코로나19 팬데믹 상황에서의 유아기 자녀를 둔 어머니 양육경험에 대한 사례연구

Abstract

This is a case study on the parenting experience of mothers who raised infants during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted from August 2021 to October 2021 through in-depth interviews with four mothers with children between the age of 3 and 6, and data analysis was conducted using the case analysis method suggested by Creswell(2013). The similarities between the cases were as follows: First, the participants chose home childcare, but as they faced limitations; they decided to send their children to attend school again. Second, participants were able to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic through the assistance of people around them. Third, participants said that COVID-19 reduced their travel and experience opportunities. Fourth, the participants gradually became apathetic and adapted to the changed circumstances. The differences between the cases were as follows: First, among the working mothers, those who experienced career breaks perceived the meaning of work more positively. Second, participants with poor social support resources experienced greater difficulty in nurturing their children. Third, participants raising children with developmental disabilities were more concerned about the child’s development than the COVID-19 infection and accordingly had to play multiple roles. Based on the results of this study, the meaning of the mother’s parenting experience in the COVID-19 pandemic assessed by the researcher was as follows: First, the heavy responsibility and burden of mothers stood out, and mothers living in the COVID-19 situation were forced to play multiple roles, akin to a superwoman. Second, in the non-contact situation caused by COVID-19, the imbalance between the degree of social exchange and resources for emotional support was revealed more clearly.