• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.252-261
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• 2016

This study examined the health status of female foreign spouses of multicultural families in Korea. More specifically, this study examined whether within-group difference exists depending on their country of origin in health status as well as determinants of their health status. For the analyses, data from the 2012 National Survey of Multicultural Families was used and a total of 165,451 spouses from China (both Korean-Chinese and Han Chinese), Vietnam, and The Philippines were included. The result showed that Vietnamese and Filipino women were healthier than Korean-Chinese and Han Chinese. The determinants and their size of the effect also varied across four groups of women. The results of this study highlight the importance of understanding immigrant women in the context of their ethnic background for interventions of their health. In addition, understanding their status and experiences in Korea must be in place for immigrant health studies, and potential differences by their country of origin must be considered in the development of health policies and practice.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.127-157
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• 2014

The multicultural family support project provides support services to female marriage immigrants to promote their settlement in Korea and their adaptation to marital life. This study thus investigated whether utilization of such support services is indeed related to positive changes perceived among these female marriage immigrants, and these changes, in turn, contribute to less marital conflict, marital well-being, and hope. Data were drawn from a self-administered questionnaire study in which 558 female marriage immigrants participated through the 36 centers across the nation that provided multicultural family support services based on cultural relativism and a strengths perspective. Results of structural equation modeling analyses revealed that utilization of support services, as predicted, contributed to positive changes, and such changes, in turn, were directly related to less marital conflict, higher marital well-being, and hope. As expected, marital conflict was negatively associated with marital well-being, which, in turn, promoted hope. Thus, through these paths positive changes also contributed positively to both marital well-being and hope. However, when the effects of length of residence in Korea and an ability to command Korean language were controlled for, a positive significant relationship between service utilization and marital conflict was revealed. Therefore this paper discussed the ways in which positive functions of such service utilization can be strengthened while at the same time actively addressing the dysfunctional components of such support services.

• 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.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.471-480
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• 2011

Our previous studies have demonstrated the inadequate nutritional status of Vietnamese female marriage immigrants in Korea. Major possible reasons include food insecurity due to economic problems as well as a lack of adjustment to unfamiliar Korean foods and limited access to Vietnamese foods; however, no study has investigated food insecurity among such intermarried couples. This study was performed to investigate the prevalence of food insecurity in Korean-husband-Vietnamese-wife couples and to determine whether they exhibit an intrahousehold discrepancy regarding food insecurity. A cross-sectional analysis of the Cohort of Intermarried Women in Korea study was performed with 84 intermarried couples. Among the 84 Vietnamese immigrants, 48.8% and 41.7% had food insecurity due to economic problems and a lack of foods appealing to their appetite, respectively. There was a marked discrepancy in reporting food insecurity between Vietnamese wives (22.6-38.1%) and their Korean husbands (6.0-15.5%). Vietnamese wives were five and two times more food-insecure due to economic problems and no foods appealing to their appetite, respectively, than their Korean spouses. A follow-up study is needed to investigate the causes of this discrepancy and ways of reducing food insecurity among female marriage immigrants living in low-income, rural communities.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.197-206
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• 2014

This research intends to explore services, programs or policies for supporting married immigrant women to qualify themselves for being employed from the professional point of view on the assumption that their desire to get a job is high. To achieve this purpose, a delphi survey was conducted with a panel of 13 experts related to multi cultural family support in three sessions from December 20, 2013 to June 5, 2014. To analyze the collected data, descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, the mean, and standard deviation, were implemented, and Kendall's W for the internal reliability test on the survey instrument was carried out for statistical processing. The results are as follows : from the first session, services, programs, and policies in the level of married immigrant women themselves, children, parents in law and/or husband, organizations, and government were suggested. The highest item in average is systematization of levelwise Korean teaching program. The next higher items in average are daycare service during job training, parents in law and/or husband's consideration, parenting support services, program development of the organizations, linkage and integration system among the government ministries. As a result of the Kendall's W performed for the internal reliability test of the Delphi research, it has been concluded that the professionals' view on the supportive measures' important contents was statistically identical. According to the results of the Delphi research, systematization of levelwise Korean teaching program most required for the furtherance of the married immigrant women's entering the workforce, followed by provision of the services to draw family support, a grounding teaching of Korean corporate culture, and reconsideration of the policies.

