ABSTRACT Objectives Given the increasing importance of early cognitive screening and the growing use of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in diverse populations, this qualitative study explored how older Korean Americans in community settings perceived and experienced the Korean version of the MoCA (MoCA–K). Methods Designed as an ancillary qualitative study, twelve older Korean Americans living in subsidized senior housing in Los Angeles were purposively selected and underwent semi-structured interviews within one week following MoCA–K administration. Encompassing both general and item-specific aspects of the MOCA–K, the interviews were conducted in Korean, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using the constant comparative method. Codes were iteratively compared, grouped into categories, and synthesized into overarching themes. Results Three themes emerged: (1) emotional responses to testing; (2) challenges with specific MoCA–K items; and (3) contextual factors affecting performance. Conclusions Cognitive screening functions as both an evaluative and emotionally meaningful experience for older Korean Americans, with item-level and contextual factors influencing performance. Clinical Implications Further attention to the interplay between participant characteristics and contextual conditions may enhance participant engagement and help reduce misclassification in community-based cognitive screening. Findings highlight the importance of culturally and contextually sensitive approaches in future practice and research.

Internal Structure and Reliability of the Public Stigma of Alzheimer's Disease Scale (PSAD-K) Among Korean Americans.

ABSTRACT Purpose Anti-Asian discrimination surged in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined pandemic-era discrimination among Korean immigrants and Korean Americans living in the southeastern United States (N = 355), a region shaped by a historically entrenched Black – White racial order and a growing Asian population. Materials and Methods Participants completed a survey assessing discrimination during the pandemic, including any discrimination and “blatant” incidents (e.g. threats or harassment). Poisson regression models estimated associations with English proficiency, social support, self-rated health, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and an English proficiency × ACEs interaction. Results Overall, 75% reported any discrimination and 22% reported blatant incidents. In adjusted models, proficient English speakers reported higher discrimination (IRR = 1.43, p = .001). Greater social support and better health were associated with lower discrimination (IRR = 0.99, p = .011; IRR = 0.89, p = .015), while ACEs were associated with higher discrimination (IRR = 1.06, p = .002). The English proficiency × ACEs interaction was significant (IRR = 0.96, p = .042), indicating that the association between English proficiency and discrimination varied by ACEs level. Discussion Discrimination was widespread in this sample, with a notable share reporting blatant events. Social support and health may be protective, whereas childhood adversity may heighten vulnerability and shape how English proficiency relates to discrimination exposure. Conclusion Anti-Asian discrimination warrants focused attention in the southeastern United States. Interventions that strengthen social support, expand culturally competent healthcare, and increase community awareness may help mitigate discrimination and related harms.

Advance care planning is a critical process that allows individuals to articulate their values and preferences for end-of-life care before a medical crisis occurs. This study explored the challenges that religious leaders experience when engaging in advance care planning and death-related conversations with first- and second-generation Korean Americans, and the strategies employed to overcome these challenges. Using a descriptive qualitative study design, interviews were conducted with 12 religious leaders in the United States who provide spiritual/pastoral care to Korean Americans. Analysis revealed both cultural and structural obstacles to advance care planning. Cultural obstacles include emotional suppression, stigma around death, intergenerational conflict, and religious ambivalence. Structural obstacles included knowledge gaps and misconceptions about advance care planning. Despite these obstacles, religious leaders acted as cultural mediators by employing strategies, such as waiting for emotional readiness, building long-term trust, adapting communication to family needs, reframing death through spiritual narratives, utilizing teachable moments for end-of-life conversations, and offering practical guidance. These findings underscore religious leaders' unique role in bridging health care and cultural values, and highlight the need for community-based, community-specific approaches to improve end-of-life communication and planning for Korean Americans.

