KOREAN AMERICAN

Activties of Daily Life

ADLs

For some, part of Korean American’s daily life activities involves maintaining their ethnic attachment.

• Doing things such as eating Korean foods, practicing Korean customs, being a part of different ethnic groups, attending Korean churches, and speaking the language, all of these are everyday activities that can allow Korean Americans to keep that ethnic attachment strong.

During a hospital stay, differences in how a nurse would provide care might be seen during activities like bathing, cleaning up, going to the bathroom, and eating. The Korean American patient may prefer for a family member to take care of them when it comes to these activities, due to privacy and their practices/customs.

For those who do not wish to have or maintain an attachment to their Korean heritage, they just follow American customs and practices.

Communications

Communications

Korean Americans tend to be fluent in both English and Korean languages, however, most are accustomed to speaking only English; those who are older sometimes prefer to only speak Korean, in an effort to maintain their ethnic attachment.

Konglish is Korean-style English that is used. The word was made up of two words, Korean and English, and it is a combination of Korean language with some English words that have been integrated over time.

The writing system or Korean alphabet is called hangul.

One key thing for Korean Americans that is a pretty big deal is, respect for their elders, and it is shown in the way that they greet them, talk to them, and act around them.

Some of the differences between American language and Korean language would be things with body language, such as eye contact or shaking someone’s hand to greet them. Making direct eye contact with someone, to Americans, is a sign of respect and confidence while to someone from Korea, making eye contact can be viewed as confrontational and it is not polite. Also, where Americans shake hands, Koreans instead bow to greet someone and show respect.

• Korean Americans typically follow either greeting custom or both, it usually depends on the practices they grew up with and who it is they are communicating with (ex: they wouldn’t bow to another American but they might bow to their grandparent).

Food Practices

Korean Americans that have acculturated to eat more of a mix of traditional Korean food mixed with American traditional foods

Some examples of Korean food include rice, kimchi, and green onions

Those who are more acculturated tend to each more American foods than Korean food

In a study of adolescents using 24 hour recall Korean Americans had the lowest levels of energy and cholesterol intakes but a higher amount of fat when compared to Koreans.

Nutrient profiles are more like Koreans then those of Americans in young people.

Studies found that elderly Korean Americans maintain the traditional diet more centered around rice, soybean, and fermented foods.

Family Roles

Externalizing problems are shown in males with higher and lower levels of anger control, ultimately causing higher levels of outward anger.

This causes more perceived family conflicts.

Males tend to lean more towards the work then family role whereas the women play the role as the caregiver and homemaker.

Although this ideology was the normal of the past many Korean Americans have adopted a more modern approach to family roles.

Koreans put a large emphasis on respecting elders to promote harmony of the family

Grandparents are considered the head of the households and role models for younger generations.

Health beliefs

• Traditional health concepts of Korea focus on principles. They believe in holism and unity with nature and especially emphasize the mental aspect. The unity of heaven & man, and the unity of mind and body. The former perspective is based on the main concept of Chi. The latter has the main concept of ruling of the mind.
• Korean Medicine is mainly composed of pharmaceutical treatments based on the medical theory of the Three Treasures (Jing-Qi-Shen) and acupuncture based on Meridian Theory. Practitioners have also developed various natural treatment techniques such as meditation and qigong, massage, and bone setting. One of the important principles of Korean Medicine is to find a healthy lifestyle, and this has led to a centralized culture on efficient use of life energy, thereby contributing to the realization of the value of medicine in food, daily activities, and culture.

Health Beliefs

Illness Beliefs

• Many Korean Americans also believe that illness or death is fated and that they have no control over nature. Many Korean Americans equate admission to a hospital with a death sentence and may refuse to be admitted. This refusal may occur particularly with elderly Korean Americans.
• Unlike most other countries in the world, Korea has maintained a distinctive practice where patients' families primarily take the role of taking care of sick people, feeding, accompanying them to the bathroom and even sleeping on a spare mattress the hospital provides next to the patient's bed
• In English, Jook, or Juk, translates to rice porridge. Like American chicken noodle soup, this is a Korean staple for those who feel ill. To make this dish, you slowly boil rice that you have soaked in water for many hours

Illness Beliefs

Birth Rituals

• In Korean American beliefs, there are 21 days, samil-il, where a mother's job is to just eat and rest. Her body is weak and broken. If she doesn't recover fully she can have chronic issues in the future.
• The umbilical cord is covered with straw or paper and burned on the third day. Right after the birth, the family ties a gold rope around the front door.
• If more children are desired, the placenta and afterbirth are burned under the eaves of the house. If no more children are desired, these are burned some distance from the house, usually in a clean, sunny place.

