• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.143-155
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of psychological well-being on married immigrant women's parenting efficacy. Methods: The participants consisted of 145 married immigrant mothers who were members of multi-cultural family support centers in Andong, Young-ju, Uiseung, and Munkyung cities in Gyeongsangbuk-do province. Results: The main results are as follows. First, the levels of language competence and education were significantly related to psychological well-being, suggesting that the level of language competence as well as the level of education could be main factors for psychological well-being. Further, numbers of children and monthly household income were significantly related to parenting efficacy. Second, psychological well-being was correlated with parenting efficacy of married immigrant women, demonstrating that psychological well-being was the most effective variable for parenting efficacy. Third, self-acceptance, environmental mastery, and personal growth in the psychological well-being significantly predicted parenting efficacy. Conclusion: These findings suggested that we should reconsider the importance of psychological well-being in supporting programs for parenting.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.47-65
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• 2017

Objectives: This paper aims to identify depressive or stress related symptoms and its associated risk and protective factors among marriage immigrant women in Korea. Methods: The study participants were 490 immigrant wives from '2012 Survey of Foreign Residents in Korea'. The participants completed self-administered questionnaires on socio-demographics, health status, family members' related factors, and other environmental factors. Results: Difficulties on child nursing, finance, family conflict, and experience of physical or verbal violence were significant risk variables to the depressive stress related symptoms. Family life satisfaction, discussion about troubles with Koreans, healthy status, social trust, and discussion about troubles with people from home country were the significant protective variables to mental health. However economic activities were not protective factors but risk factors. Conclusions: Mental Health promotion programs for marriage immigrant women and their family members need to consider the family and community related protective mental health factors and develop supportive system with pre-existing programs and policy modification.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.69-84
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to develop and evaulate improvement of marital relationship for immigrant women's husbands. They who play important role have much more resources than wifes in Korean society and establish a happier home through trying to adapt marital relationship. It needs to escape focusing on only immigrant education and program and have to extend to immigrants' family members including husband. The program procedure was implemented for 14 immigrant women's husbands every Friday for 2 hours from Feb, 2007 to Mar, 2007. To evaluating effects of program the pre test and post test was analyzed. The program was operated by researcher, center worker and volunteer who have much practiticing experiences about immigrants. The program of sessions is perception of intermarriage, understanding of wife's country culture, open communication, conflict resolution and child rearing attitude. As the results of the analysis, there were significant differences of the increases in the area of perception of intermarriage, open communication and child rearing attitude. Finally, this study suggests that understanding of wife's country culture and conflict resolution of the program be modified by future social work practitioners and researchers in order to make the program more effective.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.370-379
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• 2012

Purpose: This study aimed to identify factors influencing depression of married immigrant women in rural areas. Methods: The participants were 206 married immigrant women in Jeollanamdo, Korea. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire from November to December 2011 and analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, Scheffe test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 18.0. Results: The participants' mean age was 28.3 (range=20 to 49). Depression significantly differed according to age, spouse occupation, occupation and monthly household income. The depression was significantly correlated with acculturative stress, social support and marital satisfaction. Factors influencing depression were acculturative stress, social support and spouse occupation, which explained 42.9% of total variance. Acculturative stress was the most significant factor of all (${\beta}$=.41, p<.001). Conclusion: Based upon the findings, this study provides useful information that could assist in reducing the depression among married immigrant women, and indicates that nursing intervention is needed.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.17-31
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• 2015

Objectives: This paper aims to identify the health related behaviors patterns and its associated factors among marriage immigrant women in Korea, and discusses their application to health promotion strategies. Methods: The study participants were 7,591 immigrant wives in Gyeonggi province who participated in health examinations conducted by the Korea Association of Health Promotion in 2011-2013. The participants completed self-administered questionnaires on sociodemographics, psychological characteristics, health status and health care factors, and health related behaviors. Results: A 3-latent-class model of health behaviors was identified related to 'lack of physical activity', 'abnormal diet', and 'not experienced medical check-up': 'high risk class', 'middle risk class', and 'low risk class'. Most of the participants belong to 'middle risk class'. Country of origin, age, length of stay, number of children, work status, health insurance status, and unmet health care needs were associated with problematic health behaviors in middle risk health behavior class. Conclusions: Health promotion and intervention programs for marriage immigrant women and their family members need to consider the health behavior patterns of physical inactivity, abnormal diet and no medical check-up and develop multiple behavior intervention with pre-existing program modification.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.325-343
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to identify and describe the experiences of health care during pregnancy, birthing, and postpartum period for Vietnamese marriage immigrants. Methods: The participants were 15 Vietnamese married immigrant women who became pregnant and gave birth within the last five years. Data were collected by in-depth interview with Vietnamese women. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's method of phenomenology. Results: Six theme clusters were extracted as follows: 'being left with no other option in loneliness and longing filled in a limited life', 'continued trials and errors amidst frustration and fear', 'silently following orders despite the quality of medical services that change with each medical care provider', 'compromise by selecting amidst confusion between the Korean way and the way at home', 'depending on family, who is the communication channel, but becoming disappointed', and 'finding the reason for existence and struggling by herself to become a mother amidst doubled confusion'. Conclusion: A program for effective empowerment of Vietnamese immigrant women should be developed. In addition multicultural family centered programs should be developed with emphasis on acceptance of women's culture, respect for her culture, and supports. Medical staffs and nurses should also improve culturally sensitive competence in order to provide care for immigrant women.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.145-157
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• 2010

