Flourishing Among Korean American Adoptees: The Mediating Effects of Family Cohesiveness on Its Relationship With Stress

• In Event: Listening to All Voices: The Experiences of Asian Americans

Abstract

The proposed study used mixed methods to examine the family practices that are fundamental for fostering resilience among Korean American adoptees. Participants were 34 transracially adopted Korean American youths living with White American parents in the U.S. and 43 second generation Korean American students living with their biological parents. The results demonstrate that in addition to experiencing stress related to their education and career, Korean American adoptees struggled with their cultural identities when interacting with peers. The negative effects of life stress on adoptees’ mental health, however, were diminished once family cohesiveness was taken into account. Study findings show that adoptees were flourishing despite challenges with cultural identity, speaking to the importance of a loving family regardless of racial mismatch.

Authors

• Diane Sookyoung Lee, California State University - Sacramento

• Amado M. Padilla, Stanford University