어린이집 운영상 어려움의 예측 요인 탐색

Exploring Predictors Affecting Difficulties in Operating Childcare Centers: Focusing on Directors' Reports

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between structural and process difficulties experienced by childcare center directors in operating childcare centers and to explore characteristics of childcare centers that affect the path. Methods: The participants were 309 childcare center directors, and data were collected through a mobile survey method. Descriptive statistics and SEM were implemented using SPSS and AMOS. Results: Unsupported childcare centers and capacity aggravated structural difficulties in operation of childcare centers, while the number of enrolled children and the enrollment rate reduced such difficulties that were reported by directors. In the case of labor cost supported centers and childcare centers with a high enrollment rate reported a high level of process difficulties. Because the effect of structural difficulties on process difficulties were significant, the indirect influences of structural difficulties that mediated the influences of general background characteristics on process difficulties were also significant. Conclusion/Implications: This study shows that difficulties in operating childcare centers could be considered in terms of structure and process aspects. This study is also meaningful in that it suggests that the characteristics of individual childcare centers should be emphasized in a customized way to alleviate such difficulties.