• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.71-86
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• 2003

Over the past few decades, changes in patterns of behavior (e.g., diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity) have led to major changes in health status, characterized by increases in obesity, Type II diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers. This epidemiologic transition is largely the result of rapid increases in immigration to developed countries and rural-urban migration within developing countries, which is usually accompanied by environmental and lifestyle changes. In particular, adoption of “Western” dietary patterns, which tend to be high in fat and low in fruits and vegetables, is of concern since diet is a potent contributor to chronic disease risk. However, until recently, the process by which immigrants and rural-urban migrants adopt the dietary practices predominant in their new environments, known as dietary acculturation, has received very little research attention. Dietary acculturation is multidimensional, dynamic, and complex, and varies considerably depending on a variety of personal, cultural, and environmental characteristics. Therefore, to intervene successfully on the negative aspects of dietary acculturation, it is important to understand the process and identify factors that predispose and enable it to occur. The purpose of this article is to provide a practical model for understanding and investigating the effect of dietary acculturation on food and nutrient intake. Thus, this report 1) gives an overview of acculturation, 2) defines dietary acculturation and presents a model for how it occurs, 3) discusses measurement issues around dietary acculturation,4) reviews the literature on dietary acculturation in Korean Americans; 4) suggests a paradigm for acculturation research; and 5) offers some recommendations for future research in this area.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.35 no.2 s.121
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• pp.37-48
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• 2007

An exhibit entitled 'Revelatory Landscapes' was held at the San Francisco Museum of Modem Art from May 5 to October 14, 2001. For this Museum's rot off-site outdoor exhibition, five outstanding design teams-Kathryn Gustafson, Hargreaves Associates, Hood Design, Tom Leader Studio, and ADOBE LA-created site-specific installations in Berkeley, Oakland, San Jose, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Each project showcased a hybridization of environmental art and landscape design. The main content revealed through revelatory landscapes were the natural, cultural, and historical palimpsest of the sites-particularly as related to the history of minorities such as Native American, African Americans and Latin Americans-as well as the every day life of ordinary people. To represent these ideas, a juxtaposition of the past and the present was broadly applied. Furthermore, the use of dramatic colors, textures, and forms in consideration of materials coupled with the revelation of natural elements such as wind and sunlight accelerated the effect of this juxtaposition. Every project of the Revelatory Landscapes exhibit requires a phenomenological experience to be appreciated. Via the five senses, these experiences cause a synesthetic experience beyond solely the visual. By examining the projects of 'Revelatory landscapes', the threshold for a new blending between environmental art and landscape design as well as new landscape design strategies that overcome the dichotomy between nature and culture will change and evolve.

• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2010

Two elements of paisley textile design (color and size of motif) were manipulated to investigate their effects on people's perception. Korean and Caucasian American women were selected to represent Asian and Western countries to compare the differences in image perceptions of paisley patterns between two cultures. The participants were 168 female university students composed of 84 Caucasian Americans and 84 Koreans. The experimental design was a $2{\times}2{\times}7$ factorial design: two levels of perceiver's culture, two levels of motif size, and seven levels of the motif color. The four factors used to account for image perception were an elegance factor, individuality factor, maturity factor, and femininity factor. The results of the present study confirm that image perception can be different according to the color and size of a motif and the perceiver's culture. In the results, Americans perceived the paisley pattern as more preferable than Koreans did. Red background + Orange motif was perceived as the most feminine and Dark blue background + Sky blue motif and Dark gray background + Gray motif was perceived as the most masculine in both cultures. Compared to the big motif, the small motif was perceived as more elegant in both cultures.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.135-140
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• 2000

The objectives of this study were to determine whether older Americans would provide valid energy intake information using a 24-hr recall method and to determine which characteristics were predictive of under-report of energy intake. We conducted 24-hour recalls on 83 male and 105 female community-dwelling older adults(66-87y) in the USA to assess energy(EI) and nutrient intakes. Basal metabolic rate(BMR) was calculated from age-and gender-specific equations of Schofield. Under-reporting was defined a priori as EI : BMR<0.9. Subjects volunteered demographic information, underwent depression and cognition exams, and completed a Level II Nutrition Risk Screen. Differences between under- and adequate-reporters were assessed using t-tests for characteristics and macro-nutrient profile. Stepwise regression analyses were used to predict under-reporting status. Under-reporting of EI occurred in 34% of the sample. Neither geriatric depression scale(GDS) score, nor self-reported weight loss were related to under-reporting. On average, under-reporters had higher body mass indices. The most significant variables for the main effect to predict the ratio of energy intake to estimated basal metabolic rate(EI : BMRest) were BMI and age. Using a standard cut-off of 76% of the recommended dietary allowances for Americans, under-reporters were consistently more likely to be classified as having inadequate nutrient, as well as energy, intakes. (J Community 2(2) 135∼140, 2000)

