Program Area: Behavioral and Social Sciences
Seunghye Hong, PhD
Associate Professor
Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health
University of Hawaii at Manoa, Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Michin Hong, PhD, MSW
Associate Professor
School of Social Work
Indiana University
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Kathryn Braun, DrPH
Professor
Office of Public Health Studies
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Seunghye Hong, PhD
Associate Professor
Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health
University of Hawaii at Manoa, Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Yooumi Lee, MA
PhD Candidate
Social Science/Social Gerontology
Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York, United States
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Kyungmin Kim, PhD
Assistant Professor
Child Development and Family Studies
Seoul National University
Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea
Junhyoung Kim, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Health & Wellness Design
Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana, United States
Hyunjin Noh, PhD, MSW, FGSA
Associate Professor
School of Social Work
The University of Alabama School of Social Work
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Guided by the socio-ecological model and the cultural diversity perspective, this symposium aims to enhance the understanding of critical issues in health and well-being among Koreans and Korean Americans with three primary focuses: aging, social-ecological and multilevel factors, and identifying social and cultural contexts. Five studies examined multilevel factors—individual, relational/interpersonal, community, and societal—that are associated with health and well-being, conducted in Korea as well as in the United States. Study 1 examined psychological well-being among older Koreans, specifically its association with intergenerational relationships and social support using longitudinal multilevel modeling to estimate depression trajectories. Study 2 examined childhood experiences and midlife cultural engagement associations among middle-aged Korean couples, considering the influences of their spouses’ experiences and cultural resources. Study 3 explored the experiences of the nature-based virtual reality program among older Korean Americans, using in-depth interviews and providing an innovative approach using technology as a therapeutic tool. Study 4 examined social determinants of health associated with Korean American immigrants’ willingness for end-of-life discussions and the factors affecting willingness (awareness of hospice, communication with family/doctors, and social isolation). Study 5 examined health insurance coverage and its association with immigration-related factors (English proficiency, generational status, and age at immigration) among Korean Americans using national data. The various health, mental health, and well-being issues in Koreans and Korean Americans will be discussed from contextually responsive approaches. This symposium will provide implications for practices, education, research, and policy to promote health, mental health, and well-being in the Korean and Korean American populations.
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Seunghye Hong, PhD – University of Hawaii at Manoa, Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Kyungmin Kim, PhD – Seoul National University
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Junhyoung Kim, PhD – Indiana University
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Hyunjin Noh, PhD, MSW, FGSA – The University of Alabama School of Social Work