Abstract

In the present study we have attempted to explore the relationship between family support that young people receive and the level of Ego Identity that they develop. We started the present study with the purpose of providing parish nurses with some basic data for nursing intervention for family and school nursing, as well as for community health care. We conducted the present study during the period of October 15, 2001 through November 5, 2001. The objects of this study were Inmunge High School students chosen from a school in Daejon. The subject students were selected randomly from each grade in that school. The numbers of subjects selected randomly from each grade in that school. The numbers of subjects selected were 120 boys and 113 girls (total: 233). The research tool that we used to measure perceived family support received by students was on that Ga Eon Lee revised for high school students on the basis of Cobb's theory. To measure the subject students' Ego Identity level we used Bong Yon Sho's 'Ego Identity Scale', that he revised form Dignan's 'Ego Identity Scale' for Korean high school students. Data were analyzed with SPSS Win 10.0 program using statistics of frequencies, percentage, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient. The findings of the present study indicate that: 1) The mean of family support that subject students feel that they received was 39.99 on the family support scale, and the mean of the students on the Ego Identity scale was 186.16. 2) The support that the subjects received from their own family had a statistically significant correlation with their Ego Identity (r=.93, p=.00). 3) Various factors had a significant correlation with the level of family support perceived by the subjects: the subject's grade (F=3.35, p=.04), the subject's religion (t=6.39, p=.00), the family's economic situation (F=9.14, p=.00) the birth order (F=27.60, p=.00) the father's education (F=23.17, p=.00), the mother's education (F=28.70, p=.00), parental relationship (F=2657.03, p=.00) and the structure of the family (F=-9.65, p=.00). 4) Various factors had a significant correlation with the level of the subject's Ego Identity: the subjects religion (t=6.20, p=.00), the family's economic situation (F=12.56, p=.00), the birth order (F=22.85, p=.00), the father's education (F=10.37, p=.00), the mother's education (F=20.69, p=.00), parental relationship (F=938.73, p=.00), and the structure of the family (F=-8.74, p=.00). 5) Analyzing sources of support within the family, family members whom the subjects trust most (F=3.08, p=.03) and family members to whom they talk most (F=5.85, p=.00) showed the most significant differences. Analyzing sources of support within the family that affect the level of the subjects' Ego Identity, family members whom the subjects trust most (F=3.30, p=.02) and family members to whom they talk most also showed the most significant differences.