Purpose This study investigated prediction of North Korean refugees' adaptation to the South Korean society and verified the goodness of fit between a hypothetical model and actual data in order to suggest the best model. Methods This survey was conducted with 445 North Korean refugees living in a metropolitan area. Data were collected from September 1st to November 20th, 2012, and analyzed using SPSS Windows 18.0 and AMOS 17.0. Results Traumatic experiences of North Korean refugees increased self-efficacy and psychological trauma. Acculturation stress decreased self-efficacy and increased passive coping. Self-efficacy affected active and passive coping, decreased psychological trauma, and increased resilience. Resilience is successful adaptation and refers to North Korean refugees' abilities to adapt effectively to stress. In particular, self-efficacy as the main parameter affecting resilience was confirmed. Conclusions The results suggest that resilience can be improved through self-efficacy. It was the most significant factor decreasing psychological trauma and increasing resilience. Therefore, we need to develop programs for self-efficacy. The results also provide basic data for policy making for North Korean refugees. © 2016

Resilience Adaptation self-efficacy

South Korea Republic of Korea refugee North Korean Democratic People's Republic of Korea physiology human epidemiology Refugees middle aged coping behavior priority journal Aged Adaptation, Psychological ethnology South Korean Self Efficacy Young Adult Humans conceptual framework psychology male Acculturation female stress adaptive behavior North Korea self concept cultural factor theoretical model Resilience, Psychological Models, Theoretical Article social adaptation major clinical study adult Psychological Trauma psychotrauma Personal Satisfaction satisfaction convergent validity