The Gendered Implications of Intensive Parenting Beliefs for Life Satisfaction: The Case of South Korea

Abstract

With the emergence of intensive parenting ideologies, child-centered and resource-intensive parenting methods have become the new norm. Regardless of their prevalence, the impact of the internalization of intensive parenting norms on adult well-being remains a relatively unexplored topic. Using an original survey of 728 married adults in South Korea, this study focused on three important questions: (a) What kinds of intensive parenting attitudes do Korean adults internalize compared with adults in Western countries? (b) Do gender differences exist in the acceptance of intensive parenting attitudes? and (c) Is higher acceptance of intensive parenting attitudes associated with negative life satisfaction? The results indicate that Korean adults prioritize economic provisioning and resource-oriented investments for their children. This is in line with the “risk flow” theory that emphasizes the role of social and wealth reproduction through family formation. Additionally, although men and women share similar levels of intensive parenting beliefs, the implications for life satisfaction vary by gender. While women with higher levels of intensive parenting attitudes report a significant deterioration in life satisfaction, male respondents do not report the same negative effects. The conclusion is drawn that while gendered parenting beliefs may seem nonexistent on the surface, they continue to prevail in indirect ways that impact women’s subjective well-being.