Psychological Support Needs Based on Family Issues Among Korean Adolescents

Research Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify the differences in the psychological support needs of Korean adolescents based on the family-related issues they experience at home. Research Methods: To achieve this objective, data from the 2022 Survey on the Status of Adolescent Family Life, conducted by the National Youth Policy Institute of Korea, was used. The survey sampled 2,000 adolescents residing across the country, with 2,042 respondents participating in the study. The independent variable of this study is the type of family issues experienced, the control variable is family support, and the dependent variable is the need for psychological support. A chi-square test was applied for data analysis. Research Results: Korean adolescents experience events such as relocation, parental divorce, and family hospitalization, which lead to physical and psychological difficulties such as social stigma, emotional trauma, anxiety, and health problems. To address these psychological difficulties, adolescents primarily engage in strategies such as talking with friends or isolating themselves from external communication. The psychological challenges they experience and the ways they cope differ according to family composition. Additionally, there are variations in the types of community services required based on the nature of their psychological issues, as well as differences in preferences for how these services are delivered.