Second-Generation Korean Experiences in the United States and Canada by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lexington Books

Reported coefficients were estimated in regression models, controlling for the effects of sex, age (9–14; 15–19; 20–25), and nativity (immigration or generation status).

*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.0001, ns: Statistically not significant (p > 0.05).

Source: Data from unpublished study, Growing Up Canadian: A Case-control Study of Korean-Canadian Youth, Conducted by S. Noh at the University of Toronto.

In general, the data in Table 7.2 appears to suggest that Korean-Canadian adolescents and young adults experience more difficulties in psychological and behavioral adjustment. Moreover, the disadvantages appear to be unique to Korean youth, considering the case of other visible minorities, whose symptom profile is nearly identical to that of the Caucasian sample. The thesis guiding this study emphasizes the potentially serious impacts of discrimination on psychological distress and behavioral problems by eroding positive perceptions of self. Indeed, according to the premise, we found remarkably elevated rates of discrimination experienced by Korean youth, compared to Caucasian Canadians (Kim et al., in this volume).

Discrimination and Ethnic Identity

Table 7.2, also shows the reported level of perceived discrimination (frequency) was substantially higher among Korean-Canadian youth than Caucasian youth. Indeed, the sample mean for the Korean sample was about one standard deviation higher than the mean for the Caucasian sample (see Appendix A for descriptive statistics). This is consistent with our earlier findings supporting increased levels of psychological symptoms and anti-social behaviors among Koreans. Other visible minority youth also showed a significantly increased level of discrimination compared to Caucasian youth, although the effect size in this case was smaller than the effect size observed in the case of Korean youth.

The sample means of ethnic attachment for Korean youth and visible minority youth were 2.427 and 2.314 higher, respectively, than the mean for the Caucasian sample. Considering the overall standard deviation of 3.35, the results indicate the strong influence of visible minority status on ethnic attachment among Canadian youth. The effects on the ethnic exploration dimension are much smaller, although statistically significant. Thus, data on ethnic identity suggest that, when compared to Caucasian youth, both Korean and other minority youth have a significantly stronger sense of being attached to their own ethnicity and invest more in exploring and learning about ethnic heritage. Perhaps this explains why visible minority youth were similar to Caucasian youth in psychological and behavioral symptoms and self-acceptance despite an increased exposure to racial discrimination. That is, compared to Korean youth, visible minority youth tend to experience less discrimination but possess equal or higher levels of ethnic attachment and exploration values, which may protect them from negative psychological and behavioral outcomes.

Notwithstanding the higher values of ethnic attachment and exploration, Korean and minority youth did not differ from Caucasians with regards to ethnic pride. Thus, it appears that for Korean and visible minority youth, their sense of belonging and efforts in exploring their heritage do not necessarily prove useful in improving their sense of ethnic pride. On the other hand, youth of dominant social groups may find no reason to make extra efforts to maintain pride in their own heritage.

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