Marriage Immigrants Research Articles

Health disparities among in multicultural and non-multicultural families in South Korea

Abstract South Korea has experienced significant immigrant growth, with international marriages playing a key role in this demographic change. In 2019, international marriages accounted for 10.3% of all marriages, increasing the number of multicultural households. Multicultural families in Korea faced controversies over accepting new members in a society traditionally considered racially and ethnically homogenous. In rural areas, where patriarchal and conservative values prevail, there is greater discrimination and negative perception towards foreigners compared to urban areas, impacting access to healthcare. This potentially adversely affects the health of married immigrants. However, research on this issue is limited. This study aims to examine the differences in health behaviors, access to care, and health status between multicultural and non-multicultural families in rural and urban areas. Using a cross-sectional study design based on the 2023 Community Health Survey, the sample included 228,216 adults from non-multicultural families and 3,373 adults from multicultural families. Adjusted differences in outcome were estimated using regression models, including linear probability and logistic models. Overall, there were minimal or no differences in health behaviors and health status between adults from multicultural and non-multicultural families. However, significant differences were observed in access to care, such as annual health check-ups (0.72 [0.64, 0.81]) and vaccinations (0.84 [0.76, 0.94]). Non-multicultural families showed regional differences in all outcomes, whereas multicultural families exhibited minimal or no regional differences. These findings suggest that multicultural families may face barriers beyond regional environments, limiting their access to care and potentially leading to long-term negative health outcomes. Targeted policy development for multicultural families in Korea is necessary to address this issue. Key messages • Access to health care may vary for individual and local factors, especially for people with different ethnicities or cultures. • Multicultural families may encounter greater barriers than individual and regional characteristics, requiring the development of tailored policies for immigrants and multicultural families.

Pathways Linking Acculturation Profiles to Health Trajectories of Married Immigrant Women in South Korea

This study investigated the health trajectories of married immigrant women in South Korea and examined the mediating role of psychosocial resources in linking acculturation profiles to health trajectories. A sample of 1635 mothers who participated in the Multicultural Adolescents Panel Study was examined. The results identified three distinct health trajectories, that is, high-stable, decrease-from-high, and low-stable. In addition, three acculturation profiles (maladaptive, Korean-oriented bicultural, and undifferentiated) indirectly predicted health class through self-esteem and social network. Specifically, self-esteem mediated the path from the maladaptive and Korean-oriented bicultural profiles to a stable-low health class. Further, social networks mediated the effect of the Korean-oriented bicultural profile on the decrease from the high health class. These findings highlight the heterogeneity of married immigrant women’s health and suggest the importance of considering the relationship between individual acculturation profiles and psychosocial resources to promote the health of married immigrant women.

The Role of Communicative Social Capital in Vietnamese Marriage Immigrants’ Access to Health Resources in Eastern Taiwan

The Role of Communicative Social Capital in Vietnamese Marriage Immigrants’ Access to Health Resources in Eastern Taiwan

Factors Affecting Marriage Immigrant Women’s Satisfaction with Digital Information Change

Factors Affecting Marriage Immigrant Women’s Satisfaction with Digital Information Change

An Exploratory Case Study on the Empowerment of Vietnamese Migrant Women Transitioned from International Students to Marriage Immigrants

An Exploratory Case Study on the Empowerment of Vietnamese Migrant Women Transitioned from International Students to Marriage Immigrants

