Exploratory examination of the relationship between acculturation and personal growth among Korean immigrants

Church-Based Recruitment to Reach Korean Immigrants: An Integrative Review

Although the Korean church has been frequently used to recruit Korean immigrants in research, little is known about the specific strategies and process. The purpose of this integrative review was to describe recruitment strategies in studies of Korean immigrants and to identify the process of Korean church-based recruitment. Thirty-three studies met inclusion criteria. Four stages of church-based recruitment were identified: initiation, endorsement, advertisement, and implementation. This review identified aspects of the church-based recruitment process in Korean immigrants, which are different from the Black and Hispanic literature, due to their hierarchical culture and language barriers. Getting permission from pastors and announcing the study by pastors at Sunday services were identified as the key components of the process. Using the church newsletter to advertise the study was the most effective strategy for the advertisement stage. Despite several limitations, church-based recruitment is a very feasible and effective way to recruit Korean immigrants.

Stress and Coping Associated With Acculturation Among North Korean Defectors

While adapting to a new culture, North Korean defectors may develop their own coping strategies and utilize coping resources to deal with acculturative stress. The purpose of this study was to identify the stress-coping strategies utilized by North Korean defectors. Using semistructured in-depth interviews, three salient themes as the major coping strategies were identified: (a) engagement in meaningful activities, (b) emotional and social support, and (c) personal growth. This study suggested that leisure professionals in South Korea create and provide a variety of recreational programs through which North Korean defectors can engage with host individuals in order to increase their health and well-being.