Impact of parent’s country on wellbeing of multicultural adolescents: Using Korea National multicultural adolescents panel survey

Abstract

Abstract Impact of parent’s country on wellbeing of multicultural adolescents: Using Korea National multicultural adolescents panel survey This research investigates and describes the association of parent`s relationship on wellbeing of adolescents with a multicultural background. Over the past two decades, the population of multicultural families consisting of a married immigrant or foreigner with Korean citizenship in Korea has grown. Since people with multicultural backgrounds are increasing, children from multicultural families are gradually increasing as well in Korea. The mental health and wellbeing of multicultural adolescent are significant public health concerns in many countries. We used data from Korea National Youth Policy Institute, wave 8th, year 2018 multicultural adolescents panel study MAPS, which included responses from 1,147 individuals. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between depression, worries and concerns, life satisfaction and social withdrawal with other variables. Adolescents whose mother was born abroad are more likely to have depression specifically Chinese or Philippian mothers (OR=1.13; 95% CI, 0.50-2.56) than adolescents whose mothers were native Korean. Female respondents were more like to have depression, worries and less satisfaction with life (OR=1.28; 95% CI, 0.99-1.66) (OR=1.98; 95%CI, 1.51-2.59) (OR=0.75; 95% CI, 0.56-1.01) than male adolescents. Mothers level of education was associated with adolescent’s depression (OR=0.31; 95% CI, 0.13-0.72). As the number of multicultural adolescents is growing in South Korea and this numbers will form future Koreans society, in this matter government and society should understand and implement multicultural family support policies.