Exploring the Acculturation of Adolescents in Multicultural Families in South Korea

• In Event: A New Form of Educational Inequality in South Korea

Proposal

Objectives. According to the National Survey of Multicultural Families by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, most adolescents in multicultural families (AMF) in South Korea were born or brought up in the country. Subsequently, this population identifies as ‘Korean.’ However, holding a Korean national identity does not necessarily imply that adolescents in multicultural families are well integrated into society. Thus, it is meaningful to investigate acculturation among this population, thereby providing them with effective interventions in schools to support their psychological well-being. The goal of this study is twofold. The first goal is to classify this population into groups based on acculturation and acculturative stress AMF in South Korea. The second is to identify relevant variables affecting these distinct groups, and to explore the psychological and sociocultural(school) adaptation of each group.
Methods. This study used secondary data from the Multicultural Adolescents Panel Study (MAPS) of National Youth Policy Institute in South Korea. MAPS consists of 1,635 AMF who have been followed since they were in the 4th grade. The data utilized in this study covered 2011 (wave 1) to 2016 (wave 6). Considering Berry’s definition of acculturation as psychological and social changes caused by contact with two cultures, acculturation is a process rather than a result. The process should be observed over time. However, there is little empirical research in Korea investigating acculturation among AMS in a longitudinal way. To fill this gap, this study tried to discover growth trajectories of acculturation of AMS based on latent class growth analysis (LCGA).
Results. First, our analysis identified three distinct groups: ‘Integration-low stress (N = 692, 42.3%)’, ‘Assimilation-low stress (N = 473, 28.9%)’, and ‘Marginalization-high stress (N = 470, 28.8%)’. Second, individual factors (gender, Korean language proficiency), family factors (mother’s education level, family support, parents’ educational support & expectation, parental neglect, notion of mother’s country), social and school factors (peer support, grade satisfaction), and one environmental factor (perceived economic status) were significant determinants of these groups. In particular, students with low levels of proficiency in Korean language and high levels of parental neglect were more likely to belong to the ‘Marginalization-high stress’ than the other two classes. Third, analyzing psychological (self-esteem, resilience, life-satisfaction, depression, social withdrawal) and school adaptation (peer-relationship, teacher-relationship, academic adjustment) outcomes of acculturation types, found that ‘Integration-low stress’ showed the most positive outcome, followed by ‘Assimilation-low stress’ and then ‘Marginalization-high stress’. When examining variables affecting acculturation types and their adaptation results, AMF in ‘Marginalization-high stress’ were identified as the most vulnerable and in need of educational and psychological support.
Conclusion. This study raises important implications for the successful adaptation of AMF. The research classified acculturation types within this population using longitudinal methods and identified significant determinants and outcomes. We also reviewed phenomena underpinning their acculturation. As a result, using these distinct groups, more optimal intervention programs to assist healthy adaptation could be provided by targeting specific AMF groups.

Authors

• IN SOO OH, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea

• Seojung Kim, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea