American Journal of Public Health
Volume 86, Issue 11, 1996, Pages 1561-1569

Burmese political dissidents in Thailand: Trauma and survival among young adults in exile (Article) (Open Access)

Allden K.* , Poole C. , Chantavanich S. , Ohmar K. , Aung N.N. , Mollica R.F.
  • a Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma, Cambridge, MA, United States, Indochinese Psychiatry Clinic, New England Deaconess Hospital, United States, Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma, 8 Story St, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States
  • b Dept. of Epidemiol. and Biostatist., Boston University, School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
  • c Chulalongkorn University, Asian Research Center for Migration, Bangkok, Thailand
  • d Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma, United States, Simons Rick College, Barrington, MA, United States
  • e Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma, United States
  • f Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma, Cambridge, MA, United States, Indochinese Psychiatry Clinic, New England Deaconess Hospital, United States

Abstract

Objectives. This study assessed the self-reported mental health, physical health, and social functioning of young adult political exiles and relates their psychiatric symptoms to their trauma and survival strategies. Methods. A 1992/93 survey of Burmese who fled to Bangkok, Thailand, after participating in a 1988 uprising against Burma's government elicited information on employment, education, disability, trauma, survival strategies, and depressive and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Results. The 104 participants reported a mean of 30 trauma events, including interrogation (89%), imprisonment (78%), threats of deportation (70%), and torture (38%). Many reported poor health and lack of social supports, but few reported substantial social disability. The prevalence of elevated symptom scores was 38% for depressive symptoms and 23% for criterion symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. Symptoms of avoidance and of increased arousal were the most strongly related to cumulative trauma. Two survival strategies, camaraderie and a Buddhist concept of self-confidence (weria), were associated with somewhat reduced levels of both classes of symptoms. Conclusions. Burmese political exiles in Thailand are young adults adversely affected by severe trauma. Their psychosocial well-being may deteriorate further without legal protections to reduce the continuing stress and violence.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

education depression refugee survival mental health human violence mental stress arousal social status avoidance behavior Adolescent male female Article adult posttraumatic stress disorder politics disability social disability normal human employment Torture
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0029968966&doi=10.2105%2fAJPH.86.11.1561&partnerID=40&md5=5dc0ef9d6955738dae71d0740d066764
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.86.11.1561
ISSN: 00900036
Cited by: 67
Original Language: English