• Child Studies in Asia-Pacific Contexts
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.13-25
• /
• 2014

The goal of this study was to examine the correlations of stress coping strategies and cultural, psychological and school adjustment among Korean early study-abroad adolescents in the United States. Participants were 437 Korean early study-abroad adolescents aged 15 to 18 years old enrolled in summer language institutes located in Seoul and Gyeonggido, South Korea. The survey consisted of questionnaires relating to coping strategies and, cultural, psychological and school adjustments. The data was collected during the break time of summer language institute classes. Results showed that these adolescents' problem focused and social support coping strategies were positively related with acculturation, psychological adjustment and school adjustment, and emotion focused coping strategy was positively related to satisfaction of life.

• Korean Journal of Comparative Education
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.199-226
• /
• 2014

The aim of this study was to determine key experiences of homestay guardians of unaccompanied minor Korean adolescents studying abroad in the United States through qualitative research method of grounded theory methodology. This study identified guardianship experiences and the process of adjustment to life with homestay students through in-depth interviews with 12 subjects who are Korean guardians in the United States. The results of this study classified "started with concern" as a category that leads guardians to start providing homestay accommodation, and "other's recommendation," "need for financial support," and "unexpectedly" as subcategories. This study identified "act as a mediator to resolve differences" as a key experience of guardians, and classified subcategories are "parental role" and "calculation of gains and losses" on a personal level; and "feel sorry for own children," "limited leeway of the family," and "formation of relationship between own children and homestay students" on a family level. Developed subcategories are "thirsty for attention," "vulnerability," "task on freedom and control," and "regrettable feeling in the absence of communication" with respect to relationship with students; "grade expectations," "one-way communication," "trapped between parents' and students' demands" in regard to relationship with parents; and "advice from school" in the aspect of school. "Cultural difference," "preparedness of students and parents," "age differences between guardian's children and students," "family support," "similar personalities," "guardian's motivation," and "parent's attitude" are subcategories that affect central phenomenon of guardians.