Bilinear and multidimensional cultural orientations and indigenous family process among Korean immigrant mothers and fathers.

Abstract

This study examined how parental cultural orientations and family process are related among Korean immigrant parents (272 mothers, and 164 fathers, N=436) and how the relationship varies across fathers and mothers. Multiple scales were used to assess bilinear, multidimensional cultural orientation towards both the culture of origin and mainstream culture. The dimensions of language, identity, and cultural participation as well as the number of years living in U.S. were analyzed. The main findings include: (1) parents who maintain heritage culture orientation were more likely to preserve traditional parenting values and practices, (2) parental host culture orientation largely had no impact on traditional parenting but some elements of the host culture orientation were in fact associated with stronger endorsements of traditional parenting, (3) each dimension of acculturation differentially related to traditional parenting, and (4) significant relationships were more pronounced among parenting values than practices. These patterns were largely similar across mothers and fathers. Although some mixed findings suggest the complexity of the hypothesized relationships, the present study findings highlight the importance of bilinear and multidimensional acculturation and core vs. peripheral elements of culture in family process. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

Explaining the Asian American Youth Paradox: Universal Factors versus Asian American Family Process Among Filipino and Korean American Youth

“…We in fact included several acculturation variables in the earlier versions. However, similar to the findings of existing studies (Choi et al, 2018; Choi et al, 2013), we found that acculturation measured by language, identity, and the number of years living in the United States was largely not associated with AA family process. Further, a high number of predictors posed challenges in interpretations.…”

“…It is imperative to correctly guide AA families to construct parenting values and behaviors that can establish positive parent–child relations and help youth development. Culturally unique parenting and parent–child relationships persevere (Choi et al, 2018), and it is a common struggle among AA parents to balance traditional parenting and acculturative pressure. KA parents tend to experience language barriers unlike FA parents, which is likely to add challenges in parenting and parent–child relationships.…”

“…Conversely, despite many indicators of assimilation described above, FA families uphold traditional family values more so than KAs. For example, although sharing an umbrella of Asian culture, KA family process may reflect a Confucian emphasis on education, while FA family may prioritize such family values as family obligation (Choi et al, 2018; Le Espiritu,). In fact, recent empirical findings (Choi et al, 2018; Choi, Park, Lee, Kim, & Tan, 2017) corroborate that FA families have maintained traditional family values and practices at higher rates than KA families, and FA parents are more proactive in socializing their children to uphold traditional values and practices that include valuing the centrality of family, supporting family members in need, and meeting family obligations.…”

Explicating Acculturation Strategies among Asian American Youth: Subtypes and Correlates across Filipino and Korean Americans

“…For example, minority groups have been found to be more likely to adopt the behavioral norms of the dominant culture more readily than the values of the dominant culture (Rosenthal & Feldman, 1992). This finding was later affirmed with Asian American populations (Choi et al, 2018). In the present study, three distinct dimensions of cultural orientation are used in generating acculturation strategies: language competency, strength of identity, and behavioral cultural participation within host culture versus heritage culture (Choi et al, 2016; Ward, 2001).…”

Examination of Korean immigrant mothers’ parenting practices: By using the framework of bilinear acculturation.

“…In support, the research on Asian immigrant parenting found that acculturation was related to authoritative parenting, parental warmth, inductive reasoning, and less punitive parenting, while enculturation was related to authoritarian parenting, less inductive reasoning, and more punitive parenting (Cheah et al, 2018; Kim et al, 2014; Vu et al, 2019; Yu et al, 2016). In addition, even if the core traits of parenting (e.g., centrality of family) persist, specific practices may vary by cultural orientations (Choi, et al, 2018).…”