This study aimed to explore trends in qualitative research in the counseling field, seeking insights for the growth and future development of qualitative research. To achieve this, we analyzed 315 papers on qualitative research published from 2013 to 2022. The main findings of the study are as follows. Qualitative research in the counseling field has not only been steadily studied over the past decade but has also shown a continuous increasing trend. The most frequently used research methods were Phenomenology (30.8%), Grounded Theory (23.8%), and Consensual Qualitative Research (23.8%). Examining the research subjects, counselors (27.3%) and minorities (15.3%) were the most commonly studied. Research topics included counselors’ experiences (23.8%), crisis and overcoming experiences (17.8%), career and learning experiences (14.3%), and counseling experiences (13.3%). Based on these findings, a comparative review with previous studies conducted in the previous decade, along with suggestions for future directions and subsequent research, is provided.
The purpose of this study is to explore the meaning of pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting experiences among female counselors. To achieve this, in-depth interviews were conducted with nine female counselors who have at least one year aged children, and the data were analyzed using phenomenological qualitative research methods. The results yielded five main themes and 17 sub-themes. The main themes include ‘A Complete Transformation of Personal Life,’ ‘Fear of Losing Oneself as a Counselor.’ ‘Striving to Utilize My Changes as a Resource,’ ‘Evolving into a Better Me’, and ‘An Expansion of Experiences, not a Career Interruption.’ Findings from this study will contribute to a better understanding and empathy for female counselors in similar situations. Additionally, they will serve as a basis for establishing a counselor development model.
This study was conducted qualitatively to investigate the experiences of novice counselors in grief counseling and their essential meaning. To that end, in-depth interviews were conducted with seven counselors who had experienced grief counseling and field materials were collected. Data were analyzed using Giorgi’s Phenomenological Research. As a result, 237 meaning units, 22 subcategories, 9 categories were derived. The processes of grief counseling included being ‘worried and burdened as a novice,’ ‘overwhelmed by the theme of grief,’ ‘meeting the turning point,’ ‘sharing the grief and sorrow,’ and ‘feeling rewarded and fulfilled.’ Efforts in grief conseling encompassed ‘struggling to help the griever,’ ‘being with the griever.’ The influence of grief counseling was evident in ‘learning through experience’ and ‘reflecting on life and relationships.’ Based on the study’s findings, suggestions were proposed for further research on grief counseling and the education of novice counselors.
This study aimed to validate the Korean version of the Vancouver Obsessive Compulsive Inventory-Mental Contamination Scale (VOCI-MC). Mental contamination is a psychological phenomenon of feeling dirty without physical contact with a contaminant. It is associated with various symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and influences the severity of symptoms and treatment outcomes. We developed a Korean version of VOCI-MC through a translation-back translation method and tested its reliability and validity with 550 Korean adults aged 16 or older. Exploratory factor analysis confirmed a single-factor structure, and confirmatory factor analysis validated the scale’s single-factor structure. The scale demonstrated good internal consistency, and convergent validity was supported by correlations between mental contamination and OCD symptoms. Additionally, discriminant validity was established by the differences in mental contamination levels between upper and lower groups of OCD symptoms. The implications of this study and directions for future studies were discussed.
The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (K=DJGLS) among older adults aged 65 and older. Through exploratory factor analysis of data collected from 386 participants via convenience sampling, the K-DJGLS was found to consist of two factors, social loneliness and emotional loneliness, consistent with the original scale. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated adequate model fit. Correlation analysis with related scales was conducted to verify the scale’s validity. The K-DJGLS exhibited a high positive correlation with the UCLA Loneliness Scale and the Short Form Geriatric Depression Scale, and a negative correlation with the Self-Esteem Scale and the Social Support Scale. The scale demonstrated internal consistency reliability of .89. This study confirms that the K-DJGLS is a reliable and valid instrument.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating effect of dysfunctional metacognition on the relationship between the centrality of event, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and post-traumatic growth (PTG). Participants included 300 adults aged 18 or older who had experienced traumatic events. For this purpose, five scales were used as measurement tools. The collected data were analyzed by using SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 25.0, The results are as follows. First, the main variables - centrality of event, PTSD symptoms, PTG, and dysfunctional metacognition - all showed significant positive correlations. Second, dysfunctional metacognition partially mediated the relationship between centrality of event and PTSD symptoms, as well as between centrality of event and PTG. This suggests that dysfunctional metacognition is an influential variable in predicting both PTSD symptoms and PTG. Limitations and implications for future studies are discussed.
This study aimed to explore the college life adaptation of students with high social anxiety who entered college during the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined the adaptation experience during the transition period from online classes to face-to-face classes using a concept-mapping approach. We recruited students from those who entered K College in either 2020 or 2021 and screened them for social anxiety. Thirteen students were interviewed about positive and negative experiences of college life during the transition period. After key sentences were extracted from the interviews, multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis were utilized to derive similar clusters. The results of positive experiences yielded four clusters on two dimensions: “College Life Experience-Self-Growth Experience” and “Tasks-Relationships.” The analysis of negative experiences resulted in seven clusters on two dimensions: “Situational- Psychological Characteristics” and “Tasks-Relationships.” Overall, we discussed the face-to-face college life experiences across the domains of academics, relationships, career, and emotions.
