• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.894-901
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to examine obstetrical & gynecological health status and body composition for married female immigrants. The participants were 154 immigrant women living in Busan. Data were collected from July 2008 to July 2009 using a questionnaire and a bioelectrical impedance analysis tool (Inbody 720) for analysis of body composition. Most subjects were in the normal range for body composition, but some of those who answered the questionnaire had experienced some gynecological problems such as dysmenorrhea, or irregular menstruation. There was a significant difference in experiences with in vitro fertilization, pregnancy and abortion according to age and in premensturaion syndrome, as well as differences in regulation of menstruation during the past year, leukorrhea odor, experiences in in vitro fertilization, and delivery and breastfeeding according to nationality. There were significant differences in body mass index and waist-hip ratio according to age, as well as differences in percent body fat, body mass index and waist-hip ratio according to nationality. There were also significant differences in body mass index and waist-hip ratio according to period of stay in Korea. Procreative care protocols concerning married female immigrants' characteristics should be developed.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.163-175
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• 2014

This study is to explain social capital characteristics of Filipino immigrant women at the level of neighborhood. This research targeted Filipino immigrant women in the metropolis, small town and rural area in Korea to find out the relevance of individual property and characteristics of the community and social capital of neighboring communities- school community, cathedral community, etc- through measurement of the participants' recognition. This study reveals that differences exist in the relationship between length of residence and social capital in the school community and the catholic church community. There is a significant positive relationship between length of residence and political factors in the catholic church community, thereby having a better relationship with longer period of stay, while length of residence and confidence show a negative trend in the school community, leading to less confidence. The catholic church community holds a dominant position in homogeneity, cohesion, and the amount of social capital. According to the findings, social capital 'relation' is more closely related to homogeneity of the community, 'norms' to cohesion. 'Relation and norms' and 'confidence and politics' factors are recognized similarly in both communities, thus resulting in the recognition that decision making within the community, the share of value, and observance of social norms approximate a friendly relationship among members, and satisfaction level, emotional support, and confidence among members approach politics that members can talk about their personal matters. It is noted in the research process that the symbolism of the cathedral community as a transnational circuit behavior occurs where collective culture and personal desires of Filipino immigrant women were combined with production of social capital. Filipino immigrant women's awareness of community and social capital appearing in the cathedral community show that not only residence, along with the cultural identity of Filipino immigrant women, but also collective social and cultural characteristics, such as 'family reunion' can not be overlooked. In particular, at this time when discussion and debate on the interculturalism over multiculturalism is heating up, communal spirit and social capital based on the ethnic identity are important in that they can be a crucial path to the cross-cultural interaction with our society, therefore, a study on the social capital of the ethnic community needs to be encouraged and extended to more diverse communities, to the space of the multilayered scale.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.179-188
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• 2016

Purpose: This cross-sectional study aimed to document the dietary behaviors, dietary changes, and health status of female marriage immigrants residing in Gwangju, Korea. Methods: The survey included 92 female immigrants attending Korean language class at a multi-cultural family support center. General characteristics, health status, anthropometric data, dietary behaviors, and dietary changes were collected. Results: Mean age of subjects was 31.3 years, and home countries of subjects were Vietnam (50.0%), China (26.0%), Philippines (12.0%), and others (12.0%). Frequently reported chronic diseases were digestive diseases (13.2%), anemia (12.1%), and neuropsychiatry disorder (8.9%). Seventeen percent of the subjects was obese ($BMI{\geq}25kg/m^2$). Dietary score by Mini Dietary Assessment was 3.45 out of 5 points. Dietary scores for dairy foods, meat/fish/egg/bean intake, meal regularity, and food variety were low, and those for fried foods and high fat meat intake were also low. Thirty-three percent of subjects answered that they have changed their diet and increased their consumption of fruits and vegetables after immigration. Length of residence in Korea was positively associated with BMI and waist circumference. Length of residence tends to be positively associated with dietary changes and obesity as well as inversely associated with disease prevalence. Conclusion: The study shows that length of residence is inversely related to disease prevalence. However, this association is thought to be due to the relatively short period of residence in Korea and thus the transitional phase to adapting to dietary practices. As the length of residence increases, disease patterns related to obesity are subject to change. Healthy dietary behaviors and adaptation to dietary practices in Korea in female marriage immigrants will not only benefit individuals but also their families and social structure. Therefore, varied, long-term, and target-specific studies on female marriage immigrants are highly needed.

• Korean Journal of Family Social Work
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• no.55
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• pp.237-264
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• 2017

This study empirically tests whether community participation has a positive effect on parenting efficacy among marriage immigrant women in South Korea. The 3rd wave of the Gyoenggi Education Welfare Panel data was used, which includes 396 marriage immigrant women residing in Gyoenggi Province. Findings of hierarchical multiple regression analyses suggested that higher Korean language proficiency, shorter duration of residency, lower parenting stress and more positive family environment were associated with higher parenting efficacy. Community participation level had a statistically significant and positive impact on parenting efficacy, even after controlling for other variables. The type of community activities did not have significant impact on parenting efficacy, except for children's school activities, which had a negative impact on parenting efficacy. Implications for social work practice are discussed.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.12
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• pp.1206-1211
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• 2007

