• One or Two Pathways to Modernity? Family formation in Japan and Germany
  Presented by: Bernhard Nauck, Rokuro Tabuchi

• A Preliminary Model of Adaptation Process Among Multiethnic/Racial Families in Korea
  Presented by: Grace Haejin Chung, Joan P. Yoo

• The Healthy Immigrant Effect: Changes in Immigrants' Health Over Time
  Presented by: Mayeso Chinseu Lazaro, Berna J Skrypnek, Deanna Williamson

• Impact of Culture Brokering on Family Dynamics in Eastern European Immigrant Families
  Presented by: Vanja Lazarevic, Marcela Raffaelli

Abstracts

One or Two Pathways to Modernity? Family formation in Japan and Germany

Presented by: Bernhard Nauck, Rokuro Tabuchi

Two thesis on social change concur with regard family, the model of the ""second demographic transition"" and the model of ""family change"". The presentation provides an empirical test, based on family change in Japan (a ""collectivistic"" East Asian culture with a long lasting industrialization) and Germany (an ""individualistic"" European culture) with 11 cumulated family surveys from both societies, covering the family formation of 47.229 women born between 1915 and 1985. The presentation investigates differences and similarities in the family formation process in both societies and analyzes the influence of educational inequality on family formation over time in both societies.

A Preliminary Model of Adaptation Process among Multiethnic/racial Families in Korea

Presented by: Grace Haejin Chung, Joan P. Yoo

This study uses the Double ABCX model to conceptualize an adaptation process model for multiethnic/racial families in Korea by interviewing 10 migrant wives and 11 professionals who provide services to families. Results illustrate how the stressor event of international migration and arranged marriage (the A factor) interacts with various resources (the B factor) and the meanings attached to the international marriage by migrant wives themselves and their new family members in Korea (the C factor) to possibly create a family crisis (the X factor). Also, our model identifies post-crisis processes through which these families reach either bonadaptation or maladaptation.

The Healthy Immigrant Effect: Changes in Immigrants' Health Over Time

Presented by: Mayeso Chinseu Lazaro, Berna J Skrypnek, Deanna Williamson

The relationship between length of time in Canada and financial, physical and mental health was investigated in a sample of 315 low-income immigrants and refugees. Although all were living in poverty, depth of poverty was highest for those who had been in Canada less than two years and lowest for who had been in Canada for five years or more. In contrast, physical and mental health was lowest for those who had been in the country for five or more years. Services and programs must address the risk of declines in health for immigrants and refugees.

Impact of culture brokering on family dynamics in Eastern European immigrant families

Presented by: Vanja Lazarevic, Marcela Raffaelli

Some studies show that culture brokering (CB), a common phenomenon in immigrant families, has a negative impact on family dynamics but others find the opposite pattern. To address these contradictions, the current (ongoing) study assesses the impact of CB on multiple dimensions of family relationships in immigrant families. Data were collected from 119 young adults (to date) who were born in Eastern Europe and immigrated to the United States with their parents. Preliminary analyses indicate that brokering is related to family conflict but not to changes in power dynamics or intimacy. Implications for researchers and practitioners are discussed.