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.29-46
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• 2006

Purpose: Since 1994, Asian Health Services, the Korean American Community Advisory Board, and the Center for Family and Community Health (University of California at Berkeley) have conducted periodic, population-based surveys on Korean American community health in Alameda County, California. The present study examines changes in health care access and utilization between 1994 and 2002 among Korean American adults in Alameda County, California. Method: We reanalyzed data from the 1994 and 2002 Korean Health Surveys. The primary variables of interest, health care access and utilization, were operationalized in terms of health insurance coverage, routine check-ups, a usual source of health care and reported barriers to health care. The frequency distribution of each indicator was calculated and its standard error was estimated using SUDAAN. The differences between 1994 and 2002 were examined with chi-square test. Results: Compared to 1994, Korean Americans in Alameda County were more likely to have health insurance coverage in 2002 (74.0% vs. 82.7%). Korean Americans in Alameda County were more likely to have received a recent (prior two years) routine health checkup in 2002 (50.4% vs. 57.2%). Health checkups increased over time for males, for adults with more than 12 years of education, and for employed adults. Also, compared to 1994, employed adults were more likely to have a usual source of health care in 2002 (66.5% vs. 78.4%). In both 1994 and 2002, high cost (58.0% vs. 47.8%) was the most commonly cited barrier to health care, and the next most frequently cited barriers were language (29.2% vs. 27.7%) and no time (29.2% vs. 30.3%). Conclusion: To improve health care utilization and health conditions, it is important to investigate factors related to health care and to monitor changing trends. Ongoing surveillance of health-related factors can contribute to the development of health education programs to reduce morbidity and mortality due to chronic disease, and thereby lead to improvements in health status among Korean Americans.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.28 no.12 s.138
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• pp.1545-1553
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• 2004

This study assumes a bidimensional model of acculturation theory in order to understand the acculturation patterns of Korean-Americans and their fashion and shopping behavior. Bidimensional models of acculturation suggest that acculturating individuals may possess the components of both the heritage culture and the new, host culture. A combination of email and paper and pencil surveys was conducted with a convenience sample of Korean-Americans who are living in Seattle and vicinity area (n=108). The questionnaire included questions related to the respondents' and their parents' demographic information, the respondents perceived relationship with their parents, self-reported ethnic identification, ethnicity-related behaviors/attitudes, clothing involvement, shopping motivations, and fashion reference groups. The results support the bidimensional models of acculturation process as opposed to the linear model. Three different groups among Korean-Americans based on their ethnic identification pattern were found: a group with dominant Korean identity(Segregation group), a group with dominant American identity(Assimilation group), and a group with dual identity(Integration group). According to the results of MANOVA and subsequent Duncan and Scheffe tests, the Integration group showed distinct characteristics from Segregation group or Assimilation group, in terms of their ethnicity-related behaviors/attitudes, clothing involvement, shopping motivations, and fashion reference group influence.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.233-243
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• 1998

This study was performed to compare the transcultural differences on perimenstrual discomforts, menstrual attitudes and sex role acceptance between Korean and American college students. The subjects, 2557 nursing students were selected from 13 universities all around Korea, and 4 universities in the eastern, western, and middle areas of the United States. The data were collected using the MDQ (Menstrual Distress Questionnaire by Moos), the MAQ(Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire), and the Sex Role Acceptance Scale, the subjects answered the MDQ for three points (premenstrual, menstrual, intermenstrual based on their recollections) between July, 1996 and April, 1997. The findings are as follows : 1. There were significant differences in the age of menarche, duration of menstruation, and menstrual cycle between the Koreans and the Americans. 2. As for sex role acceptance, Americans more frequently denied the traditional female role than did Koreans. 3. There were significant differences between the two groups on five categories of menstrual attitude (menstruation is a phenomena that weakens women physically and psychologically, menstruation is a bothersome phenomena, menstruation is a natural phenomena, menstruation onset is a predictable phenomena, and menstruation is a phenomena that does not influence womens' behaviors non is expected to). 4. For the menstrual discomfort scores, there were significant differences between the two groups on all six categories of the MDQ(pain, attention deficit, behavioral changes, AMS response, water retention, and negative emotion) for the three points (premenstrual, menstrual, intermenstrual period). 5. The most common complaints for the Korean women were pain during the perimenstrual period and fatigue during the intermenstrual period. In contrast, for the Americans the most common complaint was negative emotions during the perimenstrual period, but less pain than the Koreans, and a similarity to Koreans during the intermenstrual period. 6. Regularity of the menstrual cycle was positively correlated with age of menarche, menstrual cycle, and duration of menstruation. 7 For the interrelationship between of Perimenstrual discomforts, menstrual attitudes, and sex role acceptance, there were significant correlations for both group as follows : First, the MA category "menstruation is a bothering phenomena" was negatively correlated with sex role acceptance, second, the MA category "menstruation is a phenomena that weakens the women physically and psychologically" was positively correlated with the MA category "menstruation onset is a predictable phenomena." For the further research, it is recommended that efficient nursing intervention programs for perimenstrual discomforts, be developed and qualitative research to demonstrate the cultural differences as the feminism view point be done.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.393-402
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• 2005

