• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.241-271
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• 2012

This questionnaire study examined the processes linking bicultural identity to self-positivity derived from taking multiple perspectives that, in turn, affects marital well-being among marriage immigrant women. Data were drawn from 281 marriage immigrant women residing in large cities in Korea including Seoul metropolitan area. Results of covariance structural analyses supported most study hypotheses: As predicted, bicultural identity contributed to self-positivity composed of taking multiple perspectives, self-acceptance and self-regulation, and the self-positivity, in turn, promoted marital well-being, conceptualized as marital satisfaction and marital stability. Bicultural identity also showd a significant direct positive effect on marital well-being. In path analyses conducted with observed variables, Korean cultural identity and home cultural identity both had significant positive effects on multiple perspective taking, through which these identity variables were positively related to self-acceptance and self-regulation. While self-acceptance was, as expected, positively related to marital satisfaction, thus indirectly promoting marital stability, the positive effect of self-regulation on marital stability was not signifiant. Taking multiple perspectives was found to promote marital well-being through encouraging both self-acceptance and consensus with a spouse. The effect of Korean cultural identity on marital well-being was found to be completely mediated by self-acceptance and consensus with a spouse fostered by taking multiple perspectives. In contrast, the effect of home cultural identity on marital well-being was partly mediated by such paths, and home cultural identity also had a positive direct effect on marital satisfaction and a negative direct effect on marital stability, suggesting its effect on marital well-being is complicated. Yet total effects of both types of cultural identity on marital well-being turned out to be positive. These results suggest that bicultural identity, supposed to be a psychological strength among marriage immigrant women, may indeed function as psychological resources that promote positive attitude as well as marital well-being. Finally, implications for multicultural social work practice are discussed.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.179-185
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• 2015

This study aims to analyze how the media represents marriage immigrant women in the reality of Korean multicultural society. In particular, by analyzing an EBS documentary titled, 'Multicultural Fierce Conflicts between Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law', this study clarifies that this content adopted travel narrative to show conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law and solution of these conflicts. The documentary apparently shows mutual understanding and cultural diversity but still keeps representing these conflicts as individual's 'trivial' problems. Under this way of representation, social and structural problem or institutional problem in reality can be covered up by the medium of travel. It makes such a conflict look like an individual's 'trivial' problem can be solved by individuals.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.365-388
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• 2012

This study examined the effect of bilingual bicultural home environment and mother's command of Korean language on their participation in child rearing as well as on children's developmental outcomes. We carried out Analysis of Covariance Structure using the 1st year(2011) data of Gyeonggi Education Welfare Panel, which consists of 459 matched pairs of immigrant women and their 5th~6th grade children living in Gyeonggi-do. The results indicated that when the immigrant mother has good command of Korean language and the children are exposed to their maternal culture and language, mothers tend to actively participate in child rearing and this in turn has positive effects on developmental outcomes of their children. These results demonstrate that Korean language programs targeting immigrant women by marriage are important not only for assisting their employment and adaptation but also for enhancing parenting behaviors in multicultural families. Moreover these findings suggest that we need to understand the bilingual bicultural home environment in these families as a significant resource that contribute to their children's developmental outcomes and not as a risk factor to their adaptation, as it has frequently been viewed.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.233-243
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aims to investigate and explain the influence of personal characteristics on female immigrants' perception and attitude towards the Korean food culture. Methods: Exploratory research was performed by conducting a self-administered survey. A purposive sampling method was used to recruit 289 participants to determine their level of information awareness, perception and familiarity with Korean food culture. Results: Female immigrants' mean FNS score was 3.70. FNS score decreased in women from Northeast Asia, women who received higher education, and in urban women. The level of information awareness of Korean Food culture was 3.47, which was above average. Women from Southeast Asia had a higher level of awareness about cooking methods and table setting. Females living in the countryside and those who had lived for more than 7 years in Korea had higher levels of information awareness than other groups. Women from Southeast Asia perceived that Korean food is spicy; on the other hand, women from Northeast Asia discerned that Korean food is pungent and is prepared scientifically. The neophilic group more positively recognized Korean foods based on taste and nutritional value than did the neophobic group. Subjects living in the countryside were more likely to evaluate nutritional value, scientific aspects and artistry higher. The research also found that the neophilic group and immigrants who had lived for more than 7 years in Korea were significantly correlated with the familiarity with Korean food culture. Conclusion: The findings provide an initial step towards developing a customized education program for female marriage immigrants to adapt and to become familiar with Korean food culture with a comprehensive understanding of personal traits for accepting a new food culture.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.264-276
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• 2023

Purpose: Food environmental factors related to food insecurity affect household food intake in several socio-ecological aspects. This study explores the relationship between food environment factors and food insecurity in households with married immigrant women. Methods: From November 2018 to February 2020, a survey was conducted enrolling 249 married immigrant women residing in the metropolitan areas of South Korea. In the final analysis, 229 subjects were divided into 2 groups classified as food security (n = 154) and food insecurity (n = 75), as assessed by the score of food security. Three aspects of food environments were measured: built·natural, political·economic, and socio-cultural Results: Food environments were significantly different between food security and food insecurity groups, as follows: the number of foods market and their distance from the home and food status for the last week at home in the built·natural domain; monthly cost of food purchase and experience for food assistance in the political·economic domain; total score of social support, parenting, and cooking skills in the socio-cultural domain. A stepwise multivariate linear regression model showed a negative association between the food insecurity score with social support from family and food inventory status in the last week. After adjusting for confounders, a positive association was obtained between the experience of a food support program. The final regression model explains about 30% of the relationship obtained in the three food environment domains and food insecurity (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Not only economic factors, which are common determinants of household food insecurity, but socio-cultural factors such as social support also affect household food insecurity. Therefore, plans for implementing a food assistance program to improve food insecurity for households with immigrant women should consider financial support as well as other comprehensive aspects, including socio-cultural domain such as social support from family and community.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.63 no.6
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• pp.127-139
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• 2013

