• Child Studies in Asia-Pacific Contexts
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-23
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• 2011

Many immigrant youth and their families undergo painful separations and complicated reunification experiences. Using data from the Longitudinal Immigrant Student Adaptation (LISA) study, a 5-year longitudinal, mixed-methods study of newcomer youth to the U.S., we examine the impact of lengthy family separations on youth's mental health and their perceived family conflict. Quantitative analyses demonstrate that longer separations positively predict higher psychological symptoms and family conflict, particularly for girls over a sustained period of time. Qualitative analyses of parent and child responses provide insights into the family reunification experiences.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 2017

Purpose - The multicultural society is a society where a variety of ethnic groups and cultures co-exist. Regarding Korean multicultural society, the public interest in the multicultural society and its problems are on a growing trend due to the increasing number of the multicultural families by international marriage and the foreign immigrant workers. Research design, data, and methodology - Models of the multicultural society policies have been divided into those of assimilation and multiculturalism, while they have been materialized into the models of discriminative exclusivism, assimilation and multiculturalism. Most countries are aiming at the model of either the multiculturalism or the assimilation focused on national managerial situations. Results - In the case of Europe where the multicultural society had been formed earlier than Korea, Islamic immigrants have been politically accepted in order for Europe to overcome the problem of population decrease caused by its low birth-rate. Also, in the case of the United States. Conclusions - Korean multicultural society policies are characterized mostly by supporting the multicultural families of international marriage. In this study, it is intended to present the characteristics of diversified immigrants and the possible directions of the polices on immigrant youth in accordance with each country's managerial policy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Child Welfare
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• no.58
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• pp.231-262
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• 2017

South Korea has long been a culturally homogenous society, yet the increasing number of immigrants has turned the country into a multicultural society. Therefore, many empirical studies have investigated the way immigrants adapt to the Korean society and its associated factors. However, examining the overall process of migration (from family separation to reunification and cultural adaptation to the host society) that immigrant youth usually experience has been understudied. Previous empirical research and theoretical work have identified prominent factors that predict immigrant youth's mental health: experiences of family separation, living with others rather than primary caretakers during the separation, the length of residency in the host society, and family and peer support. In this respect, this exploratory and preliminary study that examined whether the experience of migration process and post-migration are related to Korean immigrant youth's mental health problems (depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation). The result indicated that longer duration of family separation; living with relatives, siblings; and friends rather than primary caretakers during the separation; receiving less support from family and peer after migration; and a lower degree of cultural adaptation to Korean culture were associated with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Drawing upon the results, this study discussed implications for policy and practice.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.189-224
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• 2010

Nowadays Korean society has a fast growing population of North Korean immigrant youth. Especially, North Korean immigrant youth, who are discontinuing formal education, experience difficulties in social exclusion and adaptation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of adaptation and social support of North Korean immigrant youth discontinuing formal education, and to seek affirmative supporting plans and solutions for their adaptation. The methodology utilized for this study was a case study research. On the basis of the results and categorization, 'a network between overall categories and of early adaptation' was derived. The major findings of this study are summarized as follows. First, the participants of this study experienced major difficulties during 'economical adaptation', and their economical adaptation was strongly interrelated with their 'educational adaptation'. The discontinuing of their education resulting from their fleeing period caused 'academic differential and age disparity.' Thus they could not enroll in the formal education system, and their insufficient educational background resulted in low wages and overwork due to manual labor jobs. Second, participants recognized 'interpersonal relations' as the most essential factor in adaptation, and 'social support' from the interpersonal relations played an important role in adaptation to and comfort in Korean society. 'Interactions with South Koreans' was recognized as a significant resource for gaining informational and appraisal support, but was not activated satisfactorily. On the other hand, interaction with North Korean immigrants was avoided by the reason that 'there's nothing to learn', however emotional support from North Korean immigrants of close relationship played an important role in participants' adaptation, especially in all aspects of psychological adaptation. Third, participants experienced a lot of difficulties and stresses in their 'physical health and psychological adaptation'. Their chronic diseases worsened by remaining untreated, and female perceived symptoms were observed more often than in male. Meanwhile, excessive 'stresses' from the unfamiliar environment of South Korea negatively affected their psychological adaptation. However, they were satisfied with sense of liberty and security from living in a democratic society.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.390-413
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• 2010

Facing reconfiguration of world economic order in the process of globalization and changes in domestic economic and social conditions, Japan has experienced a rapid inflow of foreign immigrants and hence a restructuring of labor market and ethic and cultural mixture. This paper explores contexts of inflow and social and spatial characteristics of immigrant workers in Japan. Uneven regional development on the global level and shifting to flexible accumulation regime, depletion of previously underutilized labor resource, better-educated youth and shrinking and aging of Japanese populace on the national level can be pointed out as important elements of immigration contexts. This paper also explains the hierarchizaton of labor market and differentiation of spatial distribution of immigrant workers in Japan in terms of visa condition and nationality. In particular, focusing on the case of Hiroshima prefecture, this paper analyzes residential differentiation of immigrants according to their nationality. Finally, it finds out some problems which immigrant workers have confronted in Hiroshima region.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.649-669
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• 2015

