한국 중년 남성의 성역할 갈등 탐색: CQR-M 방법을 통하여

The study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the specific aspects of gender role conflicts experienced by middle-aged men in Korea, and the psychological and social impacts resulting from these conflicts. To achieve this, an online survey was conducted with 133 middle-aged men in their 40s and 50s, and the collected data were analyzed using the modified consensual qualitative research method (CQR-M). The results revealed that the experiences of gender role conflicts among middle-aged men in Korea were classified into two domains (internal factors, external/social factors) and four categories (emotional repression and difficulty in expression, pressure regarding success and achievement, psychological crises and the reestablishment of self-identity, and role confusion). Previous research on gender role conflicts has primarily focused on ‘masculinity’ itself, which limits its ability to adequately reflect the characteristics of middle-aged individuals undergoing developmental changes. In contrast, this study concentrated on the gender role conflicts faced by middle-aged men in Korea. Specifically, it was anticipated that middle-aged individuals would experience more pronounced gender role conflicts due to family and professional responsibilities; therefore, the study targeted married men who are employed and have children. This study is meaningful to provide basic data to support the mental health of middle-aged men in Korea by deeply exploring the various difficulties they face.