title: Family adaptability and cohesion in families consisting of Asian immigrant women living in South Korea: A 3-year longitudinal study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  South Korea's low birth rate, aging society, and female migration to urban areas due to industrialization have caused an accelerated inflow of Asian female immigrants into Korea to marry Korean men, especially in rural areas. This study was performed to determine how family function of multicultural families changes over time and what factors affect the changes in family function of multicultural families.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study subjects were 62 Asian immigrant women married to South Korean men living in South Korea. In a 1st wave study in August 2008, the socioeconomic factors and Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale III (FACES III) scores were measured. A 3-year follow-up study was then conducted in August 2011, and the results were compared with the 1st wave study results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean family adaptability score was 24.6 in the 1st wave study and 26.1 at the 3-year follow-up. The average family cohesion score was 31.0 in the 1st wave study and 36.7 at the 3-year follow-up. There was a statistically significant increase in family cohesion after 3 years (P < 0.001). In multiple regression analysis, age difference between husband and wife (P = 0.019) and subjective SES (P < 0.001) were found to be significantly correlated with positive changes of cohesion scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Family adaptability did not change over time; however, conversely, family cohesion increased. The age difference between husband and wife and the subjective SES had a positive association with the changes in family cohesion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeon-Pyo
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ju-Youn
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Joh
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale III; adaptability; cohesion; family function; immigrant