A Study on Korean-Chinese Childrens Acculturation and Adjustment to the Mainstream Society

Cho Bokhee,Han Sae-Young,Lee Joo-Yeon The Korean Home Economics Association 2005 International Journal of Human Ecology Vol.6 No.1

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between acculturation and the daily adjustment of Korean-Chinese children to Chinese society. Specifically, this study examined the differences between language factors and cultural factors in the levels of acculturation of Korean-Chinese children. In addition, the differences of Korean-Chinese children's adjustment according to their levels of language-related and culture-related acculturation were analyzed. Subjects consisted of 679 Korean-Chinese 4th graders in Yangil, Shenyang, and Harbin. First, the result from this study showed that Korean-Chinese children in Yangil, Shenyang, and Harbin were more acculturated to the Chinese language than to Chinese cultural activities. Second, language factors and cultural factors in acculturation were distinctively associated with Korean children's daily adjustment variables such as their well-being, internal locus of control, achievement motivation, school adjustment, teacher and peer support. Lastly, this study revealed that using Korean ethnic language and maintaining Korean ethnic culture are more likely to be associated with better daily adjustment for Korean-Chinese children. These results discussed within the unique sociocultural context of the Korean-Chinese immigrant society. This study suggests that ethnic minority children's adjustment and development should be understood within the sociocultural context of their immigrant society.

Care of the Elderly with Dementia and the Need for Group Homes from Middle and Upper Class Families in Korea

Choi Jung-Shin,Kim Dae-Nyun,Kwon Oh-Jung The Korean Home Economics Association 2001 International Journal of Human Ecology Vol.2 No.1

Concerns about paid-facilities for the elderly with dementia from middle and upper class families have been discussed lately in Korea. Small-scale, home-like group homes for the elderly with dementia were developed in Sweden in the 1980, but they have not been effectively introduced in Korea where they remain a comparatively new concept. The group home, however, would provide a good alternative to Koreans who feel guilty when they have to leave their frail parents in large-scale facilities or hospitals instead of caring for them at home. The aim of this paper is, first, to define the care of the demented elderly who come from upper and middle class families in Korea and, secondly, to discuss the need for group homes to help care for them. A survey was done by questionnaire and was answered by 577 respondents who belonged to middle and upper class families living in Korea in December 2000. Methods of analysis were frequency, mean, and Chi-square. The results of this study were as follows: 1) the traditional notion that the eldest son should be burdened with the primary responsibility for a demented parent has weakened remarkably; 2) a small-scale long-term care facility was considered the most desirable living environment for the demented elderly; 3) the facilities families needed for professional hospitals for victims of dementia, senior citizen centers, large and small-scale long-term care facilities, day-care centers, and short-stay and service housing. The study also revealed that there was low awareness of the group home. The most preferred type of structure for group homes was a single-family detached house, and the most preferred management system was small-scale that could create home-like atmosphere. Additionally the respondents wanted group homes to consist of 6-8 residents with 2-4 persons per room. The results of this study strongly suggest that policy makers should encourage the development of smallscale group homes as an alternative form of housing for the elderly with dementia.

Korean-American Consumer Attitude Toward Luxury Fashion Products

Lee, Yoon-Jung,Lee, Jae-Il The Korean Home Economics Association 2008 International Journal of Human Ecology Vol.9 No.2

This study examines the influence of acculturation level and ethnic groups as a fashion reference group on Korean-American consumer attitude toward luxury fashion brands. Of interest is the role of Korean culture, which emphasizes luxury brand consumption due to the Confucion value of 'face', on Korean-American attitudes toward luxury brands. Data were collected from 108 young Korean-Americans living in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and multiple regressions were conducted for the analysis. In general, the respondents had relatively negative attitudes toward luxury fashion brands. Even though the acculturation level did not have a significant influence, attitudes toward luxury fashion brands were influenced by Korean reference groups. Age at immigration did not have a significant relationship with attitudes toward luxury brands. Korean-Americans who maintain ties with Korean culture are more likely to have a positive attitude towards luxury fashion, regardless of familarity with American culture.

Comparing Dietary Habits of Koreans in Northern America's West Coast City Areas by Immigration Age

Park Young-sook The Korean Home Economics Association 2004 International Journal of Human Ecology Vol.5 No.2

A convenience samples of Korean-Canadian/American adults who lived in Vancouver, San Hose and Los Angeles areas for over 10 years, were studied in 2000. Total of 130 adults were analyzed by immigration age. The age of immigration age was divided into 3 groups: the young group immigrated at 25 or before, the middle group immigrated at 26 to 40, and the old group immigrated at over 40. Their average length of residence in Canada and the U.S. was a little longer than 20 years. The dietary behavior patterns were similar among 3 groups, except co-eaters and dining-out frequency, and the Korean-Canadians/Americans seemed to be more home-based, family-tightened and traditional patterns than Koreans in Korea. They liked Korean traditional basic dishes, but their children liked a-la-carte ones and immigrants at early 20's showed similar food preferences as young generations. The attitudes of dietary acculturation for themselves and for their children were high. Since immigrating at age 26 to 40 years old rather than 20's or over 40's, showed stronger acculturation attitudes even with no significance and revealed significantly differences in some dietary behaviors and food preferences, it is recommended that immigration age should be considered when planning dietary foodservices at nursing care systems for Korean Canadians/Americans.

Generational Differences in Ethnicity Maintenance of Korean-Chinese Ethnic Minority

Cho, Bok-Hee,Lee, Joo-Yeon The Korean Home Economics Association 2007 International Journal of Human Ecology Vol.8 No.1

The present study examined generational differences in ethnicity maintenance among Korean-Chinese to understand the impact of recent social change on a Korean-Chinese ethnic community in China. A total of 1355 Korean-Chinese (557 parents and 798 children), who live in Shenyang, China, participated in this study. The subjects were asked about their language use during daily conversations and cultural activities. They were also asked about their ethnic identity and perceptions of social distance from Chinese people. The results reveal that the Korean-Chinese parent generation is more likely to maintain its ethnic language, while the child generation is more likely to maintain its ethnic culture. Second, more parents than children considered themselves as 'Korean-Chinese' rather than 'Chinese'. Third, members of the child generation show less social distance from Chinese people than do the parent generation. These results show a strong tendency towards ethnicity maintenance among Korean Chinese as well as recent changes in the community. This study argues for the importance of school education and school environment in maintaining the ethnic language and culture of Korean-Chinese children.

Factors Associated with Use and Types of Multiple Concurrent Care and Education Arrangements in Early Childhood in South Korea

An, Miyoung The Korean Home Economics Association 2014 International Journal of Human Ecology Vol.15 No.2

This paper explores factors associated with multiple concurrent care and education arrangements in early childhood in South Korea. It draws on a subsample from the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families. Results show that about one-fifth of the families utilized multiple arrangements for their first preschool child. The primary non-parental option in multiplicity was nurseries or kindergartens. Home care and education options such as home study materials were found to be most prevalent secondary non-parental option, followed by services at private institution as well as relative care. Children's age, care cost, non-parental care time and time constraints were found to be positively related to the incidence of multiplicity for the first preschool child while family income and cost constraints were negatively associated. As a secondary option in the multiplicity, services at private institutions increased with children's age, care cost and when the grandparents live far from the parents' house. Home care and education utilization was found more among mothers with low degree of time constraints. Utilization of relative support decreased with the children's age and meant lower care cost and increased with mother's employment, fathers' education, family income, cost constraints and when grandparents live nearby. This paper, based on the associated factors, suggests how issues of children enrichment and constraints might be related to the multiplicity.