중국인 여성 결혼이민자와 한국인 여성 결혼자의 불평 화행 전략 사용 양상 비교 연구

Objectives This study aims to examine how female marriage immigrants use complaint speech acts in everyday conversations and to compare and analyze the actual usage patterns of complaint strategies between Chinese female marriage immigrants and Korean female spouses. Methods To achieve this objective, data were collected in two phases. First, a preliminary survey was conducted with Korean and Chinese female spouses to identify nine real-life situations in Korean communication contexts that could trigger complaints. Following this, a Discourse Completion Test (DCT) survey was conducted to gather response data for each complaint situation. Based on the collected data, the usage patterns of individual strategies, combined strategies, and grammatical usage were analyzed. Results The analysis yielded the following results. In terms of individual strategy usage, both groups predominantly employed the ‘direct complaint’ and ‘indirect complaint’ strategies in complaint situations. However, the Chinese female marriage immigrant (NNS) group frequently used ‘sarcasm’ and ‘rhetorical questioning’ strategies, whereas the Korean female spouses (KNS) group tended to use ‘command’ and ‘situation explanation’ strategies more often. Next, the analysis of combined strategy usage revealed that the NNS group used combined strategies more frequently than the KNS group. However, when analyzing the combined strategies according to social status and the intensity of the complaint, it was found that the KNS group used a wider variety of strategies than the NNS group in most situations, except in equal status scenarios. Lastly, the analysis of grammatical usage showed that both groups most frequently used the ‘direct complaint’ strategy. However, the KNS group often used the form ‘-(으)ㄹ게요’ to express their intentions, while the NNS group showed a tendency to use ‘informal speech’ more frequently. Additionally, in the ‘indirect complaint’ strategy, the KNS group used the phrase ‘-(으)ㄹ/ㄴ/는 것 같다’ to express their assertions mildly, whereas the NNS group often used the phrase ‘-잖아요’ to emphasize their assertions more directly. Conclusions These differences stem from the distinct linguistic habits and cultural differences between the two groups. For instance, the development of honorifics in Korean, differences in child-rearing practices between Korea and China, and varying perceptions of dual-income households in Korean and Chinese societies contribute to these disparities. This study is significant in that it summarizes the commonalities and differences in complaint speech act strategies used by Chinese female marriage immigrants and Korean female spouses, and elucidates the reasons for these differences through an exploration of Korean and Chinese cultural differences.

A study of college students' perspectives on marriage immigration: Relationships of multicultural acceptance

AbstractThe objectives of this study were to explore the multicultural acceptance of college students toward new immigrants and its influencing factors, the cognitive discrepancy between college students and new immigrants, and the reasons why college students exhibit prejudice, stereotypes, and social distance toward new immigrants. The questionnaire survey approach was applied for data collection. It was found that the stereotype of college students toward new immigrants was relatively positive. College students recorded a high multicultural acceptance toward new immigrants. However, in addition to the stereotype of college students toward new immigrants, there were significant differences regarding the cognition of college students and new immigrants. The results of this study confirmed the hypothesis that stereotype, prejudice, and social distance have significantly negative influence on multicultural acceptance. The findings of this study revealed that Taiwan is an immigrant society, and there should be greater tolerance and respect for married immigrants, to prevent conflicts between different ethnic groups. A good multicultural education would help Taiwan society accept new immigrants and establish social harmony.

A Study on the Experiences of Married Immigrant Women Who Participated in Domestic and Sexual Violence Counselor Training

A Study on the Experiences of Married Immigrant Women Who Participated in Domestic and Sexual Violence Counselor Training

Cultural Mapping Web of Chinese Female Marriage Immigrants

Cultural Mapping Web of Chinese Female Marriage Immigrants

Geographic disparities in brachytherapy accessibility for cervical cancer.