• International Area Studies Review
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.451-481
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• 2011

This study is the identify of influence in the social adjustment stress on foreign female immigrants in Korea. the study is like followings: First, offering the opportunity of employment will increase social activity of foreign female immigrants in Korea, and it will be helpful for their adaptation in Korean society. Second, the service of supporting family should be provided for settlement of foreign female immigrants in Korea, and proper education for affirmative adaptation of them in all spheres of home life, language, culture and it should be performed through their family. Third, systematic service of social welfare should be offered. The adoption of the system which overcome geographical limitation and can provide the service to needed people is required. In addition, for foreign female immigrants in Korea who cannot receive basic Korean language's education because of geographical limitation, it will be another solution which creates programs about Korean language's education. Finally, for understanding culture shock and keeping social relationship, the plans of supporting foreign female immigrants in Korea are required.

• Korean Journal of Family Social Work
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• no.56
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• pp.225-250
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• 2017

The purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of the social capital among married female immigrant on their quality of life and the mediating effect of empowerment. The data were collected from 260 married female immigrants and SPSS Statistics 20.0 and AMOS 22.0 were utilized to analyze the data. The results showed that social capital had statistically significant relationship with empowerment and quality of life among married female immigrants. In addition, empowerment was a statistically significant mediator in the association of social capital and quality of life. Based on these findings, the implications for social welfare practice to improve social capital and empowerment of married female immigrants and recommendations for the further studies were suggested.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.260-265
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• 2011

The objectives of this study were to develop a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for Vietnamese female immigrants in Korea and to evaluate the validity of the FFQ. A total of 80 food items were selected in developing the FFQ according to consumption frequency, the contribution of energy and other nutrients, and the cooking methods based on one-day 24 hour recall (24HR) from 918 Vietnamese female immigrants between November 2006 and November 2007. The FFQ was validated by comparison with 24HR of 425 Vietnamese female immigrants between November 2008 and August 2009. The absolute nutrient intake calculated from the FFQ was higher than that estimated by 24HR for most nutrients. The correlation coefficients between 24HR and FFQ ranged from 0.10 (vitamin C) - 0.36 (energy) for crude intake, 0.05 (vitamin E) - 0.32 (calcium) for per 1000 kcal, and 0.08 (zinc) - 0.34 (calcium) for energy-adjusted, respectively. More than 70% of subjects were classified into the same or adjacent agreement groups for nutrients other than fiber, sodium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E, while less than 10% of subjects were classified into complete disagreement groups. We conclude that the FFQ appears to be an acceptable tool for estimating nutrient intake and dietary patterns of Vietnamese female immigrants in Korea. Future studies to validate the FFQ using various biomarkers or other dietary assessment methods are needed.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.379-387
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• 2014

This study aimed to explore the effects of married female immigrants' consciousness of later life and social and leisure activities on their preparation perception for their later life. We used data from 355 married female immigrants, residing in or nearby, Choongchungnam-do, Korea in 2013. Regressional analysis and SPSS 18.0 were conducted to prove the hypotheses. Consistent with previous studies, the findings of this study indicate that having more activities on leisure and social life and more planning on later life constitute critical factors for higher emotional, physical, and economical preparation perception for later life. Here we discussed strategies in planning social welfare policy for married female immigrants by providing basic information.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.103-114
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• 2017

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the married female immigrants' experience on Korean dietary life adaptation, especially identifying the symbolic meaning and nature of experiences. Methods: This study was conducted with six married female immigrants through an analysis of the qualitative materials which consisted of in-depth interviews, field notes and materials. Data was analyzed using Giorgi's phenomenological research methods. Results: The results were deduced as 116 significant statements, 17 formulated meanings (sub-theme), and 6 theme clusters. Six theme clusters comprised of lack of preliminary knowledge and information, conflict and support in relationships, Korean food culture which is different from homeland, adaptation attitudes of Korean food culture according to situation, sharing of homeland food culture, and practical difficulty and expectative service. The participants started Korean life in the dark about Korea and Korean food culture, so they were subjected to trial and error. The conflict between Korean mother-in-law and foreign daughter-in-law came from lack of consideration of daughter-in-law's cultural background. Some participants were hurt because of misunderstanding and nitpicking. They were learning about cooking method, ingredient, seasoning, table setting and manner. Some participants integrated Korean food culture and their homeland food culture. Some of them assimilated with Korean food culture. One of them maintained homeland food culture. The participants who adapted Korean food culture well could share homeland food amicably. They sometimes didn't apply the services which were offered by the government, because the services did not fit their needs. Some of them didn't know the usage route of the services or information. They had resistance about home teaching and it showed that outreach service was not always effective. Conclusions: This study suggested that it is necessary to develop a practical support plan which covers married female immigrants' real needs and system improvement measures.