The effect of grief following loss on fear of intimacy of Korean returnee cross-cultural individuals (CCIs): The moderating effects of meaning-making and cultural identity

The current study examined the influence of grief following loss on fear of intimacy among Korean returnee Cross-Cultural Individuals’ (CCIs), defined as individuals who spend their formative years in cultures different from their parents’ native country, focusing on the moderating roles of meaning-making and cultural identity. Study participants consisted of 228 Korean returnee cross-cultural individuals (78.1 % females) ages between 18 and 29 (M = 22.6, SD = 2.4). The collected data was analyzed using SPSS 27.0 and a Process Macro Model 2. Results indicated that grief following loss increased fear of intimacy whereas higher levels of meaning-making and cultural identity decreased it. In addition, both meaning-making and cultural identity moderated the effect of grief following loss on fear of intimacy, with high level of meaning-making reducing and high level of cultural identity intensifying the effect of grief following loss on fear of intimacy. The results of this study suggest that to reduce and prevent fear of intimacy for Korean returnee CCIs, it is important to address grief following loss by providing support networks made up of individuals who have experienced similar grief, allowing them to encourage and assist one another. At the same time, helping returnee CCIs to reflect on their experiences, derive meanings from them, and embrace their unique cultural backgrounds without feeling isolated from their home country is crucial.