Assimilation and life satisfaction of elderly Korean immigrants in the Atlanta area

This study investigated whether socio-demographic characteristics, informal and formal services utilization, and ethnic attachment of elderly Korean immigrants were related to degree of assimilation and life satisfaction they have achieved in the United States.

Face to face interviews based on a structured questionnaire were conducted to collect the data from a non-random sample of 120 elderly Korean immigrants who were aged 60 years and over in the Atlanta area in 1996.

Using simple correlation and multiple regression analysis techniques, this study found the results for its proposed hypotheses on the relationships between two dependent variables and independent variables.

For the dependent variable degree of assimilation, education, monthly income, length of residence, formal service utilization, and ethnic attachment of the elderly Korean immigrants were significantly related. Among these, ethnic attachment was the strongest predictor, length of residence was the second strongest predictor, formal service utilization the third, education the fourth, and monthly income the fifth. On the other hand, marital status, living arrangement, religious affiliation, and informal service utilization were not significantly related to degree of assimilation.

For the dependent variable degree of life satisfaction, religious affiliation, informal service utilization, assimilation, and the interaction between ethnic attachment and assimilation of the study subjects were significantly related. Among these, informal service utilization was the strongest predictor, assimilation was the second strongest predictor, religious affiliation the third, and the interaction between ethnic attachment and assimilation the fourth. On the other hand, education, marital status, monthly income, living arrangement, length of residence, formal service utilization, and ethnic attachment were not significantly related to degree of life satisfaction.

The major finding of this study was the interaction effect of ethnic attachment and assimilation on life satisfaction of elderly Korean immigrants. The findings of this study supported assimilation theory in that a lower degree of ethnic attachment was related to a higher degree of assimilation; and, a higher degree of life satisfaction was related to a higher degree of assimilation. However, this study failed to support cultural pluralism models, which maintain that immigrants should become bicultural in order to achieve a high level of life satisfaction in the new country.

To conclude, the results of this study suggest that, for an effective adaptation in the United States, elderly Korean immigrants need to modify their traditional belief system, and accept the changing demands of new environment. This will in turn facilitate a more positive experience in their immigrant life. Moreover, considering the unique situation of elderly Korean immigrants, specific programs and policies for enhancing the quality of life of this minority group should be enacted.