• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.312-325
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate dietary behaviors and nutritional knowledge among immigrant women in multicultural families. In addition, this study reveals a necessity for nutrition education, which is apparent to both immigrant women living in multicultural families as well as nutrition education experts. The survey was conducted with 30 immigrant women within multicultural families in Seoul. The dietary behaviors of the women were significantly different by their period of residence. The longer they had resided in Korea, the higher their dietary behavior score. However, there was no significant difference in nutrition knowledge by their period of residence. This study also conducted in-depth personal interviews with 8 immigrant women who lived in Seoul, and with 4 nutrition education experts. These interviews were performed to provide profound insights regarding the content and means of nutrition education for immigrant women. Nutrition education for immigrant women living in multicultural families should proceed at a basic level in terms of language and content, using bilingual (Korean and their native language) education materials. Education topics and content need to be developed differently according to the level of Korean comprehension and period of residence in Korea. Also, this multicultural approach should be adapted when planning nutrition education since immigrant women have various acculturation levels, and the content and means of education should be adjusted to these acculturation levels. Management after nutrition education is necessary for immigrant women who do not have sufficient understanding of the Korean language. Practical educational methods such as real cooking practices and food purchasing simulations must be developed. Finally, the results suggest that the government needs to establish a systematic plan for nutrition education among immigrant women living in multicultural families. Policy support such as training nutrition educators on multicultural individuals residing in Korea is necessary for active and effective nutritional education.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.63 no.6
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• pp.127-139
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• 2013

This research is designed to provide basic data to study the life and culture of multicultural families in Korea by taking a look at the clothing behaviors and attitudes toward traditional dresses. To this end, quantitative research was conducted on Korea-Vietnam multicultural families and Korean families. The surveys of the Korean families were completed by 250 married women in Seoul, and those of Korea-Vietnam multicultural families by 104 married Vietnamese women living in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do and Incheon. The data were analyzed using frequency analysis, factor analysis, t-test, crosstabs and ${\chi}^2$-test. The findings are as follows: First, the comparison of clothing behaviors of the Korean families and the Korea-Vietnam multicultural families found that they had statistically significant differences in values towards clothes, clothes shopping orientation and clothes purchasing behaviors. The Korean women were more involved in clothes and fashion-oriented than their Vietnamese counterparts. However, the Vietnamese women in their 20s were likely to rely more on social trends than their own needs when purchasing clothes compared to their Korean counterparts. Korean families preferred to shop in department stores, while the multicultural families relied more on discount stores and outlets. Second, the comparison of the Korean families and the Korea-Vietnam families in attitudes toward their own traditional dresses and how often to wear them showed statistically meaningful differences. The Korean group had more negative attitudes toward Hanbok, the Korean traditional dresses than the Vietnamese group. The Vietnamese women showed more interest in information on Hanbok than their Korean counterparts. They also were wearing the Korean traditional dresses more often than the Korean families. In addition, the Vietnamese women showed a stronger tendency than the Korean women that they took pride in their country's traditional dresses and believed that they were beautiful.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.491-501
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• 2015

This study examined the satisfaction level and effects of after-school program cooking activities in children of multicultural families. A total of 135 children of general and multicultural families from 3th to 6th grades and their 11 teachers were surveyed, and 75 multicultural family children underwent a cooking activity program. Children of multicultural families showed higher participation in cooking activities than other Korean children. Children of multicultural families wanted to be involved in cooking activity programs after school more than other Korean children. These children also showed a higher rate of wanting to cook Korean foods compared to children of general families. Regarding reasons for participating in cooking activities, 'I think I'm glad to be served delicious food' response was the most common. Children of multicultural families showed higher participation in cooking activities than children of general families. Regarding school life changes, children of multicultural families were found to be less picky of foods in general as well as kimchi and vegetables. In conclusion, cooking activity programs for children of multicultural family showed beneficial effects on diet and understanding of Korean culture.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.55-67
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• 2015

This study aimed at identifying theirs relative importance and the factors affecting self-sufficiency in rural multicultural families. The major findings that were drawn from this study were as follows : Frist, the difference in the self-sufficiency level of their family perceived between husband and married immigrant women was not significant. But, in the level of self-sufficiency will, the level perceived by the husband was higher than it of the women significantly. Second, the hierarchical regression analysis showed that the age of the women(${\ss}=.31$) affected most significantly the self-sufficiency in rural multicultural families, followed by the labour morale of the women(${\ss}=.25$), labour morale of the husband(${\ss}=.20$), academic background of the husband(${\ss}=.19$), academic background of the women(${\ss}=.12$), spouse support level of the women toward the husband(${\ss}=.12$). Third, as a result of a hierarchical regression analysis, the self-sufficiency will variables had more explanatory power on it than social-demographic and/or social support variables. In conclusion, based on results of this study, several plans improving self-sufficiency of the rural multicultural family were suggested. Findings of this study may be used as a basic material to establish the policy supporting self-sufficiency in rural multicultural families.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.405-418
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to suggest an educational direction to aid in formulating a dietary life that is suited to Korea's multicultural families. This was achieved by analyzing the dietary life of immigrant women from multicultural families in Daegu. The study was carried out with 94 immigrant women form multicultural families who were served by public health center A (20 women), public health center B (47 women) and public health center C (27 women). Their home countries were China (55.3%), Vietnam (37.2%), Philippines (3.2%), Japan (2.1%), Uzbekistan (1.1%) and Thailand (1.1%). When the scores of their dietary balance were compared on the basis of the time they have been in Korea (Less than 1 year, 1~3 years, more than 3 years), we found that the score of immigrant women who stayed for less than 1 year was higher than those who stayed for more than 3 years (p<0.05) in terms of their intake of meats, fishes, potato, calcium, and carbohydrate. When subjects were asked about Korean food they wanted to learn how to cook, 30 different types of food were selected and 95.5% of the respondents wanted to learn in detail how to cook Korean food. The place most suitable for them to learn cooking was college (30.3%), while the house of their husband (2.2%) was lowest. Therefore, it seems that a college, public health center or welfare center are good places for immigrant women from multicultural families to participate in an education program that is designed to teach them how to cook Korean food.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.171-187
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to identify and illustrate academic trends that can be gleaned from family studies on multicultural families in Korea, and to gain a suggestion of the relatedness between discourse and practice by reviewing research in that field. The results of discourse analysis are as follows: First, research on multicultural families in family studies set limited focal subjects. Second, the research accepts assimilationism as a primary multicultural policy set forward by the Korean Government. Third, the research reflects a more or less conservative consciousness of family maintenance. Fourth, there have been some changes in perspectives from the perception of immigrant women in multicultural families as passive minorities to more active agents. Lastly, the research perceives family life in multicultural families as a project for practice.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2016

Objectives: This study aims to analyze the factors influencing on the oral health-related quality of life of migrant women in multicultural families. Methods: An interview survey was conducted through the general characteristics, oral health behaviors, and OHIPs(oral Health Impact Profiles) of 200 migrant women in multicultural families registered in multicultural family support center in Pohang. The survey was carried out from March 2 to 29, 2011. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 18.0 program. by frequency analysis, chi-square test, t-test, ANOVA, and hierarchical regression analysis. Results: Oral health promotion behavior showed statistically significant differences(p<0.01) in the number of tooth brushing and in those using oral health care supplementary device by each country. The oral health-related quality of life was significantly influenced by economic compensation, pregnancy, and the economic status of the native country(p<0.05). Conclusion: The nationwide oral health policy should be established for migrant women in multicultural family.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.1-7
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• 2016

The definition of digital poverty of multicultural families has not been changed since it was used at the first digital divide survey in 2012. The objective of this study is to reexamine and redefine digital poverty targets of digital divide survey for multicultural families. The results suggest to reexamine multicultural families rather than limiting to Immigrant women for digital poverty. The results were as follows. First, the current survey has been limited to the migrant women for information gap survey of married migrants. But, It is expected to increase immigrant men in the future. It should include migrant men in the marginalized target in terms of preparation for a multicultural society. Second, the current survey has been limited to the migrant women for information gap survey. But, It is expected to increase children of multicultural families. This information gap is likely to be linked to differences in education or future economic disparities for children of multicultural families. It should include children of multicultural families in the marginalized target in digital divide survey.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.333-340
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to identify the influences of parental attitude, parenting attitudes, family function and peer attachment on the self-efficacy of middle school students in multicultural families. In particular, peer attachment was used as a mediator to determine the effects of self-efficacy. 302 multicultural family adolescents who enrolled in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do middle schools were surveyed. In order to measure the variables, this study used such scales as parenting attitude scale, family function scale, peer attachment scale and self efficacy scale. The results were analyzed by the PASW 18.0 program. The findings of the study led to the following conclusions; First, it has shown that peer attachment was the only variable that had significant differences by sex in middle school students of multicultural families. Second, the most influential variables of self-efficacy of middle school students in multicultural families was peer attachment among parenting attitude, family function and peer attachment. Third, there was a mediating effect of peer attachment among parenting attitude, family function and self-efficacy for adolescents of multicultural families. The notable distinction of this study was to find that peer attachment variable is the most important factor of self-efficacy. Considering the results in this study, aggressive intervention is necessary in order to improve the self-efficacy of middle school students in multicultural families.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.75-85
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• 2014

Family life culture embodies the ways of thinking and behaving among family members in everyday lives. With a noticeable growth of multicultural families since 2000, there has been an inflow of other culture into the existing Korean family life culture. This new phenomenon signals a potential transformation of the family life culture in Korean society. To forecast such changes, we compared the family life culture of Korean-Vietnamese multicultural families (as reported by 104 Korean husbands and their Vietnamese wives) with that of mainstream Korean families (as reported by 108 Korean married men and 92 Korean married women) by comparing family ritual practices and family values. We also sought to identify whether two cultures in Korean-Vietnamese multicultural families harmoniously coexist or clash by examining differences within couples. Results showed that Korean married men and Korean husbands of Vietnamese women were very similar in terms of family ritual practices and family values. Differences emerged between Korean husbands and their Vietnamese wives. Specifically, Korean husbands endorsed more traditional gender role beliefs while their family values were less patriarchal compared to their wives. Results suggest that more flexible gender role beliefs reported by Vietnamese wives may be a source of conflict in Korean-Vietnamese multicultural families. At the same time, it may be a driving force of change in their existing family life culture. It will be worthwhile to pay attention in future research to whether and how patriarchal values and flexible gender role beliefs would continue to coexist or modify each other.