한국사회 중년 남성의 인생 회고와 삶의 재평가

초록

This study examined how Korean middle-aged men reminisce and re-evaluates their lives. To verify, depths interview was conducted on 20 Korean middle-aged men whose youngest child's age is 17 and above. Interview questions are largely divided into two categories: Before and after marriage. Participants are asked to respond freely in chronological order from childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, current middle-age, and anticipated future. Using phenomenological method, 15 different topics were yielded by revivifying the central meaning of the participants' narratives. Regardless of objective economical difficulty or home being peaceful, most participants positively recollected their youth. In early adulthood, finding a marital spouse who has capability of carrying out filial duty was considered most important and in middle adulthood, improving the relationship with and acknowledging the value of their marital spouse, acquiring vocational identity and stress managing, health concern and concern of later years, and their children's future was the most important concerns. Most of them positively forecasted their future however they did not give meaning as to fulfillment of their dreams. Finally, vocational satisfaction and spouse satisfaction were determinants of current midlife satisfaction. On the basis of these results and along with understanding of Korean culture, this study suggests directionality of future studies on middle-aged men.

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