Model (SEM) including these key factors, controlling for subjects’ education level. The sample included 2,764 married women between the ages of 25 and 65 years. Multiple fit indices including the Chi-square statistics (χ²), CMIN/df, the Comparative Fit Index (CFI), and the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) were used to assess the model fit. The results showed a consistent, satisfactory model fit [(Model χ² (10) = 71.953, p < .01, CMIN/df = 7.1953, CFI = .956, RMSEA = .047)], suggesting a good fit between the proposed model and the data. A CFI value of .956 and an RMSEA value of .047 (.05) indicate a good fit. Based on the model fit indices and path coefficient results, it is fair to conclude that the lower the income, the higher the likelihood (or frequency) of individuals experiencing frustration and daily functional issues associated with unmet medical needs and in turn, experiencing depression and anxiety symptoms or problems. Implications to practice include the need to pay greater attention to low-income families, with regard to their ability to meet their medical needs, so as to further prevent the deterioration of their physical health and mental health. Furthermore, the government ought to assess mental health needs among low-income families with poor physical health given the association between economic status, physical health and mental health.

Keywords

Health, Income, Mental Health, Women

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