title: The experience of Korean immigrant women adjusting to Canadian society.
abstract: The acculturation process is an important factor in the experience of all immigrants. Although previous studies have indicated the challenges faced by Korean immigrants, little attention has been paid to Korean women's immigration experiences. A focused ethnography was used to examine midlife and older Korean immigrant women's experiences following their immigration to Canada. Fifteen women were interviewed in a city in Western Canada. The findings showed that in coming to Canada, women focused on caring for their children and often sacrificed their personal dreams. They had to be employed to support their families, and received support from family and government. Women participated regularly in a Korean Church and drew on their Christian faith to ease their adjustment. They retained hopes for the future including good health and a better life for their children. Most women indicated that it was difficult to integrate into Canadian society but they never gave up on their adjustment to a new culture. In this manuscript, the adjustment experience of the immigrant women is discussed in the context of an acculturation framework. The findings will enhance health professionals' awareness of adjustment patterns and associated challenges to Korean immigrant women's quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, Level 3, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, 11405-87 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1C9, Canada, jaeyoung@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Jaeyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Kaysi E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Kushner
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mill
authors.forename: Daniel W L
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
references.citation: Scand J Psychol. 1995 Mar;36(1):10-24
references.pmid: 7725073
references.citation: ANS Adv Nurs Sci. 1996 Dec;19(2):1-16
references.pmid: 8939284
references.citation: J Cross Cult Gerontol. 2006 Sep-Dec;21(3-4):91-102
references.pmid: 17195097
references.citation: J Immigr Minor Health. 2007 Oct;9(4):281-90
references.pmid: 17347889
references.citation: Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2007 May;28(5):453-71
references.pmid: 17613147
references.citation: J Transcult Nurs. 2009 Apr;20(2):194-201
references.pmid: 19141637
references.citation: Health Care Women Int. 2006 Sep;27(8):666-81
references.pmid: 16893804
references.citation: Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2008 Oct;14(4):275-285
references.pmid: 18954163
references.citation: Health Care Women Int. 2007 Apr;28(4):309-28
references.pmid: 17454180
references.citation: J Cross Cult Gerontol. 2012 Jun;27(2):103-17
references.pmid: 22198551
references.citation: J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs. 2007 Jun;14(4):403-10
references.pmid: 17517031
references.citation: Can J Nurs Res. 1993 Summer;25(2):7-22
references.pmid: 8118765
references.citation: Am Psychol. 1994 Aug;49(8):701-8
references.pmid: 8092613
references.citation: Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 1994 Dec;8(6):348-56
references.pmid: 7847902
references.citation: J Transcult Nurs. 2010 Jan;21(1):73-80
references.pmid: 19822885
references.citation: J Pers Soc Psychol. 2000 Jul;79(1):49-65
references.pmid: 10909877
references.citation: Int J Nurs Stud. 2007 Mar;44(3):415-26
references.pmid: 16806219
references.citation: J Immigr Minor Health. 2008 Oct;10(5):437-43
references.pmid: 18080199
references.citation: Occup Ther Int. 2007;14(4):203-20
references.pmid: 17979216
references.citation: Health Care Women Int. 2002 Jun;23(4):377-88
references.pmid: 12148915
references.citation: Int J Aging Hum Dev. 2011;73(4):283-98
references.pmid: 22474912
references.citation: J Cult Divers. 2010 Fall;17(3):105-9
references.pmid: 20860335
references.citation: J Cult Divers. 2011 Summer;18(2):39-42
references.pmid: 21744672
references.citation: J Cross Cult Gerontol. 2012 Jun;27(2):139-48
references.pmid: 22581472
references.citation: Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2010 Oct;16(4):526-39
references.pmid: 21058816
references.citation: Soc Work. 2011 Jul;56(3):269-79
references.pmid: 21848091
references.citation: J Pers. 2005 Aug;73(4):1015-49
references.pmid: 15958143
references.citation: Women Health. 2001;33(1-2):83-103
references.pmid: 11523642
references.citation: Health Care Women Int. 2007 Apr;28(4):329-38
references.pmid: 17454181
references.citation: Int J Aging Hum Dev. 2005;61(2):105-21
references.pmid: 16161288