Poster Session 5: Emerging/Young Adulthood

Presenters: Gyesook Yoo, Jinsol Seo

Summary
Marriage has undergone a drastic change in Korean society. As a voluntary choice of lifestyle, the rise of singlehood among Korean young adults is currently becoming the new normal. Thus, focusing on the concept of personal choice rather than permanence in Stein's (1981) categories, this study examined differences in subjective well-being and depression according to gender and voluntariness of singlehood among never-married young adults in Korea. The two-way ANOVAs revealed significant main effects of voluntariness and gender singlehood on subjective well-being and depression Although singlehood is rapidly becoming the new normal in the eyes of today's Korean society, it is also true that the term €˜never married' still has negative connotations. Challenging this negative view, the results of this study expand our knowledge about singlehood in young adulthood. Expanding traditional norms and boundaries of family in Korea, we expect further discussion about positive and diverse contouring of singlehood.

Objectives
-- To analyze the singlehood from a family perspective
-- Toexamined differences in subjective well-being and depression according to gender and voluntariness of singlehood among never-married young adults in Korea.
-- Toexpect further discussion about positive and diverse contouring of singlehood

Subject Codes: developmental issues, mental health, gender
Population Codes: emerging/young adulthood, Asian/Pacific Islander, single
Method and Approach Codes: Family Science