This research is designed to provide basic data to study the life and culture of multicultural families in Korea by taking a look at the clothing behaviors and attitudes toward traditional dresses. To this end, quantitative research was conducted on Korea-Vietnam multicultural families and Korean families. The surveys of the Korean families were completed by 250 married women in Seoul, and those of Korea-Vietnam multicultural families by 104 married Vietnamese women living in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do and Incheon. The data were analyzed using frequency analysis, factor analysis, t-test, crosstabs and ${\chi}^2$-test. The findings are as follows: First, the comparison of clothing behaviors of the Korean families and the Korea-Vietnam multicultural families found that they had statistically significant differences in values towards clothes, clothes shopping orientation and clothes purchasing behaviors. The Korean women were more involved in clothes and fashion-oriented than their Vietnamese counterparts. However, the Vietnamese women in their 20s were likely to rely more on social trends than their own needs when purchasing clothes compared to their Korean counterparts. Korean families preferred to shop in department stores, while the multicultural families relied more on discount stores and outlets. Second, the comparison of the Korean families and the Korea-Vietnam families in attitudes toward their own traditional dresses and how often to wear them showed statistically meaningful differences. The Korean group had more negative attitudes toward Hanbok, the Korean traditional dresses than the Vietnamese group. The Vietnamese women showed more interest in information on Hanbok than their Korean counterparts. They also were wearing the Korean traditional dresses more often than the Korean families. In addition, the Vietnamese women showed a stronger tendency than the Korean women that they took pride in their country's traditional dresses and believed that they were beautiful.

• Industry Promotion Research
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.147-162
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• 2023

This study explored the experience of social support in the education and rearing of children of immigrant women through international marriage and found its essential meaning. First of all, the husband's social support was very important, but the relationship with the husband had a different effect on childrearing and education. Parents-in-law had a positive and negative impact on child rearing and education of them due to cultural conflicts between the two countries. Their own mother was a strong support that gave them great strength just by being there, and as their children grew up, they regarded their mother as the source of bilingual education for their children. Other supporters around them were Korean friends who connected Korean society by sharing information on child care and education. Friends who spoke and communicated in their native language were emotional and psychological supporters that bonded the same experience of parenting and education for their children. In conclusion, the research participants expected a better life for themselves and their children by using a multi-layered social support system as well as a transnational family network in the process of child education and care. Accordingly, it was proposed to systematically improve the laws, systems, and policy support so that the social support system can be further strengthened at the family, community, and transnational levels for the education and care of children of immigrant women through international marriage.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.175-185
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• 2012

Purpose: This micro-ethnographic study aimed to understand coping experiences of Korean-American (K-A) women after diagnosis with breast cancer due to a hereditary gene mutation. Methods: Participatory observation and in-depth interviews were performed at one breast cancer screening center in Southern California, in 2005 with eleven first generation K-A immigrant women. All transcribed interviews and field notes were analyzed using ethnographic methodology. Results: K-A women's experience varied based on acculturation risk factors including: limited English speaking ability; disrupted family relationships, individualistic family values, or intergenerational communication barriers; lack of Korean speaking nurses; and Korean physicians' who lacked knowledge about hereditary breast cancer risk. These risk factors led to isolation, loneliness, lack of emotional and social support. In comparison to Korean homeland women in a similar medical situation, these K-A immigrants felt disconnected from the healthcare system, family support and social resources which increased their struggling and impeded coping during their survivorship journey. These women were not able to access self-support groups, nor the valuable resources of nurse navigator programs. Conclusion: Professional oncology associations for nurses and physicians have a moral obligation to support and promote knowledge of hereditary cancer risk and self-help groups for non-native speaking immigrants.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.268-275
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• 2012

The Purpose of research was conducted to study the effect on the behavior for oral cavity health management, use of dentistry, realities of the diet and state of oral cavity in order to increase awareness and management by women from multicultural families to ensure health of their oral cavity. Women of the Philippines nationality who migrated to Korea after tended to manifest higher frequency of getting treatment at dentistry compared to women of the other nationality. Women of the Japanese nationality who migrated to Korea tended to manifest high frequency of getting treatment at dentistry as well. It is necessary to analyze the difference in the adaption to the society and to the Korean culture in depth by each nation, income level, occupation to be considerate by alleviating financial burden on them.

• Industry Promotion Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.107-115
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• 2020

This study is to find social welfare practices that married women migrant can provide to them in order to relieve the stress of cultural differences and enjoy a good family life. Results,First, action plans to overcome intercultural differences are needed. To overcome effective cross-cultural differences, interventions and goals are set for culturally diverse clients that match their racial, cultural, ethnic, gender and sexual orientation.Second, it is necessary to cultivate professional education personnel. In order to train professionals, cultural diversity should be addressed in existing social welfare courses.Third, the related laws need to be rearranged. The Multicultural Family Support Act continues to emerge as a need for supplementation, including the understanding of Korean family culture and the lack of counseling for immigrant women.As a result, married women immigrants recognize that Korean life is different from their own in many aspects of their daily lives, so they endeavor to have a lot of patience and high level of effort in the adaptation process. Therefore, there is a need for a social welfare practice that can support this.