Intergenerational Conflict in Korean Immigrant Homes and Its Effects on Children's Psychological Well-Being

Bibliographic Data

ID6080933
AuthorsB C Ben Park (0000-0002-3814-4064, Centre Régional d’Innovation et de Transferts Technologiques des Industries du Bois, corresponding author)
Year2003
Volume1
Issue3
Pages73-93
Publication date2003-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Intergenerational Relationships (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1535-0770 • E-ISSN: 1535-0932
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1300/j194v01n03_06
OpenAlexW2013345036
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited15

This study is concerned with the nature of parent-child conflict in the Korean immigrant home and how such conflict impacts on children's self-esteem, depressive symptoms, sense of marginality and subsequently their coping behavior. Acculturative stresses of immigrant families and potential cultural sources for intergenerational conflict are explored. To test the relationship between intergenerational conflict and its impact on children's psychological well-being, the study relies upon 312 cases of survey data that were collected by Shalom Christian Counseling Center in Los Angeles in 1999-2001. Using a series of bivariate relationships and multiple regression analyses, we evaluate the relative effects of intergenerational relations and perceived marginality along with several demographic factors on dependent variables: self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and coping behavior. Our findings clearly demonstrate that conflictual intergenerational relations impact negatively on the psychological adaptation process of Korean immigrant children. Korean immigrant children whose conflict is not dealt with or resolved well tend to exhibit high depressive symptoms and low self-esteem, which also are associated with their perception of marginality in larger society. Females are more associated with depressive symptoms, but less on unhealthy coping behavior. Children whose residency is relatively shorter are less likely to show depressive symptoms and subsequently to engage less in negative coping behavior than are those who have resided longer in the U.S. These children tend to experience more unhealthy coping behavior than do children having stable relations with their parents at home. The implication of this study is discussed, and possible intervention methods are suggested

Acculturation · Anxiety · Depressive symptoms · Developmental psychology · Immigration · Perception · Psychiatry · Self-esteem · Clinical Psychology · Family Support in Illness · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Psychology · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research · Social Psychology

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub