Child maltreatment in South Korea: An ecological systems analysis

This article reviews risk factors associated with child maltreatment in South Korea within the context of the ecological system theory. Although child maltreatment is a serious concern in South Korea, understanding of this phenomenon is limited because most of the empirical studies address individual characteristics and few consider broader ecological contexts. This review integrates empirical findings on the risk and protective factors associated with child maltreatment in South Korea within the context of micro- (parent–child relationship, intergenerational transmission of abuse, and domestic violence), meso- (interactions between child–teacher and child–parent), exo- (mothers' employment and parents' socio-economic status), macro- (drinking culture and corporal punishment), and chrono-system (Asian economic crisis) levels.

Research highlights
► Risk factors for maltreatment must be understood within the ecological framework.
► Most studies in South Korea have examined individual level risk factors.
► Ecological theory can offer insights for developing effective intervention.