Resilience in Multicultural Families of Children With Disabilities in Korea: A Path Analysis Using National Data

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Family Studies
• Disability Studies

Background:

• Multicultural families are increasing globally, including in Korea.
• Children with disabilities present unique challenges for these families.
• Understanding resilience factors is crucial for supporting multicultural families with disabled children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationships between family demands, appraisals, problem-solving, resources, and adaptation.
• To investigate these factors in Korean multicultural families with disabled children.
• To understand the perceptions of married immigrants regarding their family's adaptation.

Main Methods:

• Secondary analysis of national survey data from 2015 and 2018 in Korea.
• Path analysis was used to assess relationships among family factors.
• Data included 256 multicultural families with children with disabilities.

Main Results:

• Family demands directly impacted family resources and adaptation.
• Family appraisal directly influenced family adaptation.
• Family resources mediated the effect of family demands on adaptation.

Conclusions:

• Positive family resources are key for adaptation, even amidst family demands.
• Interventions can be developed to foster resilience in these families.
• Nurses can enhance immigrant and family adaptation by focusing on modifiable aspects like health and cultural perceptions.