A study of the psychological processes of conflict resolution of Japanese-American international married couples living in the United States

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K03267
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 10020:Educational psychology-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo City University
• Principal Investigator: Yabuki-DiCorcia Rie 東京都市大学, メディア情報学部, 准教授 (30453947)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 国際結婚 / 在米日米国際結婚家族 / 家族療法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Personality and other individual characteristics are important for sustaining a good marital relationship, but other factors are also important among Japanese-American international couples residing in the United States, such as (a) A courtship period long enough for the couple to understand each other and their life goals, despite a possible language barrier, before emigrating to America. (b) Both partners should share one language that will serve as the common language for the couple and enable them to function adequately. (c) At least one spouse should have a stable career while the other spouse should have a sense of place and community. (d) The couple’s philosophical and religious beliefs should be aligned. Narrative Therapy is suggested as a culturally sensitive psychological therapy option for international marriage families encompassing multiple languages and cultures.

Free Research Field

家族心理学　臨床心理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

日本政府のハーグ条約加盟により、夫婦関係継続困難に直面する海外在住の日本人が関わる国際結婚夫婦への心理援助が急務となった。国際結婚家族は、国境を超えた生活圏を持っていることから、単一の国家を想定した婚姻・家族関係を規定する法制度や、税金・年金をめぐる制度で、これらの家族の在り方を規定することは不可能である。海外在住の国際結婚家族の実情、夫婦関係・家族関係を維持するために必要なリソース、発生しやすい夫婦間葛藤とそれに対する臨床心理学的支援を提示することに本研究の学術的・社会的意義がある。