This study aimed to explore the love experiences of sexual minority women through in-depth interviews with five individuals currently in same-gender romantic relationships. Using a phenomenological qualitative research method, 27 sub-themes and 8 main-themes were derived. Main themes included ‘resistance to and imitation of masculinity’, ‘the politics of same-gender love shaped by gender norms’, ‘emotional pain from unrecognized relationships’, ‘familial conflict’, ‘relational instability’, ‘community-based tensions’, ‘personal transformation through relationships’, and ‘efforts toward self-acceptance and healing’. These findings help fill the gap in domestic research on the romantic experiences of sexual minority women and provide context-specific insights into how love and identity are constructed and sustained within sociocultural constraints. The study also discusses theoretical and clinical implications and offers suggestions for future research.
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a positive psychotherapy in enhancing in improving interpersonal relationships, self-esteem, and in reducing rejection sensitivity among university students with insecure and secure attachment styles. Following approval from the Institutional Review Board, Participants were recruited from University, and olny those who provided informed consent completed a screening assessment for attachment type. Among 30 selected students, 20 who voluntarily agreed to participate in group programs were randomly assigned to either the experimental or comparison group(10 in each), while the remaining students were placed in the control group. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22, employing a 3 x 2 two-way mixed ANOVA design. The results were as follows: First, the positive psychotherapy significantly improved interpersonal competence and self-esteem and reduced rejection sensitivity among students with insecure attachment. Second, the program also had a positive effect on reducing rejection sensitivity among students with secure attachment. Finally, the clinical implications, therapeutic significance, and limitations of the study are discussed
This study classified adult men’s attitudes toward professional help-seeking using cluster analysis and examined group differences among the identified subtypes. A total of 292 men completed a semantic differential scale, and four clusters were identified: ambivalent, unformed attitude, positive, and negative. One-way ANOVA and chi-square tests revealed differences in help-seeking intention, psychological distress, and gender role conflict. The positive group reported the highest help-seeking intention, counseling experience, and consideration of seeking help, with the lowest distress and conflict. The ambivalent and negative groups both showed elevated distress and conflict, but the ambivalent group reported higher help-seeking intention, anxiety, and stronger male superiority beliefs. The unformed group showed generally low levels across all variables. These findings highlight the value of identifying attitudinal subtypes to promote counseling service use among men. This study contributes by identifying the negative group—previously unaddressed—and clarifying the characteristics of the ambivalent group. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.
This study conducts a narrative literature review to establish a conceptual foundation for Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) and to analyze the characteristics and psychological implications of its various subtypes. TFGBV refers to gender-based violence perpetrated through digital and information and communication technologies, encompassing various forms such as Image-Based Sexual Abuse (IBSA), doxxing, cyberstalking, Technology-Facilitated Coercive Control (TFCC), and sextortion. The main findings of this study are as follows. First, TFGBV represents a multilayered and intersecting spectrum of violence that cannot be reduced to a single category. The conceptual boundaries between terms are often ambiguous, leading to confusion in terminology and gaps in policy implementation. Second, TFGBV should not be viewed merely as a “digital issue” but rather as a structural form of gender-based violence, in which sexist social systems are reproduced and reinforced through technology. Third, existing research has disproportionately focused on IBSA, while psychological investigations into other forms—such as TFCC, sextortion, and doxxing—remain in their early stages. This imbalance risks undermining the theoretical and practical foundations necessary for effective intervention and policy development. Future research should work toward a more refined analysis of the boundaries and intersections among various forms of TFGBV, while expanding empirical inquiries into their psychological impacts to inform survivor-centered models of care. Interdisciplinary collaboration is also essential to establish contextually appropriate terminology and policy frameworks, particularly within the Korean sociocultural landscape.
The double standard of alcohol use refers to a phenomenon in which victims who consume alcohol are blamed more harshly, whereas perpetrators who consume alcohol are blamed less. This study empirically examined the existence of this double standard in sexual assault cases by investigating how alcohol consumption by the victim and the perpetrator, as well as the victim’s gender, influences blame attribution. A total of 136 adults aged 19 and older participated in an experiment where they were randomly assigned to read a sexual assault scenario systematically manipulated by three variables: victim alcohol consumption(yes vs. no), perpetrator alcohol consumption(yes vs. no), and victim gender(male vs. female). Participants then levels of blame, responsibility, controllability, and stability for both the victim and the perpetrator. The results revealed that victims who had consumed alcohol were blamed more and were perceived as more stable than sober victims. Conversely, intoxicated perpetrators were held less responsible and perceived as having less control over their actions, supporting the presence of a double standard of alcohol use. A significant interaction effect was also found between victim alcohol use and victim gender. Specifically, intoxicated female victims were blamed more than sober female victims, whereas no significant difference was found in the blame judgments for male victims based on alcohol consumption. These findings suggest that interpretations and gendered stereotypes surrounding alcohol use may influence blame attributions, contributing to the emergence of a double standard.