Raising children in a foreign cultural context presents unique challenges for immigrant parents. This study explores parenting perceptions, practices, and self-efficacy among Korean American (KA) immigrant parents, with a focus on differences between Korean-speaking (KS) and English-speaking (ES) parents. A community-based, mixed-methods needs assessment was conducted in partnership with a KA community organization and Korean language schools. Twenty-two KA parents of children aged 0-5 years (13 KS, 9 ES) participated in surveys and focus groups. Independent t-tests were used to examine differences in parenting practices, child behavioral concerns, and parental self-efficacy. Thematic analysis was employed to interpret qualitative data. Compared to ES parents, KS parents reported significantly lower parenting self-efficacy, less engagement in positive parenting practices, and less quality time spent with their children. Qualitative findings highlighted language as a critical factor shaping parenting approaches, discipline strategies, and perceptions of parental competence. These results underscore the importance of designing culturally and linguistically responsive parenting interventions that address within-group differences among KA immigrant families, particularly to promote equitable early childhood development and parenting support.

Despite the growing prevalence of cross-cultural celebrity interviews in globalized entertainment media, existing pragmatic research has predominantly examined either mono-cultural interactions or applied single theoretical frameworks, leaving the communicative complexity of hybrid cultural identities in Western talk show contexts insufficiently explored. The intersection of Korean hierarchical indirectness, Australian casualness, and American entertainment conventions within a single interaction represents a particularly under-examined configuration in politeness scholarship, creating a significant analytical gap that the present study seeks to address. This study examines politeness strategies employed in a celebrity talk show interaction between Jimmy Fallon and Rosé from BLACKPINK, applying both classical and contemporary politeness theories to analyze cross-cultural communication in media discourse. Adopting a qualitative descriptive design, the research draws on the complete transcript of the interview as its primary data source, comprising 42 coded utterances systematically analyzed through Brown and Levinson's politeness framework alongside contemporary extensions including rapport management theory and the concept of politic behavior. The findings reveal that positive politeness strategies dominate the interaction at 50%, reflecting the genre's emphasis on rapport-building and audience engagement, while negative politeness strategies constitute 33%, primarily through hedging and indirect questioning. Bald on record strategies appear in 12% of utterances during task-oriented segments, and off-record strategies comprise 5%, employed for humorous effects. The analysis demonstrates how Rosé's hybrid cultural identity Korean, Australian, and international manifests in sophisticated code-switching between different politeness norms, balancing Korean-influenced indirectness with Australian casualness. Jimmy Fallon adapts typical American talk show conventions to accommodate cross-cultural dynamics, demonstrating cultural sensitivity alongside enthusiastic entertainment. The study confirms that successful celebrity interviews require collaborative face-work and dynamic adjustment of linguistic strategies across changing interactional demands, contributing to pragmatic theory while offering practical implications for media professionals, intercultural communication practitioners, and scholars interested in K-pop's global media presence.

The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), which provides integrated medical, social, and personal healthcare to help older adults remain in their homes and communities, has been a successful long-term care services and support (LTSS) model. Yet little is known about how racial and ethnic minority communities perceive and respond to this program. Guided by the Community Readiness Model (CRM), this explorative qualitative study examined readiness for PACE in Korean American communities in Los Angeles. Data were collected from 28 participants, including two focus groups with 19 older adults (age ≥ 55) and nine individual interviews with family caregivers and health and social service providers. Four major themes emerged: (1) Awareness, (2) Perceived Benefits, (3) Perceived Barriers and Concerns, and (4) Recommendations for Implementation and Outreach. In general, awareness of PACE was low among participants, and many had unclear or incorrect understanding of the program. Perceived benefits included the ability to age in place, access to coordinated care at a single setting, opportunities for social engagement, and reduced caregiving burden. Concerns noted by participants included the need to switch physicians, possible disruption of existing services such as In-Home Supportive Services, and uncertainty about the qualifications of PACE providers. Recommendations highlighted the importance of culturally tailored outreach, a more descriptive program name, strong leadership, a cooperative interdisciplinary team culture, and staffing that combines clinical expertise with compassion and cultural sensitivity. These findings suggest that introducing PACE in the Korean American community requires intentional adaptation to address both cultural expectations and structural barriers. This study offers insights into how the PACE model can be more effectively introduced, adapted, and sustained in racial and ethnic minority communities that have not been fully engaged by LTSS outreach and delivery efforts.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection disproportionately affects Korean Americans, who often experience persistent social and structural challenges that may influence quality of life. Recent community studies showed most Korean Americans with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were disengaged from clinical care, emphasizing the need to better understand factors affecting their well-being. This study examined associations between social determinants of health (SDOH) and physical and mental health related quality of life (HRQoL) among Korean Americans with CHB. A total of 365 CHB patients completed the enrollment survey. SF-12 was used to measure quality of life, calculating physical and mental components summary scores (PCS-12 and MCS-12). SDOH were measured across five domains, including education (highest education level, survey language), economic stability (employment, income, financial sufficiency), social/community context (marital status, social support), neighborhood (perceived social cohesion, physical disorder), and health care access (primary care provider, health insurance). Descriptive statistics and multivariable linear regression were used. Participants had a mean age of 60.1 years, and 44% were female. In multiple linear regression analyses, being employed (PCS β = 1.77, 95% CI: 0.16–3.38; MCS β = 1.99, 95% CI: 0.38–3.61) and financial sufficiency (PCS β = 2.38, 95% CI: 0.44–4.32; MCS β = 3.93, 95% CI: 1.98–5.87) was positively associated with PCS-12 and MCS-12 scores. Social support (β = 0.17, 95% CI: 0.09–0.25) and perceived neighborhood social cohesion (β = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.01–0.47) were associated with better mental health, while being married (β = 2.62, 95% CI: 0.76–4.47) was associated with better physical health. In addition, females (β = -2.52, 95% CI: -3.93 to -1.10) had lower levels of physical health than males. Older adults reported worse physical (β = -0.13, 95% CI: -0.21 to -0.05) but better mental health (β = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.10–0.25). Economic stability, social support, and neighborhood cohesion are the key determinants of quality of life among Korean Americans with CHB. These findings emphasize the need for interventions that address both structural and psychosocial factors to improve quality of life in this underserved population.

