The Impact of Marriage Migrant Women's Korean Language Ability, Self-esteem, and Acculturative Stress on Their Family Health: Focused on Mediating Effects of Marital Adjustment

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was conducted for the purpose of a structural model analysis of family health of women who came to Korea for being married to Korean men. METHODS: The data were collected from 260 immigrant women at multicultural centers located in C and B cities from May 10th to 30th, 2012. The variance analysis on the samples was conducted by using the maximum likelihood minimization function with AMOS 7.0. The fitness was evaluated by means of the SRMR, RMSEA, CFI, and TLI with a 90% confidence interval. RESULTS: First, immigrant women's self-esteem and acculturative stress were found to have significant direct effects on their family health. Second, their self-esteem and acculturative stress have direct effects on their marital adjustment. Third, their marital adjustment was found to have significant direct effects on their family health. Forth, immigrant women's Korean language ability was found not to have significant direct effects on their marital adjustment and family health. CONCLUSION: In order to enhance the family health of immigrant women, it is necessary to develop and apply nursing programs in consideration of immigrant women's self-esteem, marital adjustment and acculturative stress.