Trajectories and predictors of racial authenticity challenges among adolescents from multicultural intermarried families in a National Sample of South Korea

Abstract

Background

The increase in multicultural intermarriages in South Korea has led to a growing population of adolescents from multicultural families, many of whom encounter unique social challenges. Racial Authenticity Challenges (RAC) refer to the difficulties these adolescents experience when they seek their identity and continue to interact with their social environment. This study aimed to explore the trajectories of RAC among adolescents from intermarried families in Korea and examine both adolescent- and mother-related predictors that influence these trajectories over time.

Method

This study used four waves of data from the Multicultural Adolescents Panel Study (MAPS) conducted from 2012 to 2015, including 784 adolescents (377 boys, 48.1 %, aged 10–15 years) and their immigrant mothers. The mothers' rational backgrounds were as follows: Japan (37.9 %), the Philippines (28.1 %), China (24.7 %), Thailand (3.7 %), Vietnam (1.8 %), and other countries (3.8 %). Latent growth modeling and latent class growth modeling were performed to determine the number and patterns of RAC trajectories among adolescents. Additionally, multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the influence of adolescents- and mother-related predictors.

Results

Four distinct RAC trajectories were identified: (1) high and stable (i.e., consistently high RAC levels over time), (2) low and stable (i.e., consistently low RAC levels over time over time), (3) low to high (i.e., initially low RAC levels that increase over time), (4) high to low (i.e., initially high RAC levels that decrease over time). Significant predictors of RAC trajectory membership were found, including adolescents' Korean proficiency, support from friends, academic achievement, and immigrant mothers' acculturative stress.

Conclusion

This study found that adolescents from intermarried families in Korea, despite being born and raised in the country for over a decade, continue to face significant challenges with social integration and a sense of belonging. Four distinct trajectories of RAC trajectories were identified, each influenced by specific factors. These findings underscore the importance of customized interventions that consider the diversity in RAC trajectories and address the unique needs for each group. By considering key predictors, such as language skills and social support, it is possible to reduce RAC and improve the social integration of adolescents from multicultural families.