Purpose : The aim of this study was to investigate the risk of low birth weight associated with delayed first childbearing in Korea. Methods : The national birth certificate data of the singletons and first babies in Korea from January 2001 to December 2003 (n=736,167) was used. Outcome measures were rates of low birth weight infant, very low birth weight infant between 6 maternal age group (<20 years, 20-24 years, 25-29 years, 30-34 years and >35years). Odd ratios were calculated by multiple logistic regression on marital state, maternal education, maternal occupation, paternal occupation, duration of marriage and address. Results : Compared with women aged 25 to 29 years, women aged 30-35 years, 35-40 years and over 40 years had higher odds ratios of low birth weight, odd ratios were 1.3, 2.1, 2.4 respectively. Even though adjusted by marital state, maternal education, maternal occupation, paternal occupation, duration of marriage and address, odds ratios were 1.3, 1.9, 2.0 respectively. Compared with women aged 25 to 29 years, women aged 30-35 years, 35-40 years and over 40 years had higher odds ratios of very low birth weight, odd ratios were 1.8, 3.3, 3.7 respectively. Even though adjusted, odd ratios were 1.6, 2.7, 2.6 respectively. Compared with the incidence of low birth weight in each maternal age, maternal education, marital state, married, high school graduated thirties women was lower incidence than unmarried, high school graduated twenties women. Conclusion : These findings suggest that delayed childbearing increase the risk of low birth weight and very low birth weight, but if pregnant women have better socioeconomic condition, the impact of advanced maternal age on the risk of low birth weight will be decreased.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.103-131
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• 2010

This study observes how the conjugal sharing of the roles such as breadwinning, housework/childcare, and leisure activities affects wives' marital satisfaction, and how the relationships among the considered variables are similar or different across age categories. Two dependent variables, the relationship satisfaction and the marital happiness, are measured and estimated as the concept of the marital satisfaction. Analysed is the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families 2008 collected by Korean Women's Development Institute. Among women in the ages of 30s-50s, full-time housewives with the breadwinning husbands feel happier with their marriage than the wives in dual career families, and those in dual career families are happier than the breadwinning women with the househusbands. Among the women in their 40s, the highest relationship satisfaction is reported by the those of the dual career families. Wives in their 30s prefer equal division of familywork in explaining the relationship satisfaction, while wives in the age of 40s and 50s show only the effect of reducing wives' portion. The co-spousal leisure activity is consistently significant in its positive relationship with the marital satisfaction across the age categories. There is a general tendency that the marital satisfaction is the highest in the youngest age bracket and the lowest in the oldest. For managing better marriages, individual efforts of both spouses as well as social support are required.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.211-238
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• 2012

Using data from Korean Longitudinal Study on Aging (KLoSA), this study examines how continuity and change of marital status is associated with health over time among older women, focusing on the moderating effects of age and parent-child relationships. KLoSA data set has two waves of interviews, and for this study, 2046 women aged 65 and over were selected. To analyze data, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used. The major findings are as follows. First, there was no statistically significant difference in health between continuously married older women and continuously single older women. However, older women who had transition from being married to being single showed lower physical health than continuously married and continuously single older women. Second, there were statistically significant differences in the effect of marital status on mental health according to the age of older women. Older women who had transition from being married to being single showed lower mental health than continuously married elders when older women were younger. Third, contact with children moderated the effect of marital status on physical health. Older women who had transition from being married to being single showed lower physical health than continuously single and continuously married older women when older women had less contact with their children. The findings imply after the loss of marital role, older women's relationship with adult children plays a significant role in promoting health. In conclusion, the findings of this study show the different pathways through which marital status is associated with health for 3 different groups of older women, being continuously single, being continuously married, and making transition from being married to being single.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.451-484
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• 2013

This study investigated the factors that influence subjective well-being of immigrant wives in Korea. We initially grouped the factors into 3 categories: personal, domestic, and social. For personal factors, we included couple's age difference, reason for entry, religion, marital duration, employment status, economical status, acculturation to Korean culture, acquisition of Korean language, and ego-resiliency. For domestic factors we included marriage process, reason for marriage, husbands' understanding of wife's native language, husbands' understanding of wife's culture, marital satisfaction, existence of children, head of the household, and parenting efficacy. Finally for social factors, awareness of welfare services and systems, use of public institutions and civil organizations, and participation in social groups were included. We recruited 256 immigrant wives who live in Asan City, Chungnam Province and the data were analyzed by multiple linear regression. The factors that statistically significant were: ego-resiliency, marital duration, acculturation to Korean culture and economic status among personal factors; parenting efficacy, marital satisfaction and marriage process (married without a matchmaker) among domestic factors; participation in self-help group of women from the same mother country, awareness of welfare services and systems, participation in hobby club, and participation in fraternal/religious society among social factors. It is hoped that this paper will yield general insights into subjective well-being of immigrant wives and may help them to develop inner talent and strength.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.349-357
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• 2012

This paper was to investigate the effects of conjugal power and gender role attitudes on marital satisfaction of middle-aged couples. This survey was conducted from April, 2011 to May, 2011 and 265 responses from the survey were used for the analysis. The data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA pearson correlation and multiple regression. The research findings could be summarized as the followings. First, the mean scores of gender role attitude, conjugal power, marital satisfaction of the marital middle-aged couples were higher than averages. Second, gender role attitude and conjugal power were the significant predictors to explain marital satisfaction of marital middle-aged couples.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.183-202
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to examine mediating effects of social adaptation on the relationship between employment status and mental health in a sample of marriage immigrant women. Social adaptation was assessed with Korean proficiency and the length of residence in Korea. Participants comprised of a total of 247 marriage immigrant women who reside in Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi-Do. The data were analyzed by the PASW Statistics 18.0 and the AMOS 18.0 software. The results showed that the social adaptation was a full mediator of the relationship between employment status and mental health. It is plausible to state that employment status may enhance social adaptation, which in turn improve mental health among marriage immigrant women. The implication of our findings is that as employment and social adaptation are important elements of mental health among the marriage immigrate women, education and social support system regarding these antecedent factors should be implemented.