Does the Refugee Experience Overshadow the Effect of SES? An Examination of Self-Reported Health Among Older Vietnamese Refugees

A lifespan developmental science perspective on trauma experiences in refugee situations

“…Accumulating research shows refugees exhibit increasing occurrence of chronic disease including high prevalence of non-communicable diseases (non-infectious health condition; Yun, Fuentes-Afflick, & Desai, 2012), cardiovascular disease (Sibai, Fletcher, & Armenian, 2001), as well as the presence of risk factors such as obesity and hypertension (Dookeran, Battaglia, Cochran, & Geltman, 2010;Kumar et al, 2014;Ramos et al, 2010). Further, older refugees who settle in the U.S. report worse functional health than their white or U.S. born counterparts (Read, Ajrouch, & West, 2019;Torr & Walsh, 2018). Such prevalence may be attributed to various negative displacement experiences including starvation, deprivation, physical harm, loss of loved ones and other adversities.…”

A culturally and linguistically tailored Community-Engaged Dementia Education Program (CEDEP) for the Houston Vietnamese American community

“…Upon arrival in the U.S., they experienced low socioeconomic status, low English language proficiency, cultural and lifestyle changes, and loss of their professional status, all of which predispose them to a higher risk of poor physical, mental, and cognitive health (Gold, 1992). Despite the growing population and the high risk of adverse health, the health data on this vulnerable population, especially Vietnamese older adults is scarce (Kim et al, 2010; Meyer et al, 2015; Torr & Walsh, 2018) and covers limited domains of health such as mobility and depressive symptoms only (Fu & VanLandingham, 2012; Leung et al, 2010).…”