Maternal Acculturation Process of Married Immigrant Women in Korea

Abstract

Purpose: This study was done to explore and understand acculturation focusing on reproductive health of immigrant women. Methods: For the research sixteen immigrant women were selected by snowball sampling. Qualitative data were accumulated by in-depth interviews and private document collection. Raw data was analyzed following Mandelbaum's conceptual framework. Results: The dimensions of immigrant women consisted of existence: emerging from the new environment in which it was hard to communicate and to get acquainted with others, reproduction: in the absence of learning and experience, reproductive health crisis, parenting: unmanageable burden. Turnings of life involved 'Inconvenience in one's eyes, vent for conflict and tension: pregnancy', 'strange medical care: accoucheur, rapid medical service', 'pain of morning sickness: poor maternal nutrition', 'manifestation of protective instinct for life'. In adaptations, content was as follows. 1) Standing alone as a Korean housewife, 2) Becoming aware of Korean maternal instinct: thirst for education supporting, 3) Rediscovery of family: growing maternal sense of existence. Conclusion: The results of this study show the acculturation process and the meaning of events related to reproductive health in current lives and can contribute to an integrated understanding of married immigrant women in Korean culture. If the original work is properly cited and retained without any modification or reproduction, it can be used and re-distributed in any format and medium.

Effects of a Mentoring Program forin Infant and Child for Married Female Immigrant Women

“…The 12 items of the 15 questions in Parenting Confidence Scale considering the applicability of the age of Korean culture and infants, and select three items from the Under Control Scale 14 items was used to configure a total of 15 questions.In the present study, responses were measured on a 5-point Likert scale, with a higher score denoting a high level of parenting efficacy. Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was 0.89 in the study by Han [9], in this study it was 0.86.…”

“…Recently, low fertility aging society marriage spanning a significant impact on the country's population size and structure migrant women are contributors to the country's maternal fertility change in Korea, is a man who stands as the feminine presence [9]. In addition, immigrant women's health and well-being, nurturing environment for children is the quality of the future population, and further because they have the important meaning in the qualitative dimension of the future labor force needs to actively develop a variety of programs to support them [23].…”

Level of Acculturation and Acculturative Stress Perceived by Asian Immigrant Women Married to South Korean Men

“…Koreans consume very large amounts of alcohol, and alcohol consumption in South Korea can be considered important for social and cultural adaptation (Çakar & Kim, 2015). On the other hand, psychological distress and depression caused by communication problems with family, cultural differences, financial problems, and the burden of household chores can increase the risk of substance abuse such as alcohol (K. S. Kim & Kim, 2014).…”

“She Has the Japanese Style”: Parenting by Japanese Immigrant Women in Korea from the Perspective of Their Children

“…Gradual ideational changes are occurring amongst the general public and there have been recent policy changes to support work-life balance in both Korea and Japan. However, there are still several impediments to change, including long working hours, structural barriers to work-life balance [28], and reluctance from fathers to participate in child rearing [10,11], including in many multicultural families [12,29]. The burden of childrearing on foreign-born women can be doubled if they lack a clear understanding of the cultural context or do not receive adequate support from husbands and in-laws [30].…”