This study investigated the role of emotional expression ambivalence in the relationship between gender-role attitudes and relationship satisfaction among unmarried heterosexual couples. 102 individuals, aged 18 to 30, participated in the study. Utilizing the APIMeM model, actor-partner effects were examined within the context of emotional expression ambivalence influencing the relationship between gender-role attitudes and relatinoship satisfaction. The results indicate that both men’s and women’s gender-role attitudes were mediated by self-defensive ambivalence on the path to relationship satisfaction. Partner effects were also confirmed. The study concludes that rigid and conservative gender-role attitudes lead to emotional suppression, reducing both individual and partner satisfaction. This study significantly explored these impacts within dyadic data, providing a detailed examination of emotional expression ambivalence sub-factors and their predictive power.
This study aimed to examine the mediating effect of self-differentiation in the relationship between domestic violence experience and dating violence (perpetuation and victimization) while investigating whether this mediating effect is moderated by gender equality attitudes. Data from 440 unmarried adults were collected and analyzed utilizing SPSS 27.0 and SPSS Macro. The main findings of the study are as follows: First, the mediating effect of self-differentiation was significant in the relationship between domestic violence experience and dating violence (perpetuation and victimization). Second, the moderating effect of gender equality attitudes was significant in the relationship between self-differentiation and dating violence (perpetuation and victimization). Third, self-differentiation mediated the relationship between domestic violence experience and dating violence (perpetuation and victimization), and this mediating effect was moderated by gender equality attitudes, confirming a moderated mediating effect. The implications and limitations of this study are discussed based on these results.
This study explored the mediation effect of career adaptability, moderated by the desire to please others, on the relationship between adolescent-parent career congruence and life satisfaction of Korean college students. For this purpose, responses from 376 participants collected through an online survey were utilized for the final analysis. The data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 and Mplus8 for Structural Equation Modeling analysis. The results of the study are summarized as follows. First, career adaptability mediated the relationship between adolescent-parent career congruence and life satisfaction. Second, the mediating effect of career adaptability in the relationship between adolescent-parent career congruence and life satisfaction was moderated by the desire to please others. The higher the score on the desire to please others, the stronger the mediation effect of career adaptability. Based on these results, the implications and limitations of the present study and suggestions for future research were discussed.
The purpose of his study is to examine the moderated mediating effect of bicultural self-efficacy on the relationship among perceived discrimination, acculturation stress, and life satisfaction of Chinese Koreans living in Korea. Online surveys, which included the perceived discrimination scale, acculturation stress scale, life satisfaction scale, and bicultural self-efficacy scale, were completed by 320 Chinese Koreans over the age of 17 residing in Korea. Acculturation stress partially mediated the relationship between perceived discrimination and life satisfaction. Additionally, bicultural self-efficacy moderated the relationship between acculturation stress and life satisfaction. Moreover, bicultural self-efficacy moderated the effect of perceived discrimination on life satisfaction through acculturation stress. This study underscores the significance of acculturation stress and bicultural self-efficacy in the relationship between perceived discrimination and life satisfaction among Chinese Koreans living in Korea. Based on the results of this study, implications and limitations were discussed.
This study aims to provide an overview of adolescent Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) treatment programs published both domestically and internationally and to suggest directions for further research and development in adolescent NSSI treatment programs through research implications. To achieve this, we reviewed 19 adolescent NSSI treatment program effectiveness studies published between 2012 and 2022. The studies were categorized based on program composition and effectiveness, target group classification, and intervention features. The results revealed differences in research design and target group selection between domestic and international adolescent NSSI treatment programs, emphasizing the need for field-oriented scientific studies. Second, the promotion of treatment programs for target groups based on the DSM-V definition of NSSI is recommended. Lastly, there is a noticeable gap in research on parental involvement in the treatment of adolescent NSSI, emphasizing the need for future research in this area.
To legislate qualifications for psychological counseling professionals, it is essential to establish requirements with social consensus. This study aims to examine the core competencies of psychological counseling professionals and suggest issues for curriculum standards. The USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, Japan, and Taiwan were selected as representative overseas cases with a qualification system, referencing previous studies. Data on psychologist and counselor qualification systems were collected to examine core competencies and curriculum. We found that these countries commonly expect counseling professionals to fulfill roles in counseling, evaluation, research, consultation, and education. They require competencies in knowledge, skills, and self-reflection, along with related courses and curriculum areas. Additionally, we examined the competencies and education of psychological counselors in the National Competency Standards and found that competencies and educational content were presented with a focus on detailed activities. Finally, we suggested the points to be considered and the direction for curriculum standards.
This study aimed to assess the alignment between the education curriculums of counseling-related majors and the primary responsibilities and expected roles of counseling psychologists in Korea. Research 1 investigated current undergraduate and graduate curriculums related to psychological counseling, and included 164 undergraduate and 408 graduate majors. Significant differences were observed between undergraduate and graduate programs, with variations in ratios and patterns among majors. Research 2 was conducted on members of the Korean Counseling Psychological Association to examine their main tasks, counseling content, and roles in the counseling field. Members engaged in psychological counseling, psychological testing, program planning, predominantly providing counseling in areas such as interpersonal relationships, mental health, family, and personality. The roles expected of counseling psychologists extended to promoting public awareness, participating in policy development, enhancing psychological counseling support, and contributing to social activities. The implications and significance of these findings were discussed.