Korea has entered a multicultural society. As the number of multicultural family grows, identifying factors that facilitate family adjustment seems important. The relationship between parent and children can be a crucial predictor in family adjustment. Thus this study examined how the concordance/discordance in language fluency affects youth's satisfaction towards their parents. This research employed the 2012 National Survey of Multicultural Families (NSMF) using 9 to 24 year-old multicultural youth'(N=4314) data and that of their parents. Since some youth were from the same family, we used Multilevel Models to take into account youth-level data (level-1) and family-level data (level-2). The major findings are as follows: First, concordance/discordance in both national and ethnic language fluency is associated with the quality of relationship between parents and youth. Second, youth's satisfaction toward parents is highest when foreign parent and youth are fluent in Korean, as well as, when Korean parent and youth are fluent in ethnic languages. These findings can suggest directions for Korean multicultural policy to encourage fluency in both Korean and ethnic languages in multicultural families.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.27-39
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• 2018

This study explored the influencing factors on the depression of immigrant school-adolescents. It made use of family factors, school factors, and multi-cultural factors to verify the influencing variables of depression in school grade. Data were drawn from the National Survey of Multi-cultural families 2015 and analyzed t-test and chi square test and multiple regression analysis by using SPSS Win 21.0. First, school violence experience was the most important factor on the affecting depression in elementary school students. Multi-cultural family identity was the main cause of depression in middle school students, and school study difficulty in high school students. Second, major variables on the affecting depression in all groups were identified as social discrimination experience. These results implied the differentiated support by ages was asked for the stable settlement of adolescents. Experience of social discrimination was a common factor raising the level of depression in all groups. Therefore, we should be done active intervention in school environment.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.63-95
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• 2005

In the era of globalization, a significant number of young students go abroad to learn English. By reviewing the trends and characteristics of this phenomenon, this study will focus on the adjustment of young Korean students in Australia. During June and July 2002, two questionnaire surveys were conducted for year 7 to year 12 Korean students at the Saturday Schools in Sydney Australia and for the youth group at the Sydney Catholic Church. More data was collected from interviews with 31 Korean teachers at the Saturday Schools and Linfield Korean school, as well as observations of the students in the Sydney area. The study divided the students into four groups: 1) Korean immigrant students, whose parents immigrated to Australia; 2) Individual Korean students who went alone to Australia to study; 3) Students whom live in Australia with one parent (usually their mother), whilst the other parent (usually their father) who provides financial support by working in Korea; and 4) students who accompanied their parents whom were dispatched for temporary employment or study in Australia. Moreover the study focused on the following; their academic performance, school activities, motivation, social relations, and their overall satisfaction with their studies and their stay in Australia. The findings indicated that the temporary overseas Korean students, especially those that are not with their parents do not adjust as well as the Korean immigrant students. The students who were not accompanied by their parents to Australia had the most difficulties adjusting as they were more vulnerable and fell behind with their studies. Therefore, the results support the concerns of Korean teachers in Australia about parents sending young students alone abroad.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Child Welfare
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• no.58
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• pp.103-139
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• 2017

The objective of this study was to examine in depth the life of Korean-Chinese adolescents before and after entering Korean society. These adolescents experienced early separation from their biological mothers in China and were raised by relatives due to the absence of parents. The adolescents' childhoods were filled with a sense of loneliness and emptiness, which made them feel hopeless in life, and traveling to Korea in hope and fear was a major challenge in their lives. After coming to Korea, they harmed themselves by engaging in toxic behavior and found themselves hopeless. They also experienced difficulties due to the relationships that needed to be rebuilt with their biological parents, as well as the relationships with their stepparents and half-siblings. However, they reported feeling self-confident and hopeful that their life would improve in the future. In addition, family support and social-support systems have given them a potential avenue for development. Verbal data collected from seven Korean-Chinese adolescents were analyzed. Based on the results, practical recommendations to be reflected in related programs were provided.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.505-512
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the oral health behavior in adolescents between multicultural and ordinary Korean families. Methods: The subjects were 66,797 adolescents who were derived from the web-based survey of the National 2014 Korean Youth Risk Behavior of Korean Center for Disease Control. A self-reported web-based questionnaire survey was carried out from June 1 to 30, 2013. A multicultural family is defined as the immigrant mother and child in the study. The variable included demographic, socioeconomic, and oral health related behavior. The demographic characteristics included sex, age, residence area, subjective academic achievement, type of family, education of parents, subjective economic status, and nationality before marriage. Data were analyzed by PASW statistics 18.0. Results: Tooth brushing frequency was closely related to family type, age, residence area, academic achievement, residential type, education level of the parents, and economic status. Conclusions: It is necessary to support oral health services and oral health promotion programs for the adolescents in the multicultural family.