• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.403-409
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• 2009

Due to recent upsurge in international marriages, the socio-cultural adaptation, the reinforcement of family stability, and the social integration support of marriage-based immigrant family have been the major social issues. This paper tries to show the current status of marriage-based immigrants and their children nation-wide. Specifically, it analyzes the statistical trends in international marriages, traits of marriage-based immigrants and their children, their attitudes towards child raising and education, and presents policy measures to enhance their life quality.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.149-160
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine factors influencing emotional and behavior characteristics among children in multicultural families. The factors include demographic and psychological characteristics of married immigrant women. Surveys were distributed to 200 married immigrant women and, 148 surveys were returned and analyzed. The findings are as follows: first, emotional and behavioral characteristics of children were significantly associated with the age of their mothers and household income. Second, acculturative stress in married immigrant women was significantly related to the overall behavior characteristics of their children. Third, children whose mothers experienced a higher level of acculturative stress and were of older age showed internalizing problems. The level of Korean language proficiency and marital satisfaction were also important factors influencing sub-categories of internalizing and externalizing problems aside from acculturative stress. Implications and suggestions to develop preventative programs for emotional and behavioral problems of children in multicultural families are discussed.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.209-223
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influential factors which is related to stress among the children from marrried-immigrant families. The cultural adjustment factor explored as the most affective factor to the children from multi-cultural families. Associated stress with the cultural adjustment, stress which is related to Korean ability presented as the most problematic one. As the conflict related to internalized problems increased as the stress also increased. However, as social support increased as the degree of stress seems to be decreased. For those children, schools work as the safe place compare to the other social environment. Therefore, it would be beneficial to redirect the role and the function of schools for the children from the married-immigrnat families. Various educational opportunity, which is not limited to teach Korean and Korean culture, should be offered to the children as to improve his/her self-esteem.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.417-421
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• 2009

The number of international marriages in South Korea has drastically increased since the year 2000, and among these, the proportion of couples with a Korean husband and foreign wife accounts for more than 70%. At the same time, the number of children resulting from an international marriage has also risen dramatically; this tendency is especially evident in preschool children below 6 years of age. This review article shows some of the similarities and differences between children from international marriages and those from non-international households with respect to their growth, development and language skills.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1049-1069
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine post-divorce adjustment and new partnership of immigrant single mother after divorce. 4 immigrant single mothers from Vietnam were interviewed and data were analyzed by qualitative method. The results were as follows. First, immigrant single mothers coped with stress after divorce through sending their children to Vietnam, working and remittance. Second, they began dating a new man in the work place who were of various nationalities, such as Korean, Vietnamese, Uzbekistan and developed partnership to remarry, cohabit or date with deep intimacy. Third, single immigrant mothers in various partnership like remarriage, cohabitation or dating were satisfied with intimate and loving relationships and support from both sides parents and the birth of new child. However, participants were anxious about the new partner's favoritism toward the biological child and discrimination against the new partner with an unfamiliar cultural background, for example, being from a like a Muslim country. The results suggested immigrant women after divorce showed various partnership on a path towards marriage and that we should pay attention to the aspects of change in multicultural families after divorce.

• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.46-60
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore married immigrant women's child-rearing experiences including parenting stress and parenting efficacy using parallel/simultaneous mixed method design. Method: Participants of this quantitative study were 53 immigrant women in G City. Data was collected from May 1 to July 31 and analyzed using the SPSS 14 program. Qualitative data was collected from 8 immigrant women through focus group discussions from April, 22 to August 5, 2008 in G City and G Province. The data was analyzed using a content analysis method. Results: The mean score of parenting stress scale and parenting efficacy were 63.49 and 43.11 respectively. Significant differences were found in parenting stress according to nationality, length of stay, religion, economic status, education level, Korean language skill, number of children, and program participation. Significant differences were found in the Parenting efficacy according to the nation, length of stay, economic status, education level, Korean language skill, children's health status, and program participation. Three themes emerged through this analysis: 1) Isolation from the maternal parent, 2) Insufficient support system, 3) Conflicts and Compromise of child-rearing practices. Conclusion: Married immigrant women experience double burdens of mothering. There is a need to develop educational and support programs for them.

• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.87-102
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between acculturation and the daily adjustment of Korean-Chinese children to Chinese society. Specifically, this study examined the differences between language factors and cultural factors in the levels of acculturation of Korean-Chinese children. In addition, the differences of Korean-Chinese children's adjustment according to their levels of language-related and culture-related acculturation were analyzed. Subjects consisted of 679 Korean-Chinese 4th graders in Yangil, Shenyang, and Harbin. First, the result from this study showed that Korean-Chinese children in Yangil, Shenyang, and Harbin were more acculturated to the Chinese language than to Chinese cultural activities. Second, language factors and cultural factors in acculturation were distinctively associated with Korean children's daily adjustment variables such as their well-being, internal locus of control, achievement motivation, school adjustment, teacher and peer support. Lastly, this study revealed that using Korean ethnic language and maintaining Korean ethnic culture are more likely to be associated with better daily adjustment for Korean-Chinese children. These results discussed within the unique sociocultural context of the Korean-Chinese immigrant society. This study suggests that ethnic minority children's adjustment and development should be understood within the sociocultural context of their immigrant society.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.297-307
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine the dietary attitudes and meal management of married immigrant women according to residence period in Korea. The study was conducted by administering a questionnaire survey to 220 married immigrant women in Korea. More than one third of the immigrant women who stayed in Korea less than 3 years tended to eat a limited variety of foods. Irregularity of meal time decreased as residence time period increased (P<0.05). As immigrant women stayed longer in Korea, they became more responsible for the diet of their family (P<0.001) and had more time to share breakfast and dinner with all family members (P<0.05). Nearly half of immigrant women in all residence periods indicated their husband's family as the most influential factor in acquiring Korean foods (P<0.05). Immigrant women became more familiar with Korean cooking and recognition of nutritious foods (P<0.001) the longer they lived in Korea and more enjoyable meal times with family (P<0.05). In summary, as the period of residence in Korea increased, the dietary attitudes of immigrant women became more positive towards Korean food and diet culture. Further, immigrant women became more responsible for guiding children's dietary habits and offering healthy foods to their family as residence period increased. Therefore, the government and social programs should conduct constant and organized lessons on Korean culture and cooking according to residence period for immigrant women to build up stable and positive dietary attitudes.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.449-460
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aims to provide base data for designing education and counseling programs for child-raising by identifying the types, characteristics and predictors of parenting behaviors of married immigrant women. Methods: We used a self-report questionnaire to survey 126 immigrant mothers of young children, who agreed to participate, and who could speak Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, Filipino, or English, at two children's hospitals and two multicultural support centers. Statistical analysis was conducted using descriptive analysis, K-means clustering, ${\chi}^2$ test, Fisher's exact test, one-way ANOVA, $Sch{\acute{e}}ffe^{\prime}s$ test, and multinominal logistic regression. Results: We identified three clusters of parenting behaviors: 'affectionate acceptance group' (38.9%), 'active engaging group' (26.2%), and 'passive parenting group' (34.9%). Passive parenting and affectionate acceptance groups were distinguished by the conversation time between couples (p=.028, OR=5.52), ideology of motherhood (p=.032, OR=4.33), and parenting stress between parent and child (p=.049, OR=0.22). Passive parenting was distinguished from active engaging group by support from spouses for participating in multicultural support centers or relevant programs (p=.011, OR=2.37), and ideology of motherhood (p=.001, OR=16.65). Ideology of motherhood was also the distinguishing factor between affectionate acceptance and active engaging groups (p=.041, OR=3.85). Conclusion: Since immigrant women's parenting type depends on their ideology of motherhood, parenting stress, and spousal relationships in terms of communication and support to help their child-raising and socio-cultural adaptation, it is necessary to provide them with systematic education and support, as well as interventions across personal, family, and community levels.

• Child Studies in Asia-Pacific Contexts
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.17-29
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• 2016

To help define future research direction and enhance educational service for children from Asian and Latino immigrant backgrounds, this review examines research investigating social competence with reference to host and heritage language skills. A targeted search obtained 14 peer-reviewed studies published from 1994 to 2014 focusing on children aged from birth to 12 years. Social competence is mainly measured by four dimensions: externalizing behaviours, internalizing behaviours, social skills and relationships with others. The evidence suggests that English proficiency levels are positively associated with social skills and parent-child relationships are of higher quality when parent-child heritage language difference is minimal. However the findings are mixed regarding how English levels are associated with externalizing, internalizing behaviours and relationships with others and how heritage language levels are associated with social competence. This review makes a set of recommendations for future research including assessment of participants' language proficiency with language tests and examination of emotional factors in the relationship between English and social competence. The implications of the findings are also discussed for educators.