Psychopathology
Volume 50, Issue 3, 2017, Pages 203-210

The Effect of Traumatic Experiences and Psychiatric Symptoms on the Life Satisfaction of North Korean Refugees (Article)

Choi Y. , Lim S.Y. , Jun J.Y. , Lee S.H. , Yoo S.Y. , Kim S. , Gwak A.R. , Kim J.-C. , Lee Y.J. , Kim S.J.
  • a Department of Psychiatry, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, 50 Ilwon-dong, Kangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-710, South Korea
  • b Department of Psychiatry, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, 50 Ilwon-dong, Kangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-710, South Korea
  • c Department of Psychiatry, National Center for Mental Health, Philippines
  • d Department of Psychiatry, National Medical Center, Pakistan
  • e Department of Psychiatry, National Medical Center, Pakistan
  • f Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, South Korea; J., Department of Psychiatry, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, 50 Ilwon-dong, Kangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-710, South Korea
  • g Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
  • h Department of Psychiatry, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, 50 Ilwon-dong, Kangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-710, South Korea
  • i Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, South Korea
  • j [Affiliation not available]

Abstract

Background: Successful adaptation of refugees to a new society can be hindered by traumatic experiences and psychiatric symptoms. This study aims to examine the relationship between trauma, psychiatric symptoms and life satisfaction of North Korean refugees resettled in South Korea. Methods: A total of 211 North Korean refugees living in South Korea completed a series of questionnaires on the history of their previous traumatic experiences, life satisfaction in South Korea, depression, anxiety, somatization and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Results: North Korean refugees who had experienced more traumatic events were less satisfied with their economic status in South Korea. Severe depression, anxiety, somatization or PTSD symptoms negatively correlated with their overall satisfaction in South Korea. In the stepwise regression model including all psychiatric symptoms and the number of traumatic experiences as dependent variables, only anxiety, but not trauma, predicted lower life satisfaction in South Korea. Conclusions: Traumatic experiences of North Korean refugees negatively affected the life satisfaction, especially the economic satisfaction, in South Korea. Since the negative effect of trauma was mainly mediated by psychiatric symptoms, the strategy of relieving psychiatric symptoms of traumatized refugees may help the adaptation of refugees. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Author Keywords

Life satisfaction Anxiety Psychiatric symptom Refugee trauma

Index Keywords

anxiety male Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic female South Korea Socioeconomic Factors Humans socioeconomics refugee Republic of Korea Personal Satisfaction satisfaction human adult Refugees psychology posttraumatic stress disorder
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85018252410&doi=10.1159%2f000468544&partnerID=40&md5=c501ba42c1db8838e7d4c093015ad661
DOI: 10.1159/000468544
ISSN: 02544962
Cited by: 6
Original Language: English