Stomach cancer remains the fifth leading cause of cancer death, with racial/ethnic and geographic differences. As survival improves, these survivors face elevated risks of second primary cancers (SPCs). We evaluated SPC risk and post-SPC survival by race/ethnicity and between the U.S. and South Korea. We analyzed patients with stage I-III stomach cancer (2012-2020) from the U.S. SEER-17 and Korea Cancer Public-Library Database. SPCs were defined as non-gastric cancers diagnosed > 1 year post initial diagnosis. Cumulative SPC incidence was estimated using Aalen-Johansen method to account for competing death. Cox regression assessed survival impact of SPC development. Among 19,595 U.S. and 204,240 Korean patients, 1,050 and 6,908 developed SPCs, respectively. In the U.S., 5-year SPC incidence was highest in Black (7.4% [6.1-8.6]) and lowest in Pacific Islanders (4.5% [2.3-6.7]). Notable heterogeneity in SPC incidence was observed across Asian subgroups, with Korean Americans showing the highest (6.9% [4.7-9.1]) and Filipinos the lowest (4.4% [1.9-7.2]). In contrast, Korean survivors in South Korea had the lowest SPC incidence (3.8% [3.7-3.9]). SPC development was associated with higher mortality (HR = 2.22 [1.96-2.52]), with a stronger effect in Asians (HR = 3.12) than Whites (HR = 1.96; interaction P<0.1). Among Asian subgroups, SPC development was associated with the highest mortality in Vietnamese (HR = 13.6) and the lowest in Filipino survivors (HR = 1.54; interaction P<0.01). Among Korean survivors in South Korea, SPC development conferred a modest increase in mortality risk (HR = 1.68 [1.61-1.75]). SPC risk and outcomes in stomach cancer survivors vary by race/ethnicity and country, particularly within Asian subgroups.

This article examines This Is Korea, a film lecture performed by Henry Chung DeYoung from 1953 to 1954, to understand how the live performance of translation attempted to shape American perceptions of Korea in the early Cold War. Drawing on archival materials including DeYoung’s lecture script, correspondence with Korean Pacific Press, and promotional materials, the article analyses the film lecture’s mechanisms of knowledge production through mediated dynamics of image, speech, and embodied performance. Analysis shows that the film lecture relied on visual tropes of a timeless and precarious Korea, while DeYoung’s embodied narration domesticated cultural difference and invoked American authority to frame Korea’s wartime destruction as a geopolitical obligation for the United States. Embedded in South Korean propaganda efforts, DeYoung mobilised his native expertise and racialised body to translate Korea for American audiences, positioning himself strategically between Korean insider and American authority. By situating this ephemeral performance within a longer genealogy of image-speech practices from stereographs and travelogues to wartime state-sponsored films, this article demonstrates how such mediating practice participated in constructing US public knowledge of Korea and attempted to sustain the ideological urgency of the Korean War even after the armistice.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a culturally tailored educational program, the Korean Breast Cancer Risk Reduction Program (KBCRRP), to reduce breast cancer (BC) risk factors and increase screening among Korean American (KA) women. Guided by the PRECEDE-PROCEED and Health Belief Models, the KBCRRP targeted healthy weight, physical activity, diet, and BC screening. A quasi-experimental design involved KA women (age ≥ 40 years, BMI ≥ 23kg/m2) from a community organization in New York City. The intervention group (IG, n = 14) attended eight in person weekly sessions and received 16 weeks of smartphone follow-up. The control group (CG, n = 14) received written cancer prevention materials. Anthropometric measurements and self-reported questionnaires were collected in weeks 1, 8, and 24. Changes in BMI, physical activity, diet, and BC screening were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and McNemar tests. Participants (N = 28; IG = 14, CG = 14) had an average age of 58.07 years (SD = 6.78). At eight weeks, IG participants demonstrated a significant reduction in BMI (p = 0.001) and decreased calorie intake at both eight weeks (p = 0.046) and 24 weeks (p = 0.042). CG participants showed an increase in waist-hip ratio at both time points (p < 0.01). Mammography uptake improved in both groups, with no significant group difference. Despite a small sample size, the KBCRRP showed a significant reduction in key BC risk factors among KA women.

Asian Americans underutilize mental health services, with particularly low rates among Korean American (KA) immigrants. Churches serve as central sources of support in this community, positioning clergy as critical mental health gatekeepers. Yet little is known about the factors shaping KA church leaders' readiness, perceptions, and referral behaviors. This study analyzed survey data from 93 KA church leaders across the USA to explore factors associated with readiness (comfort addressing mental health), perceptions of issues and barriers, and the action of recommending professional counseling. Using multiple regressions, we found that prior mental health training was the only significant predictor of leader readiness, with trained leaders nearly three times more likely to report higher comfort levels (OR = 2.97, p < 0.05). Perceptions of church needs varied by ministry context and personal experience: Leaders with mental health training were over six times more likely to recognize depression and suicide as key concerns (OR = 6.71, p < 0.01) and more than twice as likely to identify marriage conflict (OR = 3.11, p < 0.05). In contrast, leaders who had personally received counseling were significantly less likely to report depression and suicide as a congregational issue (OR = 0.23, p < 0.05). In the integrative model, referral behavior was shaped primarily by ministry context and stigma awareness. Leaders in Korean-speaking ministries were significantly less likely to recommend counseling (OR = 0.02, p < 0.05), while those who identified stigma as a major issue were substantially more likely to make referrals (OR = 9.50, p < 0.05). These findings highlight the central role of training, bicultural ministry contexts, and stigma recognition in shaping church leaders' engagement with mental health. The study underscores the need for culturally adapted training programs and closer collaboration between mental health professionals and immigrant churches to address persistent disparities in KA communities.

Korean American parents express warmth indirectly (e.g., through devoted attention), which can be contrasted with explicit expressions of warmth (e.g., stating love, hugging). This study investigated three distinct forms of indirect warmth. Thoughtfulness involves parents anticipating and meeting children's needs before they are expressed. Devotion to education concerns prioritizing a supportive learning environment over parental interests. Guan behavior involves communicating clear standards to children, in a manner sensitive to their abilities. The present longitudinal study examined, in a path analysis, whether Time 1 (T1) Korean American adolescents' perceptions of the three separate forms of indirect warmth were positively predicted by T1 maternal reports of supportiveness and demandingness or guan ideology. Guan ideology predicted devotion, β = 0.08, p = 0.048, as well as guan behavior, β = 0.11, p = 0.008. Supportiveness predicted thoughtfulness, β = 0.11, p = 0.005. The study also examined whether the T1 variables predicted T2 adolescent outcomes. T1 thoughtfulness predicted T2 prosocial behavior, β = 0.15, p = 0.007, and relationship quality, β = 0.05, p = 0.001. T2 GPA was predicted by T1 supportiveness, β = 0.12, p = 0.048, and devotion, β = 0.18, p = 0.014. There was evidence for full mediation from supportiveness via thoughtfulness for relationship quality, β = 0.02, p = 0.029, and prosocial behavior β = 0.02, p = 0.052. Because supportiveness had its influence on the latter two variables via thoughtfulness, those who work with Korean American families may want to consider addressing thoughtfulness directly.

