The psychological and emotional support programs offered by World Vision showed the most significant improvements in cognitive and emotional areas. (Image courtesy of World Vision)
SEOUL, Jul. 30 (Korea Bizwire) – A recent analysis by World Vision, an international aid and development organization, has shed light on the primary concerns of children in South Korea.
The study, released on July 29, found that issues related to cognitive and emotional well-being, including low self-esteem, are at the forefront of children’s worries.
The analysis, conducted by professor Yeom Taesan of Gangseo University’s Department of Social Welfare, examined 214 counseling and therapy sessions with registered children and their guardians.
These sessions were carried out across 11 regional offices and six welfare centers in 2022 and 2023.
Of the cases analyzed, 81.7% primarily involved children as the main clients. The age distribution showed that 33% were elementary school students, while 67% were middle school students or older adolescents. The average age of the children seeking help was 13 years old.
The study revealed that a staggering 70.9% of cases were related to cognitive and emotional challenges.
These included issues with self-concept (such as low self-esteem, lack of confidence, poor self-efficacy, and limited self-understanding), emotional difficulties (including anxiety, depression, lethargy, suicidal thoughts, and stress), and low energy levels (manifesting as difficulty in self-expression).
Following cognitive and emotional concerns, the next most prevalent issues were family relationships (31.4%), interpersonal relationships (29.1%), behavioral problems (25.1%), learning and school adaptation difficulties (20%), and career-related concerns (10.3%).
Interestingly, the psychological and emotional support programs offered by World Vision showed the most significant improvements in cognitive and emotional areas, with 66.9% of cases reporting positive changes.
For guardians seeking counseling, emotional issues such as anxiety, depression, lethargy, stress, anger, feelings of injustice, and low self-esteem were the most common concerns, accounting for 82.1% of cases. Parenting skills (43.6%) and family relationships (25.6%) followed as the next most frequent topics.
Kim Soon-i, head of World Vision’s Domestic Business Division, emphasized the organization’s commitment to addressing these challenges.
“We plan to further strengthen our counseling capabilities to respond to the expanding psychological and emotional difficulties faced by children,” Kim stated.
She also highlighted the need for ongoing support programs, noting that “the mental health issues of guardians significantly impact the quality of childcare.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
