The Influence of Immigration-Related Factors on Post-Traumatic Growth in Korean Immigrant Women in the United States

Immigration precipitates substantial transformations in the lives of immigrants, accompanied by a myriad of challenges. Korean immigrant women confront unique difficulties in their host countries, encompassing issues such as language barriers, acculturation, and discrimination. While immigration has been acknowledged as a potentially traumatic experience with various negative repercussions for immigrants, recent attention has also been directed toward recognizing positive changes, notably the phenomenon of posttraumatic growth. This study delves into the relationship between specific immigration-related factors—acculturation level, discrimination experiences, English proficiency, and age at immigration—and the occurrence of posttraumatic growth among Korean immigrant women. The findings underscore that a higher level of acculturation, reduced discrimination experiences, and greater English proficiency are all positively correlated with an augmented likelihood of posttraumatic growth. The implications and future research are discussed to inform interventions that foster positive adaptation in the face of immigration-related challenges.