Cumulative adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and psychological distress have been shown to negatively affect mental health across the lifespan. Less is known, however, about how ACEs might impact mental health help-seeking behavior in adulthood, especially among Asian Americans, a population with high exposure to trauma who also face cultural barriers to mental health care. The study’s aim was to evaluate the prevalence of ACEs within a sample of Asian American respondents, the relationship of ACEs and psychological distress with help-seeking, and the association of ACEs with different types of help-seeking behaviors. Data from the 2021 California Health Interview Survey (N = 4,345) were analyzed. Pairwise comparisons examined differences in ACEs and covariates across the seven Asian American subgroups (Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, South Asian, and Other Asian American). Multivariable logistic regression analyses evaluated the relationship between ACEs and covariates with professional and emerging digital mental health help-seeking behaviors. The joint effect between ACEs and Asian American subgroup was evaluated for each type of mental health help-seeking. Covariates included psychological distress, gender, age, marital status, insurance, education, English proficiency, self-rated health, and being U.S.-born. Asian American adults with 4 + ACEs were more likely to seek mental health help from primary care practitioners, mental health professionals, and social media/blogs/online forums than respondents with ≤ 3 ACEs. Moderate/severe psychological distress increased likelihood to seek mental health help. No significant interaction between ACEs and Asian American subgroup was found. Findings indicate that Asian American respondents with elevated ACEs and distress are more likely to seek mental health help from professional and emerging digital resources. This suggests a demand for these resources among those with higher needs. Differences across ACEs and distress levels in help-seeking behaviors emphasize the need for culturally tailored interventions and accessible mental health resources to better support the diverse help-seeking preferences within the Asian American community.

ABSTRACT The study challenges the prevailing neoliberal perspectives on food and food practices in early childhood education. With globalisation and urbanisation, children have more opportunities to experience diverse cultural foods and food practices, which allows them to expand their culinary knowledge and preferences. However, food is frequently discussed only in binary terms, such as good versus bad, which reinforces power dynamics. Hence, there needs to be a more inclusive discussion of food and food practices within the early childhood education curriculum. This study explores Korean American children's experiences and perspectives on food and food practices in both school and home settings through the Suda approach.

Socio-cultural adversities and health disparities across Asian American origin groups remain understudied, particularly in early childhood. This limits the development of culturally responsive prevention and intervention strategies. A family-based Asian American epidemiologic study is essential to address these gaps and to inform tailored solutions. As an initial pilot effort, this pilot study was designed primarily to assess feasibility and generate preliminary data to inform future hypothesis-driven, large-scale epidemiologic research. The study objectives were to evaluate the feasibility of a remote study protocol and to collect preliminary data on child development and parental factors among Asian Indian, Filipino, and Korean American families with young children. A remote pilot study was conducted in 2024-25 among 48 mother-father-child (age 1-4 years) triads residing in Illinois, including 18 Asian Indian, 12 Filipino, and 18 Korean American mothers. Parents completed an online survey, and children wore an ActiGraph accelerometer on their hips. Analyses were conducted to describe child development, parental experiences, and parenting practices among the three ethnic groups. Of the 48 mothers, 29 (60%) were US-born, and all but 1 had at least a bachelor's degree. All parent pairs completed the survey, whereas only 34 children (71%) provided valid accelerometer data. Disaggregated data showed that, compared to children of Asian Indian mothers, children of Filipino mothers had higher daily screen time (p < 0.10) and higher sleep problem scores (p < 0.05), and children of Korean mothers had higher child-caregiver interaction scores (p < 0.05). Across all three groups, more favorable parenting practices were associated with lower sleep problem scores, higher wellbeing scores, and higher child-caregiver interaction scores (p < 0.01). The remote study protocol was generally feasible; however, child compliance with hip accelerometer wear was suboptimal. Preliminary data revealed differences in children's physical behaviors and social-emotional development across Asian ethnic groups. A full-scale study should enhance the engagement of socioeconomically diverse families and refine wearable data collection methods to improve data representativeness and completeness.

