• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.63-77
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• 2008

This study was performed to develop the basic framework of multicultural art education programs for female foreign immigrants married to Korean males. First, these programs aim to lessen their cultural variance in acculturizing in Korea, and thereafter enhance their emotional stability and improve their creative ability to integrate cultural diversity into family life. The primary objective of this study was to offer a suitable education program and evaluation criteria for the program; the research has been done through person-to person interviews with 53 subjects using a series of questionnaires composed of 8 five-point Likert-Scaled items. As for the process of the interview, the subjects were asked about their satisfaction with each program item twice in order to comparetheir impressions before and after program participation. The satisfaction scores were analyzed using frequency distribution. In addition, the program effects were also evaluated by coordinators and developers from their subjective comments through periodical evaluation meetings. From the results, it is observed that art education programs are beneficial for improving female immigrants' emotionaland cultural integration. In addition, experts determined that the programs were helpful for improving their human relationship and acculturization in Korea. Finally, it is concluded that multicultural education programs are a primary fundamental infra-structural way of integrating diverse cultures and improving communication exchanges, and therefore, improve family stability among the multicultural families in Korea.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.19-36
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• 2010

Previous studies on women who immigrated through marriage were focused on the frictional issues within the couples and their families as well as language tutoring. However, for the long-term integration of these women into society and the acquisition of status, it is most important to increase their economic value. Indeed many such women are facing economic difficulties, and have a strong desire to participate in economic activities. This study focuses on the economic self-sufficiency of these women through employment and entrepreneurship. We analyze their education level and employment experience and attempt to find the most effective policies to support them. We take particular interest in their entrepreneurial motivation and propose policies and frameworks for supporting their successful enterprise creation.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.290-301
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• 2013

This study aimed to explore the effect of the intimacy with social workers on the use of social welfare services of marriage-based female immigrants. Also, this study verified the effect of the quantity of the welfare service-related information as a mediated variable on the use of social welfare services. For this purpose, this study collected data from a total of 304 immigrant women married to Korean men living in City of Busan, City of Ulsan, and South Gyeongsang Province, and the data was analysed by SPSS 21. As the result of study, the intimacy with social workers had significant influences on the use of social welfare services of the married immigrant women. The results also showed that the intimacy with social workers contributed to the quantity of the welfare service-related information. Based on these results, implications of the important roles of social workers and the directions of their effective roles for the marriage based female immigrants to use the social welfare services were suggested.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.319-326
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The immigrant population has grown considerably in South Korea since the early 1990s due to international marriages. Dietary changes in immigrants are an important issue, because they are related to health and disease patterns. This study was conducted to compare changes in dietary intake between baseline and follow-up periods. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Two hundreds thirty three Vietnamese female married immigrants. Baseline data were collected during 2006-2009, and the follow-up data were collected during 2008 and 2010. Food consumption was assessed using a 1-day 24-hour recall. RESULTS: The amount of the total food consumed (P < 0.001) including that of cereals (P = 0.004), vegetables (P = 0.003), and fruits (P = 0.002) decreased at follow-up compared to that at baseline, whereas consumption of milk and dairy products increased (P = 0.004). Accordingly, the overall energy and nutrient intake decreased at follow-up, including carbohydrates (P = 0.012), protein (P = 0.021), fiber (P = 0.008), iron (P = 0.009), zinc (P = 0.006), and folate (P = 0.002). Among various anthropometric and biochemical variables, mean skeletal muscle mass decreased (P = 0.012), plasma high density lipoprotein-cholesterol increased, (P = 0.020) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein decreased at follow-up (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A long-term follow-up study is needed to investigate the association between changes in food and nutrient intake and anthropometric and biochemical variables in these Vietnamese female marriage immigrants.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.145-170
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to figure out married female immigrants' experience and process of investing in human capital in Korea. The participants were 11 women from multicultural families who had experience of investing in human capital in Korea, could communicate in the Korean language, and were living in Daegu. The data were collected using intensive interviews. The major findings were as follows: The participants' level of education and work experience in native country were not accepted as human capital and offered no advantages or obtaining employment in Korea, while English language skills were useful for those pursuing an English lecturer position. The motives for investing in human capital were 'adjusting to early stage of marriage and a new environments', 'for their childrens' education', 'to improve female immigrants' level of education', 'seeking a better job', and 'advocating more education'. The types of investing in human capital were 'learning Korean language and culture', 'applying to Open University or taking a middle or high school qualification examination', 'obtaining certification', and 'entering regular university'. The participants' plans for investing in the future were 'finding their own job', 'entering regular university', and 'participating in useful educational programs including Korean language skills for daily life' The results showed that the participants' motives for investing in human capital were related in the stage of their marriage. The phases and changes in their motives during a marriage proved that the participants continued to invest in human capital according to their needs and situation.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.519-530
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to explore the experience in cultural competence of multicultural counselors working with female immigrants by marriage. In-depth interviews, followed by a phenomenological analysis, were conducted on 10 multicultural counselors. 6 themes were emerged from data analysis: facing difficulties due to linguistic and cultural differences, feeling doubts about self and one's ability, reflecting self, putting efforts to learn other cultures and groups, realizing changes, and feeling insecure still. 3 categories appeared from the 6 themes above: difficulties, efforts to change, and change and limitations. Based on the results, social work suggestions for increasing cultural competence of multicultural counselors were discussed.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.279-298
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to review the trend in international marriage of Koreans based on Census data from 2001 to 2007 and to analyse socio-demographic characteristics of the married couples. This study remarks that as the primary causes underlying the recent increase in international marriages of Koreans, the change of worldwide condition such as globalization and localization, the condition of countries to leave immigrants, the change of sex/age ratio in population, and the change of value systems are addressed. Census data from the marriage and divorce registration for the period 2001-2007 are analysed. This study covers analysis of foreign partners' nationalities, remarriage, age gap between partners, education levels, male partners' occupation, region of residence and divorce in international marriage of Koreans.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.159-169
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate Korean food adaption, eating behavior and dietary intakes of married female immigrants by age, number of residence years in Korea and level of income. The survey included 67 female marriage immigrants attending the Korean language class at the multicultural family support center within the northern part of Kyonggi province from October 2010 to July 2011. General characteristics, Korean dietary life adaptation, and eating behavior were collected and dietary intakes were assessed using 24-hour recall. The home countries with regards to all subjects were Vietnam (40.3%), China (23.9%), Japan (11.9%), Philippines (7.0%), and Mongolia (3.0%). Total energy intake was 1432.5kcal and there were significant differences in nutritional intake concerning vitamin B1 and vitamin B2 by age (p < 0.05). More than 50% of subjects did not meet estimated average requirements for calcium (56.7%), zinc (52.2%), vitamin C (55.2%), and folic acid (76.1%). Food adaptation scores were significantly correlated with general characteristics (age, residence year, drinking alcohol and acquisition of nationality), total scores of eating behavior, and nutritional intake (energy, protein, fat, fiber, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, niacin, vitamin E, and zinc). These results might suggest that the better their Korean food adaptation, the more desirable their eating behavior and nutritional status.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.133-161
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• 2018

