Journal of Traumatic Stress
Volume 21, Issue 2, 2008, Pages 199-208

Entering exile: Trauma, mental health, and coping among Tibetan refugees arriving in Dharamsala, India (Article)

Sachs E.* , Rosenfeld B. , Lhewa D. , Rasmussen A. , Keller A.
  • a Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, United States, c/o Department of Psychology, Fordham University, 441 East Fordham Road, Bronx, NY 10458, United States
  • b Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, United States, c/o Department of Psychology, Fordham University, 441 East Fordham Road, Bronx, NY 10458, United States
  • c Department of Medicine, NYU School of Medicine, Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture, New York, NY, United States
  • d Department of Medicine, NYU School of Medicine, Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture, New York, NY, United States
  • e Department of Medicine, NYU School of Medicine, Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture, New York, NY, United States

Abstract

Each year thousands of Tibetans escape Chinese-controlled Tibet. The authors present findings on the experiences, coping strategies, and psychological distress (depression, anxiety, somatization, and posttraumatic stress disorder) of 769 Tibetan refugees arriving in Dharamsah, India (2003-2004). Distress increased significantly with greater trauma exposure. However, despite a high prevalence of potentially traumatizing events, levels of psychological distress were extremely low. Coping activity (primarily religious) and subjective appraisals of trauma severity appeared to mediate the psychological effects of trauma exposure. The potential impact of other variables, including culturally determined attitudes about trauma and timing of assessment, are discussed. © 2008 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

anxiety China Culture Tibet depression refugee India mental health human Life Change Events Refugees middle aged Asian continental ancestry group Stress, Psychological coping behavior Aged Adaptation, Psychological torture survivor religion Mental Disorders Humans Adolescent Severity of Illness Index male female Psychiatric Status Rating Scales Religion and Psychology cultural factor prevalence injury severity Article major clinical study adult posttraumatic stress disorder distress syndrome Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic psychotrauma Transients and Migrants Somatoform Disorders somatization Torture
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-43249087820&doi=10.1002%2fjts.20324&partnerID=40&md5=53b07818d9a82118759803a5f4f5aec6
DOI: 10.1002/jts.20324
ISSN: 08949867
Cited by: 47
Original Language: English