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Classes and Predictors of Social Adaptation among Married North Korean Refugee Women: Latent Profile Analysis

  • Journal of Asia-Pacific Studies
  • Abbr : JAPS
  • 2024, 31(2), pp.5-35
  • DOI : 10.18107/japs.2024.31.2.001
  • Publisher : Institute of Global Affairs
  • Research Area : Social Science > Social Science in general
  • Received : May 18, 2024
  • Accepted : June 17, 2024
  • Published : June 30, 2024

Hee Jin Kim 1 Hye Jin Kim 2

1명지대학교
2한국생명존중희망재단

Accredited

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to identify classes of social adaptation among married North Korean refugee women in South Korea using the latent profile analysis and to predict factors influencing each class of social adaptation. Latent profile analysis is a research methodology aimed at discerning and categorizing diverse subgroups within a given population based on specific variables. Departing from the conventional variable-centered approach, this research adopts a person-centered approach. To achieve this, a survey was conducted targeting North Korean female refugees aged 20 to 70 predominantly residing in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do Province. The analysis revealed three distinctive social adaptation profiles: the ‘stable class (27.0%)’, demonstrating a high degree of adaptation across all spheres; the ‘friendly class (42.5%)’, characterized by friendliness in interpersonal relationships; and the ‘restricted class (30.5%)’, experiencing difficulties in all areas of social adaptation. Multinomial regression analysis identified factors predicting social adaptation classes. Age and perceived discrimination were more inclined to characterize the ‘friendly class’ in contrast to the ‘stable class’, whereas age, life satisfaction, perceived discrimination, and social support emerged as factors predisposing individuals to the ‘restricted class’ relative to the ‘stable class’. Based on these findings, this study offered discussions and alternative strategies for enhancing the social adaptation of married North Korean refugee women.

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