• 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.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.972-986
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• 2015

This study seeks to explore the relationship between clothing adaptation and acculturation for married Chinese immigrant women. In addition, it aims to analyze the differences in their clothing consumption behaviors according to acculturation level. To achieve these purposes, a quantitative research study was conducted on 291 wives of Korean-Chinese multicultural families in Seoul and Gyeonggi. The data was analyzed using factor analysis, cluster analysis, ANOVA, and the Duncun test. The findings were as follows. First, the women were divided into three groups based on their level of acculturation, which was defined as 'assimilated', 'marginalized' and 'segregated'. Second, the relationship between their acculturation level and their clothing adaptation was identified. The marginalized group had the lowest level of clothing adaptation. Third, the groups' differences in clothing selection criteria were analyzed. The segregated group considered the practical aspects (price, color, quality) of clothing to be more important than the other groups. The marginalized group scored the lowest in valuing the aesthetic factors (design, style, trendiness) of clothing. Finally, conformity of clothing consumption varied significantly based on acculturation level. The assimilated and marginalized groups showed higher levels conformity than did the segregated group. Clothing purchase location also varied significantly between the three groups. The assimilated and marginalized groups preferred online shopping, but members of the segregated group preferred to carry out their shopping off-line. This study showed that clothing adaptation and clothing consumption behaviors play key roles in understanding the acculturation of multicultural families.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.76-84
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Few epidemiological studies examined the association between fried food intake and hypertension. This study examined whether fried food intake was associated with higher prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension combined in a cross-sectional study of the Filipino Women's Diet and Health Study (FiLWHEL). SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study included a total of 428 women aged 20-57 years who have ever been married to Korean men. Prehypertension was defined as 120 - < 140 mmHg of SBP or 80 - < 90 mmHg of DBP and hypertension as SBP ≥ 140 mmHg or DBP ≥ 90 mmHg. Fried food intake was assessed using one-day 24-hour recall. Fried foods were categorized into total, deep/shallow and pan/stir fried foods. The odds ratio (OR)s and 95% confidence interval (CI)s were calculated using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension combined was 41.36% in this population. High fried food intake was associated with high prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension combined. The odds of having prehypertension and hypertension was higher in the 3rd tertile of fried food intake among fried food consumers compared to non-fried food consumers (OR = 2.46, 95% CI = 1.24, 4.87; P for trend = 0.004). Separate analysis for types of frying showed that deep and shallow fried food intake was associated with prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension combined for comparing the 3rd tertile vs. non-fried food consumers (OR = 2.93; 95% CI = 1.57-5.47; P for trend = < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed the evidence that high fried food intake was significantly associated with high prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension combined among Filipino women married to Korean men.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.39-47
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• 2017

Purpose - This study investigated xenophobia that has been a serious social problem, and classified multi-cultural groups in Korea into married immigrant, foreign labor workers and foreign students studying in Korea to examine the effects of fixed idea on multi-cultural persons, multi-cultural education experience, multi-cultural sensitivity, good feeling on multi-cultural persons upon social distance with multi-cultural persons, and to find out counteractions and cultural capacity on the xenophobia. Research design, data, and methodology - The study classified multi-cultural persons into married women immigrant, foreign labor worker, and foreign students studying in Korea to examine the effects of their thoughts on cultural cognition. Self-administered questionnaire was used. The subject was college students in Gyeonggi, Gyeongnam and Chungcheong with industrial complexes, more married women immigrants and more foreign students studying in Korea. Results - As shown in the findings, Korean people had different emotion and preference on married immigrant or foreign students studying in Korea and foreign labor workers. Conclusions - This study investigated the effect of multi-cultural person's cultural distance upon xenophobia. Different preference to multi-cultural persons depending upon fixed idea might produce xenophobia, so that the government was demanded to establish various kinds of policies of lives to live life together with immigrant at government level.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.48-60
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was to explore the postnatal care experiences among first time Chinese immigrant mothers living in Korea. Methods: Data were collected by focus group interviews with 12 first time Chinese immigrant mothers utilizing 3 focus groups. After obtaining written informed consent from all participants, each session of the focus group was audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed by content analysis to identify major themes. Results: Four major themes for postnatal care experiences were extracted from the data as follows. 1) Range over traditional, modern, Korean or Chinese postnatal care, 2) Struggle with newborn care, 3) Another struggle with breastfeeding, and 4) Difficulties in becoming a mother as an immigrant. Conclusion: Based on their postpartum care experiences, it is concluded that participants requested more professional practical and individualized education/training for successful breastfeeding and newborn care. Health care providers need to develop and implement integrated support and mentoring programs that include information and peer support system for the first time Chinese immigrant mothers living in Korea. This would decrease the difficulties of becoming a mother.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.61-72
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• 2010

