Social Welfare Doctoral Researcher Ahn Seonkyung Receives Best Paper Award at the Korean Association for Survey Research N
- Date2026.07.14
- 440
Ahn Seonkyung, a doctoral candidate (ABD) in the Department of Social Welfare at Ewha Womans University, received the Best Paper Award at the 2026 Spring Conference of the Korean Association for Survey Research, held on June 5, 2026, for her presentation titled "Comparing Item Response Characteristics of Adverse Life Experience Measures Between Socially Isolated and Withdrawn Youth and the General Youth Population."
The Korean Association for Survey Research is one of Korea's leading academic societies in survey research, promoting scholarly advancement in areas including social surveys, survey methodology, statistical analysis, and the use of survey data. At this year's spring conference, researchers presented findings based on survey data addressing a wide range of social issues. Ahn's study was recognized for its academic contribution in comparing the item response characteristics of measures assessing adverse life experiences before and after adulthood among socially isolated and withdrawn youth and their peers in the general youth population.
The award-winning study focused on survey items measuring adverse life experiences before and after adulthood, which have traditionally been examined as causes or contributing factors of social isolation and withdrawal among young people. Previous surveys targeting youth have generally measured these experiences using identical or similar items with dichotomous response categories and analyzed the results primarily through prevalence rates or summed scores. However, such approaches make it difficult to determine whether the same affirmative response carries an equivalent meaning across different groups. In particular, adverse life experiences after reaching adulthood often include challenges such as unemployment, career-related pressure, financial instability, and difficulties in forming relationships. As a result, it has been difficult to distinguish whether these survey items reflect common hardships experienced by young adults in general or the unique vulnerabilities of socially isolated and withdrawn youth.
To address this issue, Ahn examined whether socially isolated and withdrawn youth and the general youth population responded to the same survey items in comparable ways. Focusing on items that showed meaningful differences, the study also compared levels of adverse life experiences between the two groups to evaluate whether these items serve as valid indicators of the distinctive vulnerabilities experienced by socially isolated and withdrawn youth.
The findings revealed that, overall, survey items measuring adverse life experiences before and after adulthood functioned similarly across both groups. However, differential item functioning was identified in three pre-adulthood items and one post-adulthood item. While most items could be interpreted consistently across the two groups, several items showed different response patterns despite respondents having comparable levels of adverse life experiences. These findings suggest that certain experiences may carry different meanings for socially isolated and withdrawn youth than for the general youth population. The study is expected to provide a foundation for developing more refined measures and interpretations of adverse life experiences in future surveys and support policies for socially isolated and withdrawn youth.
Ahn said, "To better understand socially isolated and withdrawn youth, I believed it was important not only to examine the difficulties they have experienced but also to reflect on how we ask about and interpret those experiences. I hope to continue conducting research that closely explores the life experiences of socially isolated and withdrawn youth." She added, "I am sincerely grateful to my advisor, Professor Chung Ick-Joong, for his unwavering guidance and encouragement, which have enabled me to pursue meaningful and in-depth research."
Earlier, on May 22, 2026, Ahn also received the Encouragement Award for Best Poster at the Spring Conference of the Korean Academy of Family Social Work for her study titled "Psychosocial Pathways Linking Self-Perception of Social Isolation and Withdrawal and Family Perception to Life Satisfaction: A Multi-Group Analysis of Socially Isolated and Socially Withdrawn Youth." Through these studies, she continues to investigate the life experiences and psychosocial characteristics of socially isolated and withdrawn youth from multiple perspectives.
The Department of Social Welfare at Ewha Womans University is fostering future leaders through its BK21 Phase Four program, "ITI Social Welfare Education and Research Group for Cultivating Talent to Create Future Social Value." The program aims to develop professionals who embody Innovation through social impact leadership, Technology through creative interdisciplinary expertise, and Inclusion through global competence grounded in empathy. Through its forward-looking curriculum, interdisciplinary education, and domestic and international research collaborations, the department continues to achieve outstanding results in graduate research, international conference presentations, and faculty-led research projects while leading the development and dissemination of social welfare policies, programs, and services that address a wide range of social challenges.