Phyllis J. Johnson

Financial Responsibility for the Family: The Case of Southeast Asian Refugees in Canada

Although respondents (n = 647) came from collectivist societies (Vietnam and Laos) where they were expected to provide for the family, they have been living in a setting (Canada) where individualism is emphasized and public sources of assistance are available. The effect of this transition on their beliefs and behaviors regarding financial responsibility for family was assessed. With the exception of new situations (government assistance for the elderly or poor, and money sent to relatives in the home country), respondents endorsed traditional beliefs. Lower English ability and favorable views toward multiculturalism were associated with traditional views. They relied on non-family as well as family for financial assistance. Ethnic differences, reflective of their resettlement experiences, were evident.

Resources for coping with economic distress: The situation of unemployed Southeast Asian refugees

This paper focuses on identifying resources and demographic variables that might influence the amount of economic distress experienced by unemployed Southeast Asian refugees. Voydanoff conceptualized economic distress as containing objective (employment instability and economic deprivation) and subjective (employment uncertainty and economic strain) dimensions. As measured in this study, unemployed refugees are not experiencing extensive economic distress except in the area of employment uncertainty. Older subjects evidence higher economic distress except on the dimension of economic strain. Economic distress is relatively low among refugees who have access to financial sources and who have family to provide social support, but human capital variables (English fluency, educational level, and Canadian job training) are not significantly related to the level of economic distress. These findings emphasize the importance of family reunification programs.

Performance of Household Tasks by Vietnamese and Laotian Refugees Tradition and Change

This study adds to the research literature on ethnic diversity in families by providing information on traditional and present-day household task performance of Vietnamese and Laotian families. There were differences by ethnicity, but not by gender, among the respondents in patterns of household task performance traditionally and now. Traditional patterns apparently involved considerable sharing of tasks rather than—as is often assumed—such tasks being primarily performed by the wife. Comparisons of present-day with traditional patterns showed a change toward additional sharing and two patterns that suggest lack of consensus or a transition in role performance. Male Chinese-Vietnamese with lower English abilities, older Lao, and older ethnic Vietnamese who have lower English abilities and higher educational levels tended to say that more of the tasks are now done by others (not the wife) in the household.

Changes in Financial Practices: Southeast Asian Refugees

This paper presents research on changes over a two-yearperiod in the use of new, Western financial practices by Southeast Asian refugees and in variables affecting those changes. Data are from personal interviews with a multistage probability sample of 1,169 adult refugees in British Columbia. The Canadian financial prac tice most frequently adopted by refugees was saving money; the least frequent, purchase of property insurance and use of credit cards. Over the two-year period, respondents increased their use of all the practices except savings. Repeated measures analysis of variance indicated that refugees using more of the financial practices at each point in time were: privately rather than govemment-sponsored; men rather than women; better educated; aged 18–45; and employed. Significant interaction effects showed that increased use of new practices was affected by education, age, employment experience, and changes in self-reported English ability. Consumer education programs to increase the awareness of benefits of financial practices may be especially important for the less educated, those with limited English skills, female consumers, and those who had their initial orienta tion from government agencies.

DEVELOPMENT OF A MEASURE OF JOB TIME-DEMANDS

To develop a scale to measure job time-demands experienced by people involved in employment and family responsibilities, job time-demands were conceptualized as the time required in employment that could coincide or conflict with time for family responsibilities. The scale was tested with samples of employed divorced mothers who had custody of a child under 13 yr. Divorced mothers were selected because they are primarily responsible for managing both employment and family responsibilities. 381 useable questionnaires were obtained. Factor analysis of responses to the 14-item scale reflected three aspects of job time-demands: Flexibility in Work Schedule, Family-Work Schedule Conflicts, and Irregular Work Demands. Those mothers who said their jobs created difficulties in management of family responsibilities had significantly higher job time-demands than those who said they did not, except in the factor of Irregular Work Demands. Occupational classification and hours worked do not appear to be adequate substitutes for measuring job time-demands. Refinement and potential applications are discussed.

The Roles of NASA, U.S. Astronauts, and Their Families in Long-Duration Missions

Johnson Space Center oral histories, pre-flight interviews, and journals of residents of Skylab, Mir, and the International Space Station (ISS) were analyzed qualitatively to identify the U. S. astronauts’ views of the roles of NASA, the astronauts and their families in helping the astronauts to create a daily life that mirrors some aspects of their life on Earth. Findings are that NASA’s role is to establish scheduling and facilitate communication avenues. The astronaut’s role is to personalize leisure, to connect looking out the window with specific aspects of life on Earth, to find ways to make daily routines fun, and to celebrate traditions and historical space events. The family’s role is to participate in sufficient two-way communication and to send care packages with treats and reminders of home. These strategies, which provided a semblance of their life on Earth, may have helped the astronauts to remain connected to life on Earth and to deal better with time away from home and family.