Needs and Status of Family Support Programs at the Gwanak-gu Family Center during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the needs and status of family support programs at the Gwanak-gu Family Center in the context of COVID-19. An online survey targeting Gwanak-gu residents between the ages of 20 and 60 was conducted between September and October 2021. Descriptive statistics, a chi-squared test, a t-test, and a one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the data gathered from 506 participants. The results of this study are as follows. First, after the COVID-19 pandemic, the numbers of male, single (unmarried), and single-person household participants increased. Second, demand for “me”-related programs, such as self-discovery, self-management, and hobbies, was generally high. Third, demand for “me”-related programs was the highest among the group that had never previously used the Family Center. Fourth, although women with children in preschool were highly satisfied with the non-face-to-face method, no significant difference was found in the satisfaction between the face-to-face and non-face-to-face methods. The results also showed that most respondents did not have a strong preference for either the face-to-face or non-face-to-face methods. Fifth, in educational programs, there was a high preference for the non-face-to-face method, while in programs emphasizing communication, experience, and exchange, there was a high preference for the face-to-face method. The findings indicate that it is necessary to adjust program themes and operation methods by tailoring them to the characteristics and needs of the target population and considering regional characteristics when developing new programs.