Systematic Review of Quantitative Research related to Maternal Adaptation among Women Immigrants by Marriage in Korea

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aimed to describe knowledge status of current research related to maternal adaptation of women immigrants by marriage in Korea. METHODS: Eighteen quantitative current researches published from January, 2006 to August, 2014 that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. These 18 articles finally selected for systemic review from 5,168 articles. All current researches included the mother within one year after childbirth and one variable related to maternal adaptation at least. RESULTS: Variables related to psychological adaptation (48.1%) were mostly studied. In detail, parenting stress (17.3%) and parenting competency (15.4%) were frequently surveyed. Also, social support (7.7%), husband rearing support (5.8%) of relational adaptation, and acculturation (3.8%) of cultural adaptation were importantly studied. In addition, frequently used instruments for each study variable were analyzed and evaluated. As major results, parenting stress and parenting efficacy were significantly influenced by social support or husband rearing support and acculturation, and had an effect on parenting behaviors. Various maternal education programs were effective in improving maternal role confidence or parenting efficacy and decreasing parenting stress. CONCLUSION: Nursing intervention programs for improving maternal adaptation should focus on decreasing parenting stress and increasing parenting efficacy by improving social support and acculturation level of women immigrants by marriage in Korea.