여성 1인가구 현황과 정책적 지원 방안 연구

A study on the current status of female single-person households for policy improvement: Focusing on Gyeonggi province with secondary data analyses

Single-person households have become the dominant type of household in South Korea, while research and polices aimed at single-person households have been somewhat scarce, one focusing on females, one of the vulnerable groups in Korea society, have been even less common. The purpose of this study is to build our knowledge and understanding of the female single-person households in Gyeonggi province, which may serve as the base of policy development tailored for female single-person households. The current study utilized nationally representative data including Population and Housing Census, Korea Welfare Panel Study, and Social Survey. Chi-square and t-test in addition to the descriptive analyses were conducted in order to see whether there were differences between male and female single-person households. Findings of the present study from the secondary data analyses using government statistical sources are as follows: (1) female single-person households were more vulnerable to violence and felt less safe, (2) they showed lower levels of income and education, (3) they lived in lower-quality housing, (4) they were more likely to have physical and mental health problems, and (5) they were less likely to engage in social participation and more likely to have a narrow social network. These findings highlight the need to implement social policies for female single-person households in Gyeonggi province. Detailed policy recommendations for improving female single-person households’ quality of life are discussed.