This is a study that explores the influence of self-differentiation and acculturation among married immigrant women on their feelings of marriage satisfaction by residential area. The aim was to verify the level of self-differentiation and acculturation that married immigrant women secure from multicultural marriage. To achieve this objective, the study widely distributed a questionnaire that targeted women who were participating in education and other services at health and family support centers, multi-cultural family support centers, general social welfare centers, immigrant women shelters, and Korean language classrooms which are located in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, Jeolla, and Gyeongsang. Data analysis involved frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, one-way-Anova, and multiple regression analysis. Based on the results of descriptive statistics, two factors, namely, (1)interpersonal-relation differentiation, a sub-scale of self-differentiation, and (2)marginalization, a sub-scale of acculturation, had the lowest average. In verifying its various hypotheses, the study achieved the following results. Firstly, among demographic characteristics, there was difference of the mean in the marriage period, average monthly income, the frequency of meetings with the married woman´s parents-in-law and her own parents, and the average cost of supporting the woman's parents-in-law and her own parents. Secondly, among demographic characteristics, the variable of influencing marriage satisfaction showed negative influence in the case of women dwelling in farming and fishing villages. This shows that women residing in cities whether small, medium or large have higher marriage satisfaction. Also, as a result of verifying whether self-differentiation has influence on marriage satisfaction, the element of interpersonal-relations differentiation had a negative influence on marriage satisfaction. Thirdly, as for influence of acculturation upon marriage satisfaction, the study showed that just integration, which is a sub-scale of acculturation had positive effect on marriage satisfaction. In other words, the study showed that the interpersonal-relation differentiation among the sub-scales of self-differentiation among married immigrant women had a negative influence, and that integration among the sub-scales in acculturation had a positive influence on marriage satisfaction. Based on these results, in order to increase interpersonal-relation differentiation, as well as marriage satisfaction among immigrant women, the study suggests the integration of the women's families with the nuclear and extended families in the communities where the women reside.

• Journal of Legislation Research
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• no.44
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• pp.757-799
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• 2013

Ever since Korea and Vietnam reestablished diplomatic relations, the two countries'bond has become stronger than ever, augmenting the range of exchange between them in almost every possible field including politics, economy, society, and culture at such a high speed. Among many, an increase in number of Vietnamese immigrant women in international marriage is worthy of close attention. Since 2010, Vietnamese has topped the proportion of total foreign women married to Korean men, having surpassed Chinese. Nonetheless, the quick international marriage between Korean men and Vietnamese women, which usually happens without sufficient time to get to know about different cultures and languages, has not only raised problems for people concerned, but numerous social issues as well. Recognizing these problems, a number of government departments have provided various support on policies and legal issues toprotect multicultural families as a means of social integration and settlement support. Nevertheless, the support policies until now have been generalizing all of the immigrant women in international marriage as people subject to protection. Thus, considering every immigrant women as people in need, and trying to help them with various social issues have caused the government a high cost and low efficiency. This thesis emphasizes the point that through the cases of Vietnamese immigrant women in international marriage, there should be a specific support plan for specific people in need, reflecting various traits of different cultures and societies, in order to ease their settlement in Korea. Moreover, it suggests detailed plans for improvements on legal and institutional problems. Although the Vietnamese government forbids commercial agents for international marriage, many of agencies are still active and to help the immigrant women, who desire to return and resettle in Vietnam in case of divorce, this thesis suggests legal and institutional remedies for Korean and Vietnamese government. The composition of the thesis follows below: Part II on social and cultural traits of international marriage between Korean men and Vietnamese women. Part III on institutional problems and plans for improvements regarding settlement of immigrant women in international marriage. Part IV on legal and institutional problems and plans for improvements regarding divorced immigrant women and their return to Vietnam. Part V on conclusion. Divorce is not a flaw anymore nowadays, but in case of Vietnamese immigrant women ininternational marriage, an inadequate legal system hampers their resettlement process. Cases of not being ableto remove their own names from the family register due to poor financial and legal abilities are often identified and it is both the Vietnamese and Korean governments'duty to acquit their ethical responsibilities by seeking ways to institutionally and financially support them.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.174-184
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• 2018

Purpose: To identify the effects of spousal support on the relationship between acculturative stress and sense of parenting competence among married Vietnamese immigrant women. Methods: The sample for this study consisted of 175 married Vietnamese immigrant women in Gyeongsangnam-do. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, $Scheff{\acute{e}}$ test, Pearson correlations, and hierarchical multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 23.0. Results: (a) sense of parenting competence was negatively correlated with acculturative stress, whereas a positive correlation was observed with spousal support; (b) spousal support mediated the relationship between acculturative stress and sense of parenting competence. Conclusion: Results of the study suggest that spousal support decreases the negative effects of acculturative stress on sense of parenting competence. Therefore, we need to find ways to strengthen spousal support for married Vietnamese immigrant women.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 2008

Purpose: We analyzed the health care and health status of immigrant women married to Koreans in our community. Methods: We recruited 204 women who live in S Cityfrom 1st August to 30th September, 2008. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was done using a questionnaire through interviews and physical assessment by visiting nurses. Results: The average age of the subjects was 29.8 and most of them were housewives. Sixteen percent of them obese as measured by BMI. Moreover, most participants (86%) did not exercise at all. Over 13% complained of physical discomfort that was left untreated, and only 50% participated in cancer screening. Conclusions: Young, obese immigrant women require further health care monitoring. Caregivers also should ask about physical discomfort and cancer screenings. However, caregivers should do so in a culturally sensitive manner. In addition, the government should support cancer detection programs for immigrant women.