Subjective touch sensation for Korean traditional silk fabrics was evaluated, in order to compare tactile sensory aspects of Korean and American subjects and to determine mechanical properties of the fabrics affecting the sensation psychophysically. Eight aspects of touch sensation including hardness, smoothness, coarseness, coolness, pliability, crispness, heaviness, and thickness were rated by semantic deferential scale. The mechanical properties of fabrics were measured by Kawabata Evaluation System (KES). Both of Koreans and Americans showed fairly similarities to each other in subjective smoothness, coarseness, and crispness. On the contrary, as for coolness and pliability, Koreans were found as feeling the silk fabrics more sensitively than Americans were in that they rated some of modified leno fabrics as very cool and stiff in touch. Coolness and pliability by Koreans were affected mainly by surface and bending properties while those by Americans were determined mostly by compressional and tensile characteristics as well as sulfate properties

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.412-426
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to verify the structural relationship between covert narcissism, forgiveness, empathy, and marital satisfaction for Korean-American married couples and to discover the differences in covert narcissism, forgiveness, empathy, and marital satisfaction by gender and years married. Also this study aims to prove the mediating effects of forgiveness and empathy, and to examine the structural relationship differences across genders. For this purpose, a total of 248 married Korean Americans who live in South Carolina, Arizona and Texas were subjected for this research. The results of the study were as follows. First, covert narcissism showed a negative correlation with forgiveness, empathy and marital satisfaction. And there was a positive correlation between forgiveness, empathy and marital satisfaction. Second, the differences in forgiveness and marital satisfaction by gender and years married were significant. Third, as a result of the mediating effects test, empathy and forgiveness showed indirect influence between covert narcissism and marital satisfaction. Fourth, for married males the effects of covert narcissism on empathy, empathy on forgiveness, empathy on marital satisfaction were significant. For married females, the effects of covert narcissism on forgiveness, forgiveness on marital satisfaction were significant. Based on these results, the implications and limitations of this study and suggestions for future research were discussed.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.681-689
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was conducted to investigate the perception of Korean kimchi among Americans' living in different areas in the United States. A questionnaire was given to males 126 (40.4%) and females 186 (59.6%) residing in Illinois and California. The results were as follows: 86.0% of the participants answered that kimchi was Korean in origin, and 84.1% reported that they had eaten kimchi. Additionally, 56.8% and 52.3% of the respondents in Illinois and California had purchased commercial kimchi at home-made. Among the kimchi they had experienced, out of the total respondents, 92.4% had eaten baechu kimchi, 45.5% had eaten mu kimchi and 42.4% had eaten oi kimchi (When the responses from the residents of Illinois were evaluated: 100.0% of the respondents had eaten baechu kimchi, while 47.7% had eaten mu kimchi, and 40.9% had eaten bak kimchi. Evaluation of the responses of residents from California revealed that: 88.6% had eaten baechu kimchi, 45.5% had eaten oi kimchi, and 44.3% had eaten mu kimchi respectively). For evaluation of the their kimchi preference of the overall population revealed that, 71.0% preferred baechu kimchi, 9.2% oi kimchi, and 8.4% mu kimchi (Of the respondents in Illinois: 69.8% preferred baechu kimchi, 14.0% mu kimchi and 7.0% bak kimchi, while for Californians: 71.6% preferred baechu kimchi, 11.4% oi kimchi and 8.0% bak kimchi, respectively). Regarding the primary reason they purchased commercial kimchi, 64.9% responded 'its taste' (67.4% in Illinois and 63.6% in California), additionally, 40.0% stated of the package they purchased was 200g (51.2% in Illinois and 34.5% in California). After having eaten kimchi, 45.5% answer reported that it tasted good, and the their primary reason for liking kimchi was its, 'spicy and hot taste' (51.3%), The main reasons for not liking kimchi were the odor (garlic, ginger, anchovy juice, etc) and it being too spicy, respectively. Regarding improvements for its expanded consumption, 25.0% answered 'not to improve', 22.7% answered 'reduce the strength of the strong seasoning', and 20.5% answered 'to allow over-ripening'.