1577 Background: While brachytherapy stands as a crucial component of the treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer, the issue of geographic disparities in brachytherapy accessibility has become a noteworthy public health concern in South Korea. Moreover, the specific factors contributing to these disparities have not been clearly elucidated. In light of this, we conducted a nationwide ecologic study to comprehensively investigate the socioeconomic factors associated with brachytherapy accessibility. Methods: A total of 2,998 patients newly diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2020 were identified through the Korea Central Cancer Registry (KCCR). Across 17 administrative districts in South Korea, 32 brachytherapy facilities were available. To capture unique socioeconomic factors for each region, including the number of Korean Medicaid (K-Medicaid), Medicare (K-Medicare) beneficiaries, marriage immigrants, registered foreigners, and total residents, data were obtained from the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS). Notably, K-Medicaid and K-Medicare represent governmental medical insurance assistance for patients in poverty and those aged over 65, respectively. The brachytherapy accessibility rate (BAR) was defined as the number of brachytherapy procedures divided by new cervical cancer cases. Additionally, each district's socioeconomic factor was normalized by the number of residents. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the relationships between BAR and socioeconomic factors. Results: The capital city and its adjoining metropolitan area accounted for 46.9% of the total brachytherapy facilities, with Seoul having 25% (8 out of 32) and Gyeonggi having 21.9% (7 out of 32). Conversely, three non-metropolitan regions had no brachytherapy facilities. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the brachytherapy accessibility rate (BAR) demonstrated an inverse association with both the number of K-Medicare beneficiaries and the total immigrant population (Odds ratios of 0.66 and -2.85, respectively). Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the inaugural study highlighting the robust associations between older age and foreign residency status with reduced accessibility to brachytherapy. The observed inaccessibility to brachytherapy has the potential to impede the delivery of standard care, consequently leading to a poorer prognosis for vulnerable populations. Future research endeavors and targeted social interventions will be imperative to rectify geographic disparities in brachytherapy accessibility and ensure equitable healthcare outcomes.

여성 결혼이민자 대상 건강문해력 향상용 특수 한국어교육 과정 설계 및 운영에 관한 연구

This study examines the design and operation of special Korean language program to promote health literacy during the Korean language education course for female marriage immigrants at the N-si Family Center in Korea. And the purpose is to suggest ways to improve the program based on the results of pilot operation and pre- and post-evaluation. 'Special Korean language program related to health' is based on a demand survey conducted by Cho, Hajin and Kim, Charmyee (2023) and is designed to fit the framework of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's Marriage Immigrant Capacity Building Support Project. To measure changes in female marriage immigrants' self-health awareness and improvement in health literacy according to the program, pre- and post-evaluation was conducted using FLI-FMI and HLAS, tools that have been verified in previous studies. As a result of statistical analysis using SPSS29, FLI-FMI showed that there was a significant change in the difference and improvement in health literacy of female marriage immigrants in the 12th session of the curriculum, but HLAS showed that the education did not affect the learner's self-reported health literacy so it does not appear to have had a significant impact on changing perceptions. However, when comprehensively considering the number of participants and the content of the satisfaction survey, it is difficult to be certain of the effectiveness of learning based on simple statistical figures or to determine that there has been no change in learners' self-perception of health literacy. As a follow-up study, it will be necessary to supplement areas that are difficult to uncover through quantitative research alone through qualitative research using methods such as in-depth interviews or FGI. This study is meaningful in that it presents a practical curriculum to improve immigrants' health rights and health literacy and verifies its effectiveness, but it has the limitation that it is difficult to generalize the content. We hope that by using this study as basic research, various studies on improving health literacy will be conducted.

한⋅베 식문화 비교를 통한 사회통합프로그램 교재 개선 방안 연구

Objectives The purpose of this study is to compare the food cultures of Korea and Vietnam and to explore ways to supplement the content of food culture education in the textbooks ‘Korean Language and Culture’ Beginner 1⋅ 2 and Intermediate 1⋅2, which are used in the Korea Immigration and Integration Program. Methods This study compared the food cultures of Korea and Vietnam through a literature review and analyzed the content of food culture education in the ‘Korean Language and Culture’ textbooks Beginner 1⋅2 and Intermediate 1⋅2. Based on this analysis, it identified areas of deficiency in the textbooks and proposed educational strategies to enhance learning effectiveness. Results The comparison of food cultures between Korea and Vietnam revealed significant differences in food styles, cooking methods, and dining customs between the two countries. Additionally, it was identified that there are areas in the food culture education content of the ‘Korean Language and Culture’ textbooks that require improvement. Conclusions In this study, strategies and methods for educating Vietnamese female marriage immigrants on food culture through the ‘Korean Language and Culture’ textbook were proposed. By expanding and enhancing the content of the textbook, not only can the effectiveness of learning be increased, but also adaptability can be enhanced by introducing practical experience programs where learners can directly experience and learn about Korean dining culture. In the future, more systematic development of educational materials and expansion of practical experience programs will be necessary, and conducting comparative studies on various cultures through online education platforms will further enhance the effectiveness of food culture education.

