• Journal of Family Relations
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.133-155
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• 2018

Objectives: This study examined the differences in the intention of having a second child and the related factors among Chinese and Vietnamese migrant women from the perspective of adaptation theory. Methods: Data were drawn from the National Survey on Multi-Cultural Families in 2009 and 2015. Among the total 7,615 married migrant women (Korean-Chinese, Chinese-Han, Vietnamese), those within the age group 20-39 within the first 5 years of marriage who had one child were selected. A frequency analysis, chi-squared test, and logit regression analysis were performed. Results: Different ethnic groups had different reasons for having a second child and the related factors also differed between 2009 and 2015. In 2009, after controlling the related variables, the intention of Korean-Chinese and Chinese-Han married immigrant women to have a second child was higher than that of Vietnamese women, but no such difference was found in 2015. Participation in their local community, first marriage, the gender of the first child, and whether they were living with their parents-in-law were associated with the intention of migrant women having a second child in the 2009 analysis model but these factors were not significant in the 2015 analysis model. In the latter model, the household income, a variable related to economic conditions, has a positive effect on the intention of having a second child. Conclusions: The significance of this study supports adaptation theory by addressing the similarity in the childbirth intention between recently married immigrant women and Korean women.

• 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.14 no.1
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• pp.250-265
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• 2014

The purpose of the phenomenological study was to explore the sense of pressure shown from the family adjustment experience according to mothers-in-law's perception and to enrich our understanding about multicultural families. In order to accomplish the purpose of research, 5 mothers-in-law with married immigrant women participated. Data were collected through in-depth interview. In addition, the data were analyzed by a Colaizzi's phenomenological analysis. The findings showed that the meaning of family adjustment experience in mothers-in-law with married immigrant women were identified as 31 themes and 7 categories. The 7 categories consisted of "The sense of pressure of son's marriage", "The sense of pressure of an unsatisfactory daughter-in-law", "The sense of pressure of unfair treatment by a daughter-in-law", "The sense of pressure of living with concerned son and his wife", "The sense of pressure of having a foreign daughter-in-law", "The sense of pressure of dependnet daughter-in-law's parents", "The sense of pressure of the future". Based on the findings, we discussed the meaning of family adjustment experience in mothers-in-law with married immigrant women. And lastly, this results made suggestions for the social welfare policies and practices for them and their families.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.219-245
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• 2010

The objective of this study is to identify the community living experiences of married immigrant women in rural areas. For this purpose, we conducted qualitative research by sampling 14 married immigrant women who had lived in Korea for over three years by having in depth interviews with them. This study employed the grounded theory method suggested by Strauss and Corbin(1998). When raw data from in depth interviews with the participants were processed by open coding through the continuous comparison method with theoretical sensitivity, a total of 13 categories, 27 sub.categories, and 71 concepts were extracted. In case of axial coding, according to the results of analyzing through the paradigm procedure, the causal conditions for the community living experiences of married immigrant women in rural areas were 'Uncertain start' and 'Confront practical problems,' and the central phenomenon was 'Search for existence to participate in community activities.' Contextual conditions affecting the phenomenon was 'Regret international marriage,' 'Experience conflicts,' and 'Look with negative prejudices,' 'Overcome the actual' and action/interaction strategies were 'Look for a breakthrough of life' and 'Manage to acceptance.' Intervening conditions for promoting or suppressing the action/interaction strategies for the central phenomenon were 'Social support system' and 'local limitations,' and as a result, the community living experiences of married immigrant women in rural areas appeared to 'Prepare the future,' 'Hope continuous social activities,' and 'Expect public support systems.'

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.765-778
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate Japanese female marriage immigrants' dietary life and health-related characteristics after immigration to Korea. A survey was conducted with Japanese women married to Korean men and having one child or more aged 7 to 18 years old. Data were collected from 243 women during the summer of 2014. A total of 204 questionnaires were analyzed, after excluding 39 questionnaires with a high percentage of incomplete responses (84% analysis rate). Over 85% of respondents were the members of the Unification Church, and over 92% of respondents had stayed in Korea for longer than 10 years. Based on the overall mean score for dietary adaptation level (3.68 out of 5 points), respondents were classified into two groups: low dietary adaptation group (mean score 3.12) and high dietary adaptation group (mean score 4.19). The collected data were compared between the two groups. The high dietary adaptation group reported higher percentages of decreasing consumption in processed food, confectionary, and bread than the low dietary adaptation group after immigration to Korea. A higher percentage of respondents in the high dietary adaptation group perceived their health status as good and reported changes that led to a healthier dietary life after immigration to Korea compared with those in the low dietary adaptation group. In conclusion, Japanese female marriage immigrants well adapted to Korean dietary life tended to eat healthier and perceive health status better compared with those who were not well adapted. The results of this study could be useful for prospecting dietary life and health-related characteristics of immigrant women in the long term after immigration to Korea.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.70-75
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• 2017

