Stress, Self-esteem, and Powerlessness in Korean Husbands Married to Foreign Wives

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate levels of stress, self-esteem, and powerlessness in Korean husbands married to foreigner wives. METHODS: The subjects were 183 Korean men who were living with foreigner wives in the Gwangju, Jeonnam and Jeonnbuk areas. Data were collected from January to May 2012 and analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheffe test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and backward multiple regression with the SPSS PC WIN version 18.0. RESULTS: The average level of stress was 4.48, with difficulties in international marriage experienced by the subjects due to differences in language and culture. The average reported self-esteem score was 29.69, and the average powerlessness score 117.76. There were significant differences in perceived powerlessness depending on the employment statuses, income levels, and nationalities of the participants' wives, and their perceived levels of satisfaction with living with a foreigner wife. Powerlessness was positively correlated with stress (r=.41, p<.001), and negatively correlated with self-esteem(r=-.63, p<.001). The factors affecting the perceived powerlessness included self-esteem (beta=-.54, p<.001), stress (beta=.28, p<.001), lower income (beta=.13, p=.016), and working wife (beta=.12, p=.036). CONCLUSION: Healthcare providers need to explore strategies to improve self-esteem and powerlessness in Korean men married to foreigner wives.