The purpose of this study was to examine the sequential mediating effects and the effect size difference of shame-proneness and two sub-types of ambivalence over emotional expression—self-defensive and relation-involved—in the relationship between self-discrepancy and postpartum depression among first-time mothers. A total of 261 mothers within one year postpartum completed the Self-Questionnaire, Test of Self-Conscious Affect-3(TOSCA-3), Ambivalence over Emotional Expression Questionnaire–Korean version(AEQ-K), and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale(CES-D). Results showed significant sequential mediation through both shame-proneness and each subtype of emotional ambivalence, with a statistically significant difference in the effect size of the two indirect pathways. Finally, the heterogeneous characteristics of the two types of ambivalence contributing to these differences, an integrative conceptualization of the psychological processes, and theoretical implications were discussed. Additionally, based on the study findings, implications for counseling interventions and policy recommendations were presented.
This study aims to explore the career experiences of the female siblings of Sewol Ferry disaster victims using a narrative inquiry approach, with the aim of analyzing changes in their career decision-making and identifying influencing factors, thereby providing foundational data for future support and growth strategies. The findings indicate that after the disaster, participants shifted their focus from external circumstances to internal values and the search for life meaning in their career choices. They commonly expressed a desire to exert positive influence, feelings of guilt toward their deceased siblings, a tendency toward self-evaluation, and resistance to conservative environments. These internal factors, coupled with anxiety and a diminished sense of social security, functioned as constraints in their career decision-making process. The study suggests that career counseling and support for survivors of social disasters should integrate both individual emotional characteristics and broader environmental factors at the micro and macro levels. Furthermore, it highlights the need for continued truth-finding and advocacy for victims' rights to help restore trust and facilitate safe, meaningful communication.
This study examined the mediating effect of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) experiences and the moderated mediating effect of gender in the relationship between subjective body image perception and suicide-related behaviors among adolescents. Using data from the 20th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey (2024), we conducted a moderated mediation analysis using Hayes' Process Model 7 with a nationally representative sample of 54,653 middle and high school students (51.4% male, 48.6% female). The results revealed that subjective body image perception influenced suicide-related behaviors through the mediation of GAD experiences, and this mediating effect differed by gender. Specifically, among female students, negative body image perception increased GAD experiences, which in turn elevated the risk of suicide-related behaviors, whereas this pathway was not significant among male students. Notably, the effect of subjective body image perception remained significant only for female students even after controlling for actual body weight, suggesting that the pathway from body image perception to suicide risk through GAD operates specifically among female adolescents. These findings highlight the need for gender-specific intervention strategies in adolescent suicide prevention, emphasizing that programs targeting female students should prioritize the development of healthy body image perceptions and early intervention for GAD rather than focusing on weight management.
This study investigated the influence of appearance-contingent self-worth on disordered eating by integrating both intrapersonal and environmental factors among young adult women. Specifically, this study examined not only the sequential mediating effects of appearance comparison and body dissatisfaction, but also the moderated sequential mediation effects of appearance-related short-form media use characteristics. Using the PROCESS Macro with a sample of 379 women in their twenties, the results showed that appearance-contingent self-worth predicted disordered eating through a sequential mediation by appearance comparison and body dissatisfaction. However, in the sequential mediation model, the direct effect of appearance-contingent self-worth on body dissatisfaction was not statistically significant. Moderation analyses revealed that the proportion of appearance-related content and user engagement (likes, comments, saving) in recently viewed short-form videos significantly strengthened these mediating pathways, whereas the proportion of videos featuring subjectively perceived attractive bodies did not show a significant moderating effect. This study offers a comprehensive perspective on how appearance-contingent self-worth influences disordered eating through appearance comparison and body dissatisfaction, and provides empirical evidence on the moderating role of short-form content use—a new form of media. Clinical implications for the prevention of disordered eating in young adult women, study limitations, and future research were discussed.
This study examined the mediating effect of mindfulness on the relationship between emotional clarity and posttraumatic growth (PTG), and explored how this pathway may differ by gender. Emotional clarity, mindfulness, and PTG were measured at three different time points with two-week intervals to examine the temporal sequence of their associations. Data were collected from 294 young adults aged 19 to 34 (160 women, 134 men) who reported having experienced trauma. PROCESS macro Model 4 was used for the analysis. The results revealed a significant indirect effect of mindfulness in the relationship between emotional clarity and PTG for the total sample. However, the significance of these paths varied by gender. For men, emotional clarity had a significant direct effect on PTG, while the mediating effect of mindfulness was not significant. In contrast, for women, only indirect pathway through mindfulness was significant, indicating a full mediation. These findings suggest that while emotional clarity itself may play a central role in fostering PTG in men, the capacity for mindful, nonjudgmental acceptance is a critical mechanism for PTG in women. The present study empirically demonstrates gender differences in emotional processing pathways during trauma recovery and suggests the need for tailored intervention strategies in counseling and psychotherapy settings that take into account gender-specific characteristics such as emotional sensitivity, tendencies toward self-criticism, and coping strategies.
This study applied the Actor–Partner Interdependence Mediation Model (APIMeM) to examine the mediating effect of co-parenting in the relationship between parents’child values and marital satisfaction, considering both actor and partner effects. Participants were parents residing in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon, whose children attended kindergartens or daycare centers. Data were collected via an online survey, and responses from 220 dyads were analyzed. The analysis of direct effects revealed that fathers’child values did not significantly predict either their own or their partners’co-parenting perceptions. In contrast, mothers’ child values demonstrated significant actor and partner effects on co-parenting. Regarding the relationship between child-rearing values and marital satisfaction, fathers’values positively influenced their own marital satisfaction(actor effect) but negatively influenced their partners’ satisfaction(partner effect). Mothers’ values showed no significant effects in this relationship. In the relationship between co-parenting and marital satisfaction, both parents exhibited significant actor and partner effects. The mediation analysis indicated that co-parenting did not mediate the relationship between fathers’child values and marital satisfaction. However, for mothers, co-parenting fully mediated both the actor and partner effects in this relationship. Based on these findings, the theoretical and practical implications of this study are discussed, along with its limitations and suggestions for future research.
Sigmund Freud's Dora case, along with Anna O's case, occupies an important position in the study of hysteria. The early history of psychoanalysis began with the study of hysteria. More than 120 years after the Dora case was published in 1905, Freud's 'Oedipus Complex' theory has become a tradition of classical psychoanalysis, and modern psychoanalysis has penetrated culture, changed, and expanded its scope to various theories. This study attempts to expand the perspective on hysteria through literature research. First, Dora's symptoms and interpretation of Freud are reviewed through Freud's original text analysis, and Jacques Lacan's structuralist psychoanalytic theory is applied to analyze Dora's desire structure and subject formation process. Subsequently, by re-examining the Dora case from the perspective of modern feminist psychoanalytic theorists and feminist pastoral counseling, we intend to explore the gender and counseling implications of hysterical discourse.
This study attempted to categorize the latent classes and examine its characteristics through analysis of latent profiles according to the temperament and personality of middle-aged female learners. To this end, latent profiles analysis was used by subjective health questionnaires, social support, life meaning, subjective well-being, temperament and character on 245 Women aged 40 to 65 living in Busan. The results of the study are as follows. First, two latent groups(named as adapted and average group) were identified through latent profile analysis using temperament and character factors. Second, significant differences between latent groups were identified in psychosocial variables such as subjective health, social support, meaning of life and subjective well-being. These results suggest that mature individuals will have a high level of subjective well-being and its related factors in the given environment and life. Further implications for improvement of psychological health of female later learners and suggestions for future research are discussed. Finally, the implications and limitations of this study, as well as suggestions for future studies, are discussed.
This study aims to investigate the experiences of a middle-aged woman counselor with her internalized patriarchy by applying the methodology of critical autoethnography. The participant was the researcher herself. The first research question was what patterns the internalized patriarchy of a middle-aged woman counselor would take. The second one was what life experiences their critical self-examinations would drive them into. To answer these questions, the researcher collected and analyzed her self-observations, reflection journals, counseling records, conversation materials, and photographs. The findings for the research questions identified three top topics and eight subtopics. The findings for the research questions were as follows. First, internalized patriarchy was formed through generational transmission within the family and reproduced in unconscious behavioral patterns, which led to the top topic, “taking a step outside by breaking the silence.” Second, the counselor faced the limitations of her self-definition as a gender by meeting unfamiliar strangers and created a new feminine identity. She also reinforced her independence and uniqueness by reflecting through critical writing and displayed changes to move toward a relationship of mutual recognition beyond the gender stereotypes in her family relationships. This process led to the top topics, “me-you faced outside femininity” and “becoming a woman-counselor as a living organism.” The study implies that counselor education should seek to reinforce counselors’ self-examination capabilities and raises a need for follow-up research to intensify counselors’ gender awareness.
This study reinterprets ego identity beyond the fixed developmental models of traditional psychology and proposes a new conceptual model from a self-level perspective. Traditional theories, which have mainly emphasized adolescence, have not sufficiently accounted for the fluidity and reconfiguration of identity during life transitions. Accordingly, this research shifts the focus from whether identity is achieved to the question of at what level of self it is formed and operates. By integrating insights from developmental psychology, counseling theory, and neuroscience, the study demonstrates that the higher self functions as a dynamic mechanism that integrates and reorganizes lower self-dimensions. Based on this framework, a model intersecting identity achievement with higher self realization is proposed. While this model is broadly applicable across the lifespan, it holds particular significance for understanding the identity crises of middle-aged women as opportunities for growth and transformation. This perspective provides new theoretical foundatio
