• 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.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.127-157
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• 2014

The multicultural family support project provides support services to female marriage immigrants to promote their settlement in Korea and their adaptation to marital life. This study thus investigated whether utilization of such support services is indeed related to positive changes perceived among these female marriage immigrants, and these changes, in turn, contribute to less marital conflict, marital well-being, and hope. Data were drawn from a self-administered questionnaire study in which 558 female marriage immigrants participated through the 36 centers across the nation that provided multicultural family support services based on cultural relativism and a strengths perspective. Results of structural equation modeling analyses revealed that utilization of support services, as predicted, contributed to positive changes, and such changes, in turn, were directly related to less marital conflict, higher marital well-being, and hope. As expected, marital conflict was negatively associated with marital well-being, which, in turn, promoted hope. Thus, through these paths positive changes also contributed positively to both marital well-being and hope. However, when the effects of length of residence in Korea and an ability to command Korean language were controlled for, a positive significant relationship between service utilization and marital conflict was revealed. Therefore this paper discussed the ways in which positive functions of such service utilization can be strengthened while at the same time actively addressing the dysfunctional components of such support services.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.125-155
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• 2016

The aim of this study is to investigate current status of archiving activities related to producing, collecting and managing information resources of multicultural agencies and organizations in Dae Gu. To do this, 12 agencies and organizations including Multicultural Team of Dae Gu, multicultural family support centers, foreign worker support center, NGOs for immigrants and public libraries were visited. As a result, these agencies and organizations have struggled for producing information resources through online and off-line, collecting information resources from external bodies and managing information resources like official documents, counseling reports, multicultural books and artifacts. But there were problems in archiving information resources. In order to solve problems, first, multicultural agencies and organizations should reinforce responsibilities to produce, collect and manage information resources. Second, public libraries should actively try to collect and organize information resources from these agencies and organizations. Finally, cooperative archiving activities between multicultural agencies and organizations and public libraries are needed.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.595-605
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• 2020

This study was a qualitative research to investigate the adaptation process and stress experiences of female marriage immigrants to Korean culture, and to explore life experiences and meanings to cope with them. Participants in the study collected data through individual in-depth interviews targeting 5 female marriage immigrants with more than 5 years of marriage using the Healthy Families·Multicultural Family Support Center located in ◯◯-gu, Incheon City. Using the six steps of Braun & Clarke's topic analysis method, 3 main topics and 13 subtopics were derived. Research Results First, cultural differences experienced by female marriage immigrants in Korean life (daily life culture, tradition, family relations) Second, the cultural adaptation process experienced by female marriage immigrants (difficulties and fears-understanding cultural differences-efforts to overcome) Third, it was found that the cultural adaptation of female marriage immigrants is that Korean lifestyle becomes natural and familiar by knowing the difference in lifestyle between their mother country and Korean culture, and finding and practicing the way they want to live with Korean people. Based on the research results, a practical intervention plan for successful cultural adaptation of female marriage immigrants was presented.

• 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.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.63-81
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• 2011

This study examined social integration policies for multi-cultural families in Korea and the United States through a literature review and internet research. Because the United States has developed and maintained its own culture, this was an appropriate country to compare to Korea in terms of social integration policy. There were four main results. First, both countries enforce assimilation policies for multi-cultural families. Second, most social integration programs and services for multi-cultural families in Korea are carried out by the Multi-cultural Family Support Centers, which are supported by the national and local governments in Korea. However, because the U.S. government has preserved a laissez-faire approach to policies for immigrant families, there are no government-based support centers for multi-cultural families in the United States. Third, both countries focus on the assimilation of multi-cultural families. Nevertheless, the U.S. government promotes a balance between ethnic identity and U.S. citizenship. Fourth, the U.S. government strongly supports second-generation education and development programs that recognize the second generation as a human resource for the future of society. In summary, even though there were some cultural differences between the two countries, the United States' assimilation policies based on ethnic identity would be useful for Korean integration policies. In addition, it is very important to offer opportunities for mutual integration in everyday life between Korean families and multi-cultural families.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.69-90
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• 2014

