Moderating Effects of Social Support in the Relationship between Acculturative Stress of Marriage Immigrant Women's Husbands and Family Strength

This study was performed to research the moderating effects of social support in the relationship between acculturative stress of marriage immigrant women's husbands and family strength. The subjects are aimed at 280 husbands of marriage immigrant women in South Gyeongsang Province. The data were processed by means of an SPSS 22.0 statistical program, which was used to perform descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis and moderating effects based on model by Baron and Kenny(1986). The results of this study are summarized as follows. First, the mean score for acculturative stress of marriage immigrant women' husbands is 2.73 point. as for sub-factors of acculturative stress, they scored highest for multicultural acceptance stress(2.79), followed by discrimination stress(2.72), home culture coveyance(2.67). In addition, the mean score of family strength was 3.43 point and that of social support was 3.43 point. Second, with regard to acculturative stress of marriage immigrant women’s husbands, its total and sub-factors have significant effects on family strength. that is, the higher level of acculturative stress, the lower family strength. Third, as a result of analyzing the moderating effects of social support in the relation between acculturative stress of marriage immigrant women’ husbands and family strength, the moderating effects of social support was identified. Also, social support as a moderating variable has direct and significant influence on family strength, indicating it is similar moderating variable. And the moderating effects of sub-factors of social support was identified. Forth, as a result of analyzing moderating effects of social support in the relation between sub-factors of acculturative stress and family strength, only discrimination stress has moderating effect. On the basis of the results, husbands actively should participate in acculturation program focused on marriage immigrant women. In addition, family counseling program should be vitalized to solve marital conflicts and family conflicts in a multicultural family. Efforts on social support service for marriage immigrant women’ husbands should be made in terms of policy and practice to strengthen the service.