Objectives: This study was peformed to identify the related factors on Vietnamese immigrant women's reproductive health problems. Survey Participants were 231 immigrant vietnamese woman who lived at six cities in Korea. Methods: The comprehensive PRECEDE model comprised of diagnosis and planning curricular targeted or immigrant women aged 15-49. Data collection was conducted by face-to-face interview survey. Results: 1. The influential variables of recognition of reproductive health problems from the logistic analysis were using contraceptives (p=0.002), relationships with partners (p=0.000), the need of family planning (p=0.007), social support (p=0.009). This means that they experienced reproductive health problems when they did not use contraceptives, did not need family planning, did not receive social support and had close relationships with their partners. Conclusion: The basic data were provided for prevention of reproductive health problems such as unwanted pregnancy and abortion, as well as improved understanding of the different views on pregnancy, birth culture and sexual and reproductive health between Korea and Vietnam.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.121-145
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to understand married female immigrants' life adjustment process in Korea by explaining the resources to which they have access and how they use them. The data were collected through in-depth interviews with ten female participants who have more than one child, have participated in programs of the multicultural family support center, have work experience, can communicate with Koreans, and live in Daegu. The major findings are as follows. The participants' personal resources differed. English language skills were very useful resources for making money and for earning the respect of family members and others. However, the participants without English language skills had sincerely and actively tried to learn the Korean language and gain bilingual competence. The participants obtained diverse family resources from their husbands and parents-in-law after adapting themselves to perform their gender role. Further, the participants used the social resources offered by public support systems as a starting point for learning the Korean language in their early adaptation process, and formed personal networks with staff members at the multicultural family support center. The results show that the participants used many kinds of resources for acculturation by interacting positively with their environment. Moreover, the resources from diverse levels of their environments affected their acculturation process.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 2002

Research on diet, acculturation, and ethnicity has suggested that immigrants dietary patterns differ from people who do not have immigration experience. The purpose of this paper is to present preliminary descriptive findings concerning consumption of foods that are common in Korean and American diets, by people of Korean descent residing in California. Adults (18 years of age or older, N=1334) of Korean descent who could be reached by listed residential telephone number in California were randomly selected and telephone-interviewed by closely supervised bilingual (Korean-English) interviewers who were specially trained for this task. This study found that dietary patterns of Koreans living in California differed according to age and gender; also, the frequency of consumption of foods differed according to number of years of residence and acculturation. Koreans who reported higher levels of acculturation to American society ate less of traditional Korean foods such as Kimchi and ate significantly more higher-fat foods common in the American diet. Increased acculturation was also related to an increased frequency of alcohol drinking. Older Koreans tended to eat slightly more of traditional foods such as rice, Kimchi, fruits, and fish, compared to younger Koreans. Women tended to eat healthier foods than men, consuming green vegetables, Kimchi, milk, cheese/yogurt, fruits, and bread more frequently. Koreans reporting longer residences in the United States reported a greater consumption of pork, bread, and soda.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.613-620
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• 2020

This study aimed to investigate the current state and trends of health literacy research conducted on female marriage immigrant in South Korea over the past 10 years. A total of 107 related studies were searched through the web database, and 10 of them that met the inclusion criteria were finally analyzed. Most of the studies conducted in the healthcare fields such as nursing. Of the 9 studies were descriptive study, and there were no intervention studies. Most of studies involving women from main country of origin such as Vietnam, China, and the Philippines, and many studies conducted convenience sampling of less than 200 subjects from some regions for reasons such as accessibility. As a tool for measuring health literacy, KHLAT was most frequently used. For future research, collaborative research with healthcare fields and other fields through interdisciplinary interaction is necessary, and a circumstance in which field workers actively participate in research should be prepared. In addition, further studies including larger sample and community-based intervention improve health literacy are needed. Finally, efforts to improve the methodological consistency in the application of health literacy tools and to develop standardized instruments are required.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.147-163
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• 2011

In recent years, the relationship of language maintenance to culture and identity has received increased attention in the language acquisition and education fields. Korean immigrants in the U.S. form one of the biggest Asian groups and their language and cultural maintenance has been a major issue for both parents and ESL teachers. The present research is designed to investigate the cultural and social identities as well as the psychological investment factors that contribute to heritage language maintenance. Three Korean immigrant families in a small Midwest university town in the U.S. were surveyed and later interviewed. Issues and strategies concerning their children's Korean education in the U.S., coupled with the competing goal for the children to learn English were documented through parent interviews and interviews with school-aged focal children. Strategies and stances that facilitate or hinder both heritage and target language maintenance goals are presented along with participants' major reasons for heritage language maintenance in their homes and via Saturday schools. This work will assist ESL teachers and sociolinguists in situating both Korean student and parent goals in the context of shifting cultural and linguistic identities in countries where they have immigrated.