A Study of Factors Affecting Family Function of Korean Immigrant Family

Abstract

The present study set out to investigate the effect of socio-demographical factors and psychosocial factors on family function of immigrant family. The sample consisted of 130 Korean women living in the UK. Analysis revealed that there were no group differences in socio-demographical factors for family function. However, according to the level of acculturative stress, depression and social support which were categorized as psychosocial factors, there were meaning differences in family function. The group which had low level of acculturative stress and depression showed high family functioning. The group had high level of social supports also showed high family function. Regression analyses determined that acculturative stress, depression and social support had significant predictive effects on family function of Korean immigrant family. These findings highlight the importance of concerns and interventions about women’s acculturative stress and depression to improve family function and family adaptation to host culture. This study also suggests that it is necessary to design a social support system that emphasizes decreasing stress and facilitating family function for immigrant families undergoing cultural transitions.