Helie Lee’s family memoir Still Life with Rice (1996), which recounts her grandmother’s life, uses a polyphonic structure that interweaves divergent perspectives whose internal tensions mount a meaningful yet ultimately limited challenge to the American narrative of benevolence in Korea. Given its negotiation of multiple perspectives, Lee’s memoir can be read as a triangulated act of knowledge production about the Korean War situated at the crossroads of three positionalities: the refugee bearing embodied memory, the Korean American navigating inheritance and racialization, and the American imperial discourse that casts America as a saviour. The memoir bears witness to the costs of the US air war and expands Korean War memory by incorporating voices from the Korean diaspora in China as well as the Baik family’s relatives in North Korea. Yet it also displaces American responsibility, framing US military actions with omissions, contradictions, haste, and only muted critique. Through a triangulated lens, these ruptures appear less as flaws than as productive tensions among embodied, inherited, and imposed forms of knowledge.

This study explores the relationships between ICT uses for various purposes and mental health and the moderating effect of technology learning among Chinese and Korean older Americans. The survey data were collected from 513 Chinese and Korean older Americans in New York City. Negative binomial regression was used to examine the relationships between ICT uses for social, instrumental, and health purposes, and depressive symptoms. Interaction terms between ICT use variables and technology learning styles were created for the moderation test. We found that ICT uses for social contact and health purposes were significantly associated with lower depressive symptoms among the Chinese and Korean older Americans, and the benefits were more pronounced for those who learned ICT independently. This study highlighted the importance of supporting ICT uses for social contact and health purposes and technology learning process to improve mental health of older Asian Americans.

ABSTRACT This paper presents social work educators’ exploration of the intersection of social work education and practice, cultural responsiveness, and the impact of Korean cultural values, particularly through Korean dramas (K-dramas), in promoting social justice and enhancing cross-cultural understanding. As the U.S. population becomes increasingly diverse, social work education must adapt to equip future practitioners and educators with the skills necessary to engage with individuals from a wide range of cultural backgrounds. Korean Americans are a significant subgroup within the Asian American community and offer a unique perspective on the challenges of maintaining cultural identity while navigating social oppression as immigrants. The global popularity of K-dramas has created an opportunity to integrate these narratives into social work education, providing a platform for exploring mental health resilience, community connections, and systemic issues faced by marginalized groups. This paper discusses the innovative use of K-dramas in a Philadelphia-based workshop aimed at decentralizing Eurocentric social work frameworks. By exploring the role of K-dramas in promoting cultural responsiveness and addressing mental health issues, this paper highlights the potential for using multimedia storytelling as a powerful tool in social work education, particularly for engaging with the Korean American community and beyond.

Human infants express vocal distress to signal needs to be met by a caregiver. Maternal responses to infant distress are influenced by biological constraints and shaped by cultural practices. This study used a culture learning perspective to investigate the ways immigrant mothers' responsiveness to their infants' vocal distress is modified by acculturation. Methodologically, group-level acculturation was assessed by comparing immigrant Japanese, South Korean and South American dyads with nonmigrant dyads in their respective cultures of origin (Japan, South Korea and Argentina) and destination (United States); immigrant mothers were also compared with each other. Altogether, 408 mothers and their 5½-month-old infants were videorecorded in the naturalistic setting of the home. The frequencies and odds ratios for five maternal responses to infant distress (distract, hold, nurture, speak, affection) were computed using sequential analysis and then compared. Patterns of acculturation at the group level proved to be specific to each cultural group. Comparisons among the immigrant samples revealed differences for most responses. These results support the specificity principle in acculturation for maternal responsiveness to infant distress. This article is part of the theme issue 'Mechanisms of learning from social interaction'.