취약청소년의 숲교육 및 산림분야 일자리 경험을 통한 심리적 효과에 관한 연구

김예원1*, 최정호1, 임길섭1, 강효경2

(1한국산림복지진흥원 산림복지연구개발센터, 2한국산림복지진흥원)

A Study on the Psychological Effects of Vulnerable Youth through Forest Education and Forest-related Job Experience

Ye-Won Kim1*, Jeong-Ho Choi1, Gil-Seop Im1, Hyo-Gyeong Kang2

(1Forest Welfare Research Center, Korea Forest Welfare Institute,
2Korea Forest Welfare Institute)

요약: 본 연구는 학업중단 및 가정의 보호아래 있지 못한 취약청소년의 자립역량을 지원하기 위해 돌봄‧교육‧성장의 통합형 산림교육프로그램을 제공하고 이에 대한 효과성을 조사하였다. 연구대상자는 아동보육시설, 그룹홈, 학교밖청소년센터에 다니는 10~20대 청소년 69명이며, 참가자들은 국립산림치유원과 국립횡성숲체원에서 2박 3일 동안 산림교육프로그램에 참여하였다. 설문조사 후 t검정을 통해 정서안정, 자아존중감, 진로성숙도의 변화를 측정하였다. 조사결과, 정서안정은 참여 전과 비교하여 5.1% 증가하였으며(P<.001), 자아존중감은 3.9%(P<.01), 진로성숙도는 3.8% 증가(P<.05)하는 변화를 나타내었다. 숲교육 및 산림분야 다양한 직무탐색 경험의 제공이 가정 및 학교에서 벗어나 어려움을 겪는 취약청소년의 정서안정과 진로성숙도에 긍정적 영향이 있음을 밝혔다는 점에 의의가 있으며 본 연구결과를 통해 자립준비 등 어려움을 겪는 취약청소년의 건강한 사회진입을 위한 숲체험활동 확대를 기대한다.

Abstract: This study conducted an integrated forest education program of caring, education, and growth and investigated its effectiveness in order to support the self-reliance capacity of vulnerable youth who have experienced school interruption or are not under the protection of their families. The subjects of this study were 69 teenagers in their 10s and 20s who attended child care facilities, group homes, and out-of-school youth centers, and participants participated in forest education programs at the National Forest Healing Center and the National Hoengseong Forest Community Center for 2 nights and 3 days. After the survey, changes in emotional stability, self-esteem, and career maturity were measured through a t-test. As a result of the survey, emotional stability increased by 5.1% (P<.001), self-esteem increased by 3.9% (P<.01), and career maturity increased by 3.8% (P<.05). It is significant that the provision of forest education and various job search experiences in the forest field has a positive effect on the emotional stability and career maturity of vulnerable youth who have difficulty leaving home and school, and through the results of this study, it is expected to expand forest experience activities for healthy social entry of vulnerable youth who have difficulty preparing for self-reliance.