BACKGROUND: Immigration to South Korea from neighboring Asian countries has risen dramatically, primarily due to marriage between Korean men and foreign women. Although Filipino women rank fourth among married immigrant women, little is known about the health condition of this population. This manuscript focuses on the design and methods of Filipino women's diet and health study (FiLWHEL). SUBJECTS/METHODS: FiLWHEL is a cohort of Filipino women married to Korean men, aged 19 years old or over. The data collection comprised three parts: questionnaire, physical examination, and biospecimen collection. Questionnaires focused on demographic factors, diet, other health-related behaviors, acculturation and immigration-related factors, medical history, quality of life, and children's health information. Participants visited the recruitment site and answered the structured questionnaires through a face-to-face interview. We also measured their anthropometric features and collected fasting blood samples, toenails, and DNA samples. Recruitment started in 2014. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Collection of data is ongoing, and we plan to prospectively follow our cohort participants. We expect that our study, which is focused on married Filipino women immigrants, can elucidate nutritional/health status and the effects of transitional experiences from several lifestyle factors.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.174-186
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• 2011

Purpose: The study examined the correlation of perceived health status, health behaviors, and marital satisfaction in women who have immigrated to Korea through marriage. Method: Data were collected via questionnaires that investigated health status, health behaviors, Korean language ability, characteristics of couple, and marital satisfaction. Three hundred four subjects were selected for a 4-month period. The data of 300 subjects were analyzed using descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, and correlation, after four questionnaires were excluded due to incomplete data. Results: Perceived health status varied significantly according to nationality, existence of religion, and period of immigration. The scores for perceived health status among women who had lived in Korea for more than 5 years were lower than for women who had resided for 1-3 years. There was a significant positive correlation between health status and health behavior, and health status and Korean language ability, but a negative correlation between health status and age. Conclusion: A program for the improvement of health in immigrant women should include communication assistance as their mother language and should provide periodic health screening.

• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.36-44
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was conducted to explore foreign immigrant mothers' experiences of pregnancy, childbirth, and child rearing. Methods: Ten married female migrants were selected by a purposive and snowball sampling method. Data were collected during the period from September to November, 2009 by individual in-depth interviews and all interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. Results: Ten categories were induced: In pregnancy and childbirth domain, social support-request help to their own parents, social support-depending on husband and mother's in law, Enduring emesis-gravidarum in strange environment were extracted. In Chid-rearing domain, child-rearing overburden, lack of self-confidence on maternal role, child-rearing difficulties due to language barrier, lack of information and education on child-rearing, lack of accessibility to public health care services, expectation of child's assimilation in Korea, financial strain in child-rearing. Conclusion: This study provides basic knowledge regarding married female migrants' experiences related to pregnancy, childbirth, and child rearing. The findings of the study will help health professionals designing effective interventions for married female migrants with difficulties related to child care, parenting, rearing.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.185-208
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• 2012

This study examines how married immigrant women's social networks affect their life satisfaction in Korea. A multiple-regression analysis is conducted using data from Nationwide Multicultural Family Survey in 2009. The major findings are as follows. First, the frequency of keeping in touch with their family in the mother country significantly affects the level of satisfaction, while the family size in Korea is not making a significant difference. Second, the strength of "Korean Network" - strong bridging network - is highlighted. Third, family gathering variables affect the level of satisfaction. An interesting point is found from the nationality segmentation. The case of women from Japan, with the longest duration in Korea, shows that both of the family and the non-family gathering variables significantly affect the life satisfaction. It is interpreted that family network dominates in the earlier stage of marriage, but the other social networks also play the role as the duration extends.

• 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.