An Exploratory Study of Kin Ties Among Korean Immigrant Families in Atlanta

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Abstract
This study explored the level and kinds of kin involvement of Korean immigrant families in Atlanta. By doing so, it intended ( 1) to substantiate the theoretical position concerning the positive relationship between immigration and kin ties, and (2) to shed light on Korean immigrant families in the U.S. The sample consisted of 116 married Korean adults under the age of 60 each of whom represented a Korean family in Atlanta. The respondents were selected by a combination of the purposive and systematic sampling. A semistructured questionnaire was administered to the respondents, to 79 respondents through face-to-face interview, and to -the others over the phone. The findings suggest the following. About 40 percent of the respondents had one or more nonnuclear family members at home, either elderly parents and/or others. Kin assistance was found to be the most important source of help not only for immigration orientation, but also for financial and non-financial problems after settlement. In terms of friendship networks, relatives were found to be as important as friends; making friends outside of the kin group did uot significantly reduce the importance of kin members. An overwhelming majority of the respondents reported kin relations to be important for their immigrant life, and the majority indicated that they maintain closer kin relations in this country than they did in Korea. These findings support our original expectation that immigration enhances kin ties.

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