Korean American Youth and Their Mothers: Intergenerational Differences and Consequences

Abstract

This chapter examines the links and mechanisms associated with intergenerational cultural conflict, psychological distress, and the intergenerational differences in acculturation and model minority stereotype (MMS) endorsement for South Korean immigrants. Specifically, applying Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory, the microsystem and macrosystem factors are examined for Korean American adolescents’ (ages 12–19, M = 15.3 years, SD = 1.71). The microsystem includes their mothers’ (N = 209 dyads) acculturation and MMS endorsement in relation to the adolescents’ as well as intergenerational cultural conflict. The macrosystem included the cultural context under which the MMS and intergenerational cultural conflict occurred. Results indicated that when mothers and their adolescents differed in their acculturation, they also differed in their endorsement of the MMS. Next, as expected, the adolescents who had mothers who were not as acculturated to the American culture, experienced more cultural conflict with their parents and, in turn, felt more psychological distress. Furthermore, the adolescents who had mothers who endorsed the MMS to a greater degree, experienced more cultural conflict with their parents and, in turn, felt more psychological distress.