1인 가구 청년의 독립생활을 통한 성장 경험

Abstract

Recently, single-person households have surged across all age groups, including young adults, and there is a strong need from a social welfare perspective to understand the implications of this type of independent living in terms of human growth. Thus, this study would explore the growth experience of single young households through independent lives in depth. To gather data, this study interviewed 12 young individuals, meeting the study’s criteria, for a total of 26 hours, two sessions per each person. The study employed thematic analysis and constant comparative methods to reconstruct the participants’ experiences and perspectives. As a result, the meanings of growth experience through the independent living of single young households were identified along with five upper categories: ‘Leaving the original family and growing up in confusion,’ ‘Worries accumulated soon while enjoying freedom,’ ‘Taking a life path without minding others,’ ‘Worthy values learned while living alone,’ ‘Desiring a better world that embraces young independence,’ and the central theme of ‘Living as an adult firming up, weaving the world with my hands after leaving the nest.’ Based on these findings, recommendations were provided to enhance the quality of life and support the growth of young adults residing independently in single-person households through social welfare policies and practices.