Despite the amount of government budget and resources used for female immigrants who married Korean spouses, it has not been evaluated yet whether the services designed for the immigrants are actually delivered to potential users with social needs. This study is an attempt to identify moderating factors associated with perceived needs and utilizing services of the Multicultural Family Support Centers. The National Survey on Multicultural Families 2015 is used for the analysis. Findings are as follows: the immigrant with better Korean communication skills would use the center services more when they have needs; the immigrants who lack skills were more likely to use center services in spite of the needs. Secondly, the more female spouses satisfied with their marriages, they were less likely to use the services; however, the moderating effect was not significant, On the other hand, Korean male spouses' patriarchal attitude was statistically significant. According to the results, practical and political implications were suggested.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.248-258
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was done to develop a reproductive health program to improve reproductive health of women immigrants. Methods: The participants in the study were 58 immigrant women who lived in Vietnam, China, Philippines, or Cambodia before marriage. They were assigned to the experiment group (n=29) or the control group (n=29). The reproductive health program for this study consisted of reproductive health education, health counseling, phone monitoring, and emotional support based on Cox (1982)'s Interaction Model of Client Health Behavior and was implemented for four weeks. Results: There were significant differences in reproductive health knowledge (t=9.78, p<.001), reproductive health attitude (t=6.59, p<.001), and reproductive health behavior (t=5.11, p<.001) within and between groups after the reproductive health program. But there were no significant differences in clinical indicators between the two groups. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate the that reproductive health program for the women immigrants is effective in terms of reproductive health knowledge, reproductive health attitude and reproductive health behaviors. Therefore, nurses in public and private facilities, such as multicultural centers and public health centers in each community, should develop strategies to expand and provide reproductive health programs for women immigrants.