베트남 여성 결혼이민자의 한국 식문화 적응 양상

Objectives The purpose of this study is to apply Berry's acculturation theory to investigate the aspects of adaptation to the food culture of Vietnamese female marriage immigrants living in Korea, classify them into various adaptation types, and identify changes according to the period of residence.
 Methods This study targeted Vietnamese female marriage immigrants living in Incheon City. Participants were recruited by dividing them into three groups according to their residence period: less than 3 months, more than 3 years, and more than 6 years. Based on Berry's acculturation theory, a questionnaire was developed to understand the food culture adaptation process of Vietnamese female marriage immigrants. Afterwards, in-depth interviews were conducted individually with the participants to understand in detail their experiences and feelings about adapting to the food culture.
 Results As a result of analyzing the aspects of Vietnamese female marriage immigrants' adaptation to food culture in Korea using Berry's acculturation theory, the change in food culture adaptation according to the period of residence successfully adapts through stages from initial rejection to intermediate integration and final assimilation. The result was derived. The group of residents who lived for less than 3 months faced language difficulties and cultural adaptation challenges, while the group who lived for more than 3 years faced new food diversity and difficulties with language communication. Additionally, the group of residents living for more than 6 years confirmed the need to overcome language difficulties and adapt to healthy food choices, spicy food, and delivery culture.
 Conclusions Based on these results, various policy support was proposed, taking into account the areas that require response depending on the period of residence.

결혼이주여성의 디지털 정보 활용 역량, 사회자본, 삶의 만족도 관계

The purpose of this study is to verify the mediating effect of social capital in the relationship between marriage immigrant women's digital information utilization capabilities and life satisfaction. To achieve this research objective, the responses of 563 women among marriage immigrants in the “2022 Digital Information Gap Survey” data were used using SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 24.0 statistical packages, with digital information utilization capabilities as the independent variable and life satisfaction as the dependent variable. It was set to . In addition, the hypothesis was tested using a structural equation model using social capital, which is expected to play a mediating role in their relationship, as a mediating variable. As a result, first, the impact of marriage immigrant women's digital information utilization capabilities on life satisfaction was not statistically significant. Second, marriage immigrant women's ability to use digital information had a positive effect on social capital. Third, the social capital of married immigrant women was found to have a positive (+) effect on life satisfaction. Fourth, as a result of confirming statistical significance through bootstrapping of the impact of digital information utilization capabilities on life satisfaction through social capital, the confidence interval did not include 0 and was statistically significant. As a result, it was confirmed that marriage immigrant women's social capital fully mediated the relationship between their digital information utilization capabilities and life satisfaction. Based on these research results, practical and policy efforts to improve the life satisfaction of married immigrant women were suggested.

A Qualitative Case Study on Choosing Elementary Schools for the Children of Highly Educated Married Immigrant Women from China

This study aims to understand the experiences of highly educated married immigrant women from China, who hold a master's degree or higher, when selecting an elementary school for their children and to explore the significance of that experience. This study included eight participants, all of whom were married immigrant women who had resided in Korea for a minimum of five years. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, which were conducted over approximately one year, from June 2022 to August 2023. The study was approached as a case study. As a result of this study, the similarities between the cases were “choices based on charactercentered education and cultural convergence”, “choices for the child's future and career”, and “choices influenced by the primary caregiver's use of bilingualism”. The differences observed in the cases appeared in “choices based on the balance between global education ideals and economic realities”, “choices based on specialized curriculum content”, and “choices based on connections to higher-level schools”. This study is important, as it underscores the need to conduct various research initiatives on multinational immigrant women and their children. These findings suggest that the study can contribute to the development of multicultural policies that are grounded in the actual experiences and critical awareness of married Chinese immigrant women, who constitute a substantial part of Korean society.