The Effects of Contextual Variables and Parental Cognition on Maternal Involvement in Korean Children's Early Education

Kim, Jung-Won,Jung, Adrian W.,Kim, You-Jung The Korean Home Economics Association 2011 International Journal of Human Ecology Vol.12 No.1

This study examined the features of maternal involvement in Korean children's early education and their relation to contextual variables and three forms of parental cognition. For this study 333 Korean mothers with 5 to 7 year-old children completed questionnaires that covered aspects such as demographical characteristics, three forms of involvement in their children's education, and three forms of parental cognition. Descriptive analysis indicated that mothers who were more involved in monitoring homework paid more monthly activity fees for supplementary classes and engaged more in cognitively stimulating activities at home. Financial investment in supplementary classes for children was not associated with engagement in cognitively stimulating activities at home. Stepwise regression analysis found that mothers who were more involved in monitoring their young childrens homework expressed higher aspirations for their childrens future occupation. Korean mothers who paid more for their child's supplementary classes had higher family incomes. Korean mothers who engaged more often in cognitively stimulating activities at home expressed higher parental self-efficacy, had a higher educational level, had a younger child, and had an earlier birth order or only child.

A Study of the Ecological Perspectives in Traditional Korean Homes

Hong Hyung-Ock,Rhee Kyung-Hee,Kim Dae-Nyun The Korean Home Economics Association 2001 International Journal of Human Ecology Vol.2 No.1

The purpose of this study is to reveal the kind of traditional perspectives we can use from the past to create a sustainable society for the future and to contribute to the growing interest in, and concern for, environmentally-sound designs. Such perspectives include ways to sustain naturalistic aesthetic views, elements of architectural design, and ideas for traditional lifestyles. Architecture that used these methods would contribute to a more ecologically sensitive view of man's place within the natural environment. This research was conducted by way of literature reviews; the objects of study were physically extant traditional housing, the composition of the traditional village, and traditional lifestyles. The results of this study indicate that the ecological characteristics of traditional Korean homes originated from a holistic conception of society and nature; this holistic conception has been found lacking in our more modern, western influenced homes. In the past, in order to leave an unpolluted or even healthier natural environment to descendents, it was essential to apply ecological principles. Villages harmonized with nature and houses were designed to utilize sunlight and wind. Their natural construction promoted consciousness of human beings and their symbiotic relationship with nature.

The Relationships Between Immigrant Korean-American Parents' Aspirations for Children's Educational Attainment and Their Parenting Styles

Cho Bok-Hee The Korean Home Economics Association 2001 International Journal of Human Ecology Vol.2 No.1

The purpose of this study was to examine how immigrant Korean American parents' aspirations for children's educational attainment are related to their childrearing behavior, their beliefs about the nature of children's intelligence, their level of acculturation, and their beliefs about achievement. One hundred and twenty five immigrant Korean mothers in the United States participated in the study. The present study found that parental expectation for a daughter's educational attainment was significantly related to the mother's educational level. The results of regression analysis also indicated that for daughters, the significant predictors for parents' aspirations for children's educational attainment were the mothers' educational level and parental beliefs about achievement; for sons, significant predictors were the mothers' educational level and parental nurturance.

Family-School Relations and School Adjustment of Children with Divorced Mothers: Testing Epstein's Parent Involvement Theory

Chung Ha-Na,Yi Soon-Hyung The Korean Home Economics Association 2005 International Journal of Human Ecology Vol.6 No.2

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of family-school relations on children's school adjustment with divorced mothers. Subcategories of the family-school relations were family participation in decision making, family help for schools, learning activities at home, school help for families, and school-home communication adopted from Epstein's parent involvement theory. Sub categories of children's school adjustment were delinquent behavior and academic achievement. The sample of this study included 3,367 children from first to fifth grade who lived either in a two-parent or one-parent home. Among them, 411 children with divorced mothers were analyzed. Independent t-test, Pearson's correlations, stepwise regression analysis were all conducted. Findings suggested that children with divorced mothers showed higher delinquency and lower academic achievement than children in intact families. Sub categories of family involvement and school involvement were correlated in divorced families. Children's delinquency was predicted by three of the family-school relation factors, which were school-home communication, family help for schools, and school help for families. Children's academic achievement was predicted by ail factors.