Chang - Pastoral Care For Korean Immig

2007·4.7 MB·English

by  Chang, Chonggoo

Pastoral Care for Korean Immigrant Male Batterers in
Domestic Violence
A Dissertation
Presented to
the Faculty of the
Claremont School of Theology
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
by
Chonggoo Chang
May 2007
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
© 2007
Chonggoo Chang
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
This Dissertation, written by
Chonggoo Chang
under the direction of his Faculty Committee
and approved by its members,
has been presented to and accepted
by the Faculty of the
Claremont School of Theology
in partial fulfdlment of the requirements
for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Faculty Committee:
William M. Clements, Chairperson
Stephen S. Kim
Daryl G. Smith
Dean: Susan L. Nelson
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
ABSTRACT
Pastoral Care for Korean Immigrant Male Batterers
in Domestic Violence
by
Chonggoo Chang
The primary purpose of this dissertation is to
explore from a pastoral care and counseling perspective
the impact of religious and cultural patriarchal
attitudes, and witnessing past violence, on Korean
Christian immigrant male batterers. The methodological
approaches are both quantitative and qualitative.
The quantitative part of the study examines major
potential contributing factors to violence against women
among Korean Christian immigrant male batterers. A set
of hypotheses is tested that compares Korean Christian
immigrant male batterers with a comparison group of
Korean Christian immigrant men to asses the impact
religious and cultural patriarchal attitudes toward
gender inequality and observing and experiencing violence
in one's family of origin and/or a broader culture. The
qualitative part of the study highlights the findings
from the in-depth interviews for domestic violence
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
prevention and intervention in the Korean immigrant
community, thereby providing useful information for the
future design of responsive, culturally appropriate and
effective prevention efforts in faith communities.
The study shows that demographic characteristics such
as age, marital status, occupation, and income are
related to the occurrences of domestic violence. Korean
Christian immigrant male batterers tend to be older, more
likely to be divorced, in lower occupational categories
and in a lower income bracket. The mean levels of
religious patriarchal attitudes, traditional patriarchal
attitudes, and witnessing past violence are significantly
lower for the batterers than for Korean Christian
immigrant men. The qualitative findings provide pastoral
caregivers suggestions as to how to develop a holistic
strategy for pastoral interventions for prevention of
family violence in their faith communities.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank all of the individuals who
assisted me in the completion of my dissertation. First,
I would like to thank Dr. William Clements, chairperson
of the committee, for his unwavering support and insight
throughout the dissertation research process. I would
also like to thank Dr. Stephen Kim and Dr. Daryl Smith,
members of the committee, for their constructive
comments and inspiring suggestions. I truly want to
acknowledge Dr. Kathleen Greider for her continuous
mentorship throughout the journey of my doctoral studies.
The study would not have been successful without the
research participants. I would like to express my
sincere gratitude to the Korean American Family Service
Center, all the survey respondents, and the focus group
interviewees. Their time and effort are appreciated.
This study is the product of the help of my family.
My precious wife, Emily Chang, and three children,
Monique, Janine, and William have been patient, faithful,
supportive, and loving throughout this long process. I
am also deeply grateful to my parents, Jun Chul Chang
and Dong Boon Kim, and to my parents-in-law, Yun Sung
Kim and Kyung Soon Kim. Their prayers, support, and love
have been my strength and anchor from the beginning.
iii
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
But most importantly, above all else, I give thanks
to God who guides me and allows me to receive all the
support I have encountered throughout my academic career.
iv
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter Page
1. Introduction............................. 1
Statement of the Problem........................3
Thesis...................................... 16
Significance of the Study...................17
Scope of the Study.......................... 18
Organization of the Study...................19
2. Literature Review.............................. 20
Domestic Violence among Korean Immigrant
Families...............................20
Theories of Domestic Violence...............30
Microlevel Theories................... 32
Macrolevel Theories................... 47
3. Methodology.................................... 5 9
Subject and Sample Selection.......... .60
Date Collection Procedures.................. 61
Instruments..................... 64
Qualitative Approach........................68
Definitions of Terms. ....................71
Research Questions.......................... 75
Hypotheses..................................7 6
Statistical Analysis of Data................ 77
4. Data Findings.................................. 78
Part I: Basic Quantitative Analysis....... 78
Descriptive Findings for the Total
Sample........................... 7 8
Comparisons between Korean Christian
Immigrant Male Batterers and
Korean Christian Community Men....84
v
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Domestic Violence among Korean
Immigrant Male Batterers........101
The Level of Effectiveness of Pastoral
Intervention and Prevention of
Domestic Violence in Faith
Communi t y........................106
Part II: Qualitative Analysis..............Ill
Cultural and Religious Issues........112
Professional Assistance and Training
for Pastors and Churches.........124
Other Recommendations................. 128
5. Discussions, Limitations, Implications for
Pastoral Care and Counseling, Theological
Considerations, and Conclusions................135
Discussions.................................135
Limitations of the Study................. .144
Implications for Pastoral Care
Counseling.................... 146
Theological Considerations..................152
Conclusions....................................163
Appendices
A. Informed Consent..........................166
B. Questionnaire.......................... 169
Bibliography...... . 178
vi
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Age of Respondents....................7 9
Table 2: Education of Respondents...............79
Table 3: Length of Residence in the United
States....,............................. 80
Table 4: Marital Status of Respondents........ 81
Table 5: Occupation of Respondents.............82
Table 6 : Income of Respondents............... 83
Table 7: Comparison of Age............ 85
Table 8: Comparison of Education............... 86
Table 9: Comparison of Length of Residency
in U. S . . . ...............................87
Table 10: Comparison of Marital Status........ 88
Table 11: Comparison of Occupation.............89
Table 12: Comparison of Monthly Income......... 90
Table 13: Summary of Comparisons between
Batterers and Korean Christian Community
Community Men........................... 91
Table 14: Religious Patriarchal Attitudes
towards Gender Inequality..............93
vii
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.