질적 메타분석을 활용한 베트남 결혼이주여성 이혼 경험을 통해 본 시민평생교육에 관한 연구

질적 메타분석을 활용한 베트남 결혼이주여성 이혼 경험을 통해 본 시민평생교육에 관한 연구

농촌 결혼이주여성들의 진학경험에 대한 현상학적 연구

농촌 결혼이주여성들의 진학경험에 대한 현상학적 연구

다문화사회에서 외국인 사회보장의 헌법적 쟁점, 현황 및 과제

Korean society is rapidly transforming into a multicultural society due to the influx of foreigners and settlement, a surge in foreign workers, and an increase in the marriage rate with foreigners. It is necessary to review the social security of foreigners in their status as members of Korean society at the constitutional level. In Korean society, which is rapidly transforming into a multicultural society, it is necessary to reflect the ideology of respecting human dignity and realizing social and state principles in which practical freedom and equality are realized, which are the ultimate values of the Constitution. In this sense, it is necessary to recognize the subjectivity of basic rights of foreigners and to solve practical restrictions by the limitations and limitations of basic rights.
 The classification of basic rights subjectivity for foreigners based on the theory of nature is necessary to review the nature of the rights to realize human rights, that the Constitution does not presuppose exclusivity to foreigners, and that classification according to the nature of traditional basic rights may vary according to the changes of the times.
 It is necessary to switch to apply it to foreigners without discrimination in the minimum area necessary for a dignified life as a human being. The right to receive social security can be viewed as a basic right, but it is an area in which the discretion of legislators is allowed in a wide range, unlike basic rights with the nature of freedom.
 In the field of social insurance and social services, foreigners are treated equally, but rather, in the areas of public assistance, which is most necessary for a human life, it is applied mainly by marriage immigrants, and the scope of coverage is expanded to a limited extent. The current system of our law treats foreigners equally in social insurance and social services, but rather applies mainly to marriage immigrants in the areas of public assistance most necessary for a human life, and recognizes guarantees to permanent residents to a limited extent, which should be considered expanding the scope.
 Policy acceptance of multiculturalism and foreigners should consider both the perspective of social integration and social cost. From a social integration perspective, the integration of foreigners who are members of our society must be included in the social integration process of the people, and from a social cost perspective, it is necessary to seek a direction to reduce long-term social costs through the creation of a foundation for education and permanent residence in the long run, not just a support policy.

Digital literacy and social capital during COVID-19 : a comparison among vulnerable social groups

ABSTRACT This study examined the digital literacy of vulnerable social groups (North Korean defector and marriage immigrant) and the effects of their digital literacy on social capital compared to the general public (South Korean). We used data of South Koreans, North Korean defectors, and marriage immigrants from the ‘2020 The Report on the Digital Divide’. We analysed the difference in digital literacy between the general population (South Korean) and the vulnerable groups (North Korean defector and marriage immigrant) after COVID-19, and how this gap affects the social capital of each group. We discussed how vulnerable group’s digital literacy could become more disproportionate compared to mainstream society in a catastrophic situation, which can lead to weakened social capital.

Work–Family Conflict and Its Sustainability Implications among Married Immigrants Working in the USA

There is a paucity of research on the work and family dynamics of immigrants who arrive in the U.S. on visas. Work–family conflict among immigrants is a sustainability issue because it affects social cohesion, economic vitality, and the overall wellbeing of communities. This study examined work–family conflicts and work–life support among married immigrants (n = 182) born abroad but currently holding permanent resident status (also known as ‘green card holders’) in the U.S. Specifically, we examined how work variables (job intensity and work–life support) may either lead to or reduce job burnout, how burnout may be related to work–family conflict, and how these variables influence marital agreement, marital happiness, and job satisfaction. The results suggested that, in general, job factors had direct as well as indirect impacts through burnout, on both work and family outcomes. Job burnout moderated the relationship between work interfering with family and marital agreement. Martial agreement was significantly predicted by multiple variables. Suggestions for future research on this understudied population are offered along with practical and theoretical contributions related to the sustainability of immigrants, their families, and society.