Relationships Between Acculturation Strategies And Psychological Resilience Among Mongolian Residents In The Republic Of Korea

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relationship between acculturation strategies and psychological resilience among young Mongolian adults residing, working, and studying in the Republic of Korea (ROK). A total of 206 Mongolian citizens aged 18-35 who had been residing in the ROK for more than six months were selected using a purposive sampling method. Intercultural adaptation was measured using Berry's (1997) Acculturation Attitude Scale (AAS), while psychological resilience was assessed using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-25) developed by Connor and Davidson (2003). Data were analyzed using SPSS, employing correlation analysis, one-way analysis of variance (One-Way ANOVA), and Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference (Tukey HSD) post-hoc test. The results revealed that assimilation (34.0%) and integration (30.6%) were the predominant acculturation strategies among the participants. According to Berry’s (1997) model of intercultural adaptation, the integration strategy represents a balanced approach wherein individuals maintain their heritage cultural identity while actively participating in the host culture. One-way ANOVA demonstrated that participants utilizing the integration strategy exhibited statistically significantly higher levels of psychological resilience compared to other groups (p < .05), particularly those adopting assimilation or separation strategies. These findings confirm that maintaining a balanced bi-cultural position-preserving one’s native culture while adapting to the host culture-serves as a protective factor for individual psychological adjustment. Consequently, the results of this study carry important theoretical and practical implications for identifying the psychological and social needs of Mongolians living abroad, as well as for developing targeted psychological counseling and cultural adaptation support programs.