This study focused on the adjustment of family living culture in relation to women who have immigrated for marriage. Specifically, it sought to determine how Vietnamese immigrant women understand and adapt to the culture of family life in Seoul, Korea. The investigation was conducted from 2 May to 30 May 2014, with 28 Vietnamese immigrant women as participants. Personal, family, social, and cultural factors affecting family life and culture were considered. It was determined that Vietnamese women can easily adapt to life in Korea to provide; the results of the material analysis are described below. First, Vietnamese immigrant women are satisfied with their economic life in Korea. In Vietnam, women have the right to marry Korean men if they want to. Vietnamese women are encouraged to marry want to marry a Korean man. Because they are satisfied with the present marriage. Second, migrant women learn to adapt to South Korean culture and food. However, cultural differences between a woman's husband and mother-in-law can become a source of conflict. Third, children of multicultural families easily accept Vietnamese people, since they are educated to do so through their Vietnamese mothers Vietnamese woman wants to teach their children the Vietnamese food and culture. Fourth, the Vietnamese immigrant women also participate in multicultural family support centers and communities. They want to become productive members of society through employment opportunities in South Korea. Fifth, the cultural and welfare policies of the government should be carried on so that migrant women are able to study cultural adaptation. This case study examined difficulties that Vietnamese immigrant women have in adjusting to life and culture in Korea. The findings could be used as a resource to help Vietnamese women living in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.83-94
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in self-leadership and job involvement based on the education levels, majors, and teaching experiences of multicultural family home-visit instructors and the influence of self-leadership on job involvement. Methods: 668 home-visit instructors participated in the online survey from 140 multicultural family support centers in Seoul, 6 metropolitan cities, 9 provinces, and other cities and counties. Data were analyzed through frequency, percentages, Pearson's correlations, one-way ANOVA, $Scheff{\acute{e}}$ post-hoc test, and stepwise multi-regression using SPSS 21.0. Results: The main findings are as follows. First, instructors who were high school graduates had significantly higher scores in self-leadership than the other groups. There was only a significant difference in self-reward of self-leadership based on their majors. There were no significant differences in job involvement based on the education level and major. The greater their home-visit teaching experiences, the higher their scores in self-leadership and job involvement. Second, the stepwise multiple regression model showed that self-expectation, self-goal setting, constructive thinking, and rehearsal of self-leadership explained 49% of the total variance in job involvement. Conclusion: Even though the high school graduates had significantly higher scores in self-expectation, rehearsal, and constructive thinking of self-leadership than the other groups, over-generalization should be avoided because the sample size was relatively small. Based on the finding that greater home-visit teaching experiences was associated with higher self-leadership and job involvement, it would be necessary to improve working condition to prevent instructors from changing jobs. These findings stress the importance of providing opportunities for home-visit instructors to develop leadership, thus improving job involvement.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.108-118
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate life stress, social support, and antepartum depression among Southeast Asian immigrant women married to Korean men. Methods: Ninety-three subjects were recruited from local women's clinics and multicultural family support centers in D City. The instruments used were the life stress scale, social support scale, and K-EPDS. All the instruments were translated into their corresponding mother languages (Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Philippine) and notarized. Results: The item mean scores of life stress and social support were 2.65 and 3.17, respectively, on a 5-point Likert scale. The mean score of antepartum depression was 10.16, indicating that they were generally in a depressive state. A positive correlation was observed between life stress and antepartum depression (r=.59, p<.001). Social support was negatively correlated with life stress (r=-.42, p<.001) and antepartum depression (r=-.39, p<.001). The best predictors for antepartum depression were life stress, marital satisfaction, and emotional support, and they explained 43% of the variance. Conclusion: Antepartum depression in Southeast Asian immigrant brides was significantly associated with life stress as well as lack of emotional support. Emotional support may reduce their life stress and antepartum depression.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.64-77
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• 2017

This study was conducted to develop a nutritional education program based on the health belief model to improve nutritional status among Vietnamese female marriage immigrants in Korea. The education program was developed through literature review, focus group interviews, expert consultation, and pilot tests. Based on theoretical requirements and needs of beneficiaries, the education program was consisted of 16 sessions with nine topics: 'how to evaluate own dietary habits and nutritional status', 'health problems according to dietary habits and nutritional status', 'understanding six food groups', 'healthy eating plan', 'understanding food cultures of Korea and Vietnam', 'traditional and seasonal Korean foods', 'how to cook Korean food', 'nutrition management of family members', and 'practicing of healthy dietary life'. Program contents in each session consisted of activities that could induce outcome and value expectations, self-efficacy, perceived benefits, and barriers and cues to actions regarding dietary behavior. This nutritional education program based on the health belief model would be helpful to implement healthy diet behaviors in Vietnamese marriage immigrants and their families. Extension of these nutritional education programs to health centers and multicultural family support centers would improve the current poor nutrition status of Vietnamese marriage immigrant women. Further studies are needed to validate our program.