International Journal of Human Ecology

The Korean Home Economics Association (대한가정학회)
권호 표지

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

  • Cho Bokhee (College of Human Ecology, Kyunghee University) ;
  • Han Sae-Young (Dept. of Child Welfare, Chungbuk National University) ;
  • Lee Joo-Yeon (College of Human Ecology, Kyunghee University)
  • Published : 2005.06.01
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Abstract

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.

Keywords

References

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