An Empirical Study on the Factors Affecting Social Service Utilization of Immigrant Women in Korea

Abstract

This study aims to examine the factors affecting the utilization of social services among immigrant women in Korea. Based on the model of service utilization by Anderson & Newman, this study examines the effects of predisposing, enabling, and need factors on the probability and level of service utilization. Empirical results show that the predisposing factors such as age, educational level, the number of children, employment status, and nationality have generally significant effects on the probability of service utilization. Meanwhile, certain variables such as ‘social network’ among the enabling factors and ‘experience of discrimination’ among the need factors are relevant in predicting the probability of service utilization. Among the immigrant women, the predisposing factors have significant effects on the level of social service utilization. These findings imply that it is necessary to establish a service system that is better customized to the various needs and living conditions of immigrant women.