• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.12 no.11
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• pp.575-583
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors affecting depression among female marriage immigrants in relation to demographic, family, self-efficacy, acculturation, and physical health aspects. The subjects were 556 marriage immigrants residing in Seoul, Keong-gi, and Chung-cheong areas. 47.1% of the subjects showed $${\geq_-}16$$ of CES-D which is the cutting points on depression. The results from hierachical regression analysis indicated that family income(${\beta}=-.13$, p=.002) at the first demographic model and self-efficacy(${\beta}=-.13$, p<.001), family relationship(${\beta}=-.16$, p<.001), acculturation to Korean culture(${\beta}=-.08$, p=.05), acculturative stress(${\beta}=.31$, p<.001), and mal-physical health(${\beta}=.18$, p<.001) at the final model affected female marriage immigrants' depression. The explanatory power of these variables was 37.1%. Based on these results, social services and policies for the prevention of depression among female marriage immigrants were discussed.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.5-27
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• 2019

This study analyzed the effects of comic book reading program on Korean proficiency and acculturation of youth with immigration background, by conducting a six-month reading program with five teenagers with immigration background. Ten comic books were selected from published by School Library Journal, based on the themes - that are related to the lives of youth with immigration background - and interests of participating teens. According to the literacy skills test conducted before and after the reading program, the participating teens' Korean proficiency has generally improved, particularly in the areas of interpretation and vocabulary. In terms of writing, grammatically incorrect sentences, phrases, and expressions have declined. Most participants showed stable adjustment to Korean culture, but one participant who felt still insecure of her ethnic identity deeply empathized with one of the characters of the books, and shared the difficulties of living as an outsider of a society. The participants of this research learned or rediscovered the joy of reading through this comic book reading program; at the end of the program, many of them expanded their interest in reading novels, books without any illustrations.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.117-131
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to develop the prevention program of child abuse and to verify the effects of the program for marriage immigrant women in Korea. The prevention program was consist of 5 sessions and it was provided to participants once a week for five weeks. Participants were recruited thru the community centers for multi-cultural families in Korea. This study verified the effects of the prevention program with the comparison groups(pre-post). With the independent-samples t-test and paired-samples t-test, the program verified significant effects on the variables of acculturation stress, social support, and recognition of social policy. This study suggests the parenting education of child abuse for multi-cultural families in Korea.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.185-194
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was to explore situations that might put the middle-aged Korean-Chinese female migrant workers at risk for work-related musculoskeletal diseases (WMSDs). At the development phase of a continuing health project, the study aimed to clarify health promotion program needs of the migrant population. Methods: A qualitative description research design was used with three focus groups of 23 Korean-Chinese female migrant workers. Each focus group interview was conducted for 70-minutes using semi-structured interview guidelines. The data were analyzed using directed qualitative content analysis techniques. Results: The majority of the participants were household workers and their work included heavy material handling, standing for a long time, and working in awkward postures. They experienced discrimination from employers, lack of control at work, limitations in open-communication, job insecurity, and acculturation. They had needs to have health promotion programs for preventing and managing chronic diseases, depression and menopause as well as WMSDs. Conclusion: The participants were situated in work environments with physical demanding tasks, acculturative and job-related stress and lack of opportunities to participate in health promotion programs. It is suggested to develop a comprehensive program to better meet the needs of middle-aged Korean-Chinese female migrant workers rather than targeting the reduction of WMSDs.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.175-185
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• 2012

Purpose: This micro-ethnographic study aimed to understand coping experiences of Korean-American (K-A) women after diagnosis with breast cancer due to a hereditary gene mutation. Methods: Participatory observation and in-depth interviews were performed at one breast cancer screening center in Southern California, in 2005 with eleven first generation K-A immigrant women. All transcribed interviews and field notes were analyzed using ethnographic methodology. Results: K-A women's experience varied based on acculturation risk factors including: limited English speaking ability; disrupted family relationships, individualistic family values, or intergenerational communication barriers; lack of Korean speaking nurses; and Korean physicians' who lacked knowledge about hereditary breast cancer risk. These risk factors led to isolation, loneliness, lack of emotional and social support. In comparison to Korean homeland women in a similar medical situation, these K-A immigrants felt disconnected from the healthcare system, family support and social resources which increased their struggling and impeded coping during their survivorship journey. These women were not able to access self-support groups, nor the valuable resources of nurse navigator programs. Conclusion: Professional oncology associations for nurses and physicians have a moral obligation to support and promote knowledge of hereditary cancer risk and self-help groups for non-native speaking immigrants.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.10 no.8
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• pp.308-316
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• 2010

The present study set out to explore the acculturative stress and mental health(depression) of Korean women living in Britain according to socio-demographic factors, social relations and social supports level. 152 Korean women's data were collected and analyzed with frequency, correlation, ANOVA. Analysis revealed that women's acculturative stress and depression level was 2.50(moderate) and 1.66(slightly low) respectively. Acculturative stress level showed correlation with depression level. Among demographic variables, acculturative stress was significantly different from residence period in Britain, marriage and economic state and the level of depression was also different from job and economic state. The group which has frequent relationships with British and high level of social supports showed low acculturative stress. The group has high level of social supports also showed low depression. These findings highlight the importance of concerns and interventions about acculturation and mental health of Korean immigrant women and community services for the new immigrant women to improve their acculturation and mental health.

• 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 Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.412-422
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• 2018

Current support policies for multicultural families translate the focus on educating multicultural children from the initial adjustment of foreign-born brides. By contrast with Korean-born biracial/biethnic children of international couples, foreign-born immigrant children suffer linguistic and cultural differences. This study explores the acculturational difficulties and needs of school-aged immigrant adolescents in Busan Metropolitan city and suggests policies to meet their needs. Seventeen participants, including immigrant adolescents, immigrant parents, in-school service providers and out-school service providers, were recruited, and focus-group interviews were conducted. The major themes show that school-aged immigrant adolescents suffer from cultural/racial differences, different naming practices, linguistic differences, and age gaps. In addition, the study participants strongly call for KSL education, academic mentoring programs, career education, and education for multicultural understanding. This study suggests that future policies should be designed to support immigrant adolescents based on a diversity model beyond assimilationist approaches of adeficitmodel.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.191-215
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• 2009

The purposes of this study were to investigate the factors that influence the school drop-out of North Korean refugee youth and to generate recommendations for social work practice and the resettlement policies of the government to ameliorate the high school drop-out rate among North Korean refugee youth. This study examined the effects of the environmental factors such as the quality of parenting practice, peer attachment and the kind of school a youngster attends, and personal characteristics such as self-respect and acculturation stress level, and academic efficacy on the school drop-out intention. Gender, duration of stay in Korea, family economic status were established as control variables. The drop-out intention was used as a proxy for drop-out behavior. The study findings indicate that the personal characteristics such as gender, self-respect and acculturation stress, academic efficacy were the significant influencing factors, whereas environmental factors such as quality of parenting, peer attachment did not exert any statistically significant effect on the drop-out intention. At the conclusion, the implications of the study findings for research, social work practice and the government policies were discussed.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.323-330
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• 2020

This study is to identify the types and meaning of 'Good Leisure' that married immigrant women perceived. 32 Q samples were extracted from the interviews and questions and 40 immigrant women were selected as P samples. The conclusion are as follows; First, the types of 'Good Leisure' were classified as 4 types. Second, the type 1, 'Psychological Stability Pursue Type' recognizes 'Good Leisure' when they feel comfort and relaxed through activities. The type 2, 'Emotional Stability and Self-development Type' recognized 'Good Leisure' when they are pleased, or engaged in self-development activities. The type 3, 'Practical Use Pursue and Information Acquisition Type', recognizes 'Good Leisure' when they learn things necessary for living with less cost, and type 4, 'Acculturation and Exchange Type' recognizes 'Good Leisure' when they learn Korean culture or interact with Korean people. Third, regardless of each type, married immigrant women perceived in having a good time with people as 'Good Leisure'.