Birth Rituals

Spirituality

Spirtuality

Christianity:

-Church attendance

-Reading the Bible

-Prayer

-Worship services

-Participation in sacraments (for Catholics)

Buddhism:

-Meditation

-Mindfulness

-Pursuit of enlightenment

-Rituals

-Chanting

-Temple visits (Hyun Um et al., 2022)

Religion

Christianity:

-Protestantism: Many Korean Americans are Protestant Christians, and they often belong to various Protestant denominations, including Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, and others.

-Catholicism: There is also a notable Catholic Christian presence among Korean Americans, with Korean Catholic churches and communities established throughout the United States.

Buddhism:

-Korean Buddhism has a long history, and it has been practiced by some Korean Americans who follow this tradition. Temples and centers associated with Korean Buddhism can be found in Korean American communities. (Hyun Um et al., 2022)

Accomadations in Health care

Accomadations

-Body Preparation: When a loved one passes away, it is customary for the family to wash and dress the deceased. This process is seen as a final act of care and respect.

-Last Rites and Prayers: families may request a pastor or priest to perform last rites and offer spiritual guidance. Buddhists often have monks perform rituals and prayers.

Christianity:

-Prayer: Many Korean American Christians may request time for prayer or access to religious texts (like the Bible).

-Dietary Restrictions: Some may observe dietary restrictions, such as avoiding certain meats or alcohol.

Buddhism:

-Meditation: Buddhist patients may wish to practice meditation for mental and spiritual well-being.

-Dietary Preferences: They may have dietary preferences, including vegetarianism or avoiding specific foods on certain days.

(Hyun Um et al., 2022)

Death Rituals

South Korean Customs and Traditions

Death Rtuals

Funeral or Memorial Service: often incorporate both traditional Korean customs and modern elements. Traditional customs may include bowing to show respect, and the use of ritual items like incense and candles.

Burial or Cremation: Some Korean Americans may opt for burial in cemeteries, while others may choose cremation.

Religious and Spiritual Practices: For Christian Korean Americans, there may be Christian prayers, hymns, and readings led by clergy. For Buddhist Korean Americans, Buddhist rituals and chants may be performed. Ancestral rites and offerings to honor the deceased's spirit, such as a ritual called "Charye," might also be included.

Communal Gatherings: Community support is highly valued in Korean culture. Friends, family, and members of the Korean American community come together to provide support and condolences to the grieving family.

Memorial Services: Korean Americans may hold memorial services on significant dates, such as the deceased person's death anniversary or important holidays may involve the lighting of candles, sharing of stories, and traditional rituals.

Food and Offerings:

-Preparing and sharing food with mourners and guests.

Offering symbolic items or gifts for the deceased. (Cann C.K 2018)

Health care barriers faced by Korean Americans

Barriers

-Navigating the medical system --- leads to underutilizing health services

- Language barriers, despite having proficient language skills they still have problems comprehending and understanding the U.S. medical system.

- Lack of education, “... educational level is an imperative factor influencing health literacy among Korean immigrants residing in the U.S. for all age groups, potentially due to its possible relationship with English proficiency, which research have found direct influence on health literacy.” (Chung et al., 2021)

-Economic status, employment, and family dynamic can alter one’s desire to access healthcare.

Advocating for Korean Americans

Advocacy

-Communicate effectively, ensure they understand what you are telling them.

- It's important for the nurse to be aware and open to the client’s differences while actively listening to their concerns.

-Building trust between you and the client is crucial as it will allow you both to be more receptive to the other.

-Keep in mind that eye contact isnt always preffered, some view it as threatening.

Caring for Korean Americans

Care

-Teach them about preventative care involving both education and screening for common problems they may be susceptible to.

-Keep family involved in treatment plans.

-Use a means of communication that allows the client to fully grasp what is going on, this can include speaking slower or using a translator.

-Keep their cultural preferences in mind when explaining treatment options and care plans.

- Encourage preventative screening, Korean American woman experience alarming rates of cervical cancer. Only about 45% of Korean American woman partake in preventative pap smears in comparison to 67% of the general population. (Lee HY et al., 2021)

-Promote cultural humility when caring for someone.