This dissertation is comprised of a collection of nine short stories concerning two young women raised in the same Korean American church environment. In their adolescence, both women are exposed to the influence of a religious cult; one joins, the other does not. This dissertation explores the crises that occur in the wake of a collision between culture and religion as each character seeks to find redemption and renewed faith in God, in family, and in herself.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lombard, Ill., 2001. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 188-194).

Thesis (M.S.W.)--Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 119-122).

Investigation of first and second generation Korean-American ego and ethnic identity formation was explored through semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Seventeen self-identified Korean-American young adults, aged twenty-one to twenty-nine, were asked to describe their identity development within Bronfenbrenner's five ecological realms. Grounded theory methodology was used to link Erikson's theory of identity formation (1968) with Bronfenbrenner's Theory of Ecology (1979). Unlike Erikson's prescribed identity crisis for adolescents, Korean-Americans were found to delay their identity exploration until college or young adulthood when they were able to gain geographical and emotional distance from their parents. This was found to be primarily due to Korean culture's emphasis on three main areas--importance of family, respect for elders, and strive for excellence--which served to reinforce collective identity with one's family along with strong parental authority, which inhibited deviation from parental expectations. Subsequently, Korean-American ego identity was found to be significantly influenced by parental adherence to Korean culture. Furthermore, Korean-Americans during adolescence were found to marginalization their Korean culture, due to experiences of discrimination and prejudice from American peers. Depending on the degree of experienced prejudice and discrimination from American peers along with degree of socialization and exposure to other Koreans, Korean-Americans' ethnic identity either proceeded in stages or became fluid, where their ethnic identity changed depending on the environment . / Master of Science

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Albany, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 193-204) and index.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Albany, 2003. / Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (p. 193-204) and index.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Albany, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 193-204) and index.

This study examined how Korean co-ethnic churches serve as connections between Korean seniors and the agencies that offer social and health care services. The study developed from a pilot outreach program funded by the North Central Texas Council of Governments’ Area Agency on Aging (NCTAAA) to inform Korean seniors about Medicare-related programs between February and May of 2011. The results of the pilot program suggested that the Korean-American church can be an effective place for program outreach. The dissertation project, working in partnership with the NCTAAA and 2-1-1 services, further explored the use of Korean churches as a vehicle to connect Korean seniors to Extra Help (EH) and Medicare Saving Programs (MSP) and 2-1-1 services, a toll-free number for information about non-emergency health and social services. Fifty-three pastors were contacted to participate in a telephone survey and a face-to-face, in-depth semi-structured interview. Thirty telephone surveys and 11 face-to-face interviews were conducted. Five of the 30 pastors agreed to host program outreach presentations for the EH, MSP, and 2-1-1 services in their churches. Host churches tended to be more likely highly structured, regularly scheduled programs (e.g., Senior College) for seniors already in place. A total of 405 Korean seniors participated in the program outreach sessions. Five seniors received the EH application information, and 17 MSP application forms were distributed. Additionally, 28 seniors were assisted by phone, not only with the targeted programs, but also with other benefits information. Together, these outcomes indicate that the co-ethnic church can be a vehicle to connect Korean seniors to services offered by outside agencies.

This collection of short stories follows Liz Yoo, a Korean-American woman, who struggles to connect to her immigrant parents and understand her identity.

The purpose of this study was to investigate Korean-American families' beliefs about child development and their child-care practices. Questionnaires were distributed and mailed to wives of Korean-American dual-earner families residing in Utah with young children. Incorporated measures were the Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale (SL-ASIA), Maternal Expectations of Child Development, questions on the type of child care and its quality, and the Child Care Satisfaction Scale (CCSS). Seventy-three mothers filled out the questionnaire for 104 children's child-care situations. Results showed that Korean-American mothers were moderately acculturated and held both American and Korean values concerning the growth and development of children. There were consistent relationships among the type of child care, mothers' quality rating, and maternal satisfaction, as they relate to family characteristics. That is, the child's age, family income, and the availability of relatives were factors related to the type of child care. Korean-American mothers considered educational activities or learning opportunities as important factors in child care and gave higher ratings to center care than they gave to relative or neighbor care. Also, maternal satisfaction with the care arrangements was positively related to their ratings of quality.