Factors associated with posttraumatic growth among North Korean defectors in South Korea

Lee, Mi Kyung; Kim, Ocksim; Kim, Kyung‐A; Chu, Sang Hui

doi:10.1038/s41598-022-07945-3

Cited by 7 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Unsurprisingly, PTSD had the highest hazard ratio of 3.10, suggesting harmful effects of the traumatic experiences of displaced individuals, as emphasised in previous studies 6 , 7 . Difficulties in adapting to a new environment can be worsened by symptoms of PTSD in refugees 8 , 9 . Currently, reducing mental health problems in NKDs is a socially important issue in South Korea.…”

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confidence: 76%

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North Korean defectors with PTSD and complex PTSD show alterations in default mode network resting-state functional connectivity

Kim,

Baek,

Kim

et al. 2024

BJPsych open

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Background North Korean defectors (NKDs) have often been exposed to traumatic events. However, there have been few studies of neural alterations in NKDs with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (cPTSD). Aims To investigate neural alterations in NKDs with PTSD and cPTSD, with a specific focus on alterations in resting-state functional connectivity networks, including the default mode network (DMN). Method Resting-state functional connectivity was assessed using brain functional magnetic resonance imaging in three groups of NKDs: without PTSD, with PTSD and with cPTSD. Statistical tests were performed, including region of interest (ROI)-to-ROI and ROI-to-voxel analysis, followed by post hoc correlation analysis. Results In the ROI-to-ROI analysis, differences in functional connectivity were found among the components of the DMN, as well as in the thalamus and the basal ganglia. Right hippocampus–left pallidum and right amygdala–left lingual gyrus connectivity differed between groups in the ROI-to-voxel analysis, as did connectivity involving the basal ganglia. The post hoc analysis revealed negative correlations between Coping and Adaptation Processing Scale (CAPS) score and left posterior cingulate cortex–right pallidum connectivity and between CAPS score and right putamen–left angular gyrus connectivity in the control group, which were not observed in other groups. Conclusions The results suggest that there are alterations in the functional connectivity of the DMN and the limbic system in NKDs with PTSD and cPTSD, and that these alterations involve the basal ganglia. The lower correlations of CAPS score with right basal ganglia–DMN functional connectivity in patients compared with controls further implies that these connectivities are potential targets for treatment of PTSD and cPTSD.

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confidence: 76%

“… 6 , 7 Difficulties in adapting to a new environment can be worsened by symptoms of PTSD in refugees. 8 , 9 Currently, reducing mental health problems in NKDs is a socially important issue in South Korea.…”

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confidence: 99%

North Korean defectors with PTSD and complex PTSD show alterations in default mode network resting-state functional connectivity

Kim,

Baek,

Kim

et al. 2024

BJPsych open

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“…Thus, PTG is a suitable variable to show their characteristics and to be able to confirm the positive direction of their overcoming and growth. In our previous study, we found that the PTG was significantly positively correlated with the current quality of life among 212 NKDs; in contrast, loneliness were strongly negatively correlated with PTG 14 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…Recent studies on refugees have highlighted that loneliness exert a significant influence on their negative psychological well-being 29 – 32 . While substantial evidence exerts on mediating role of loneliness between stress and negative psychological well-being in various population 33 , 34 , there is limited knowledge regarding loneliness in female NKDs in South Korea 14 . Thus, it is necessary to examine how loneliness mediates negative impacts of acculturations stress on the PTG specifically among female NKDs in South Korea.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The moderating role of neighborhood social cohesion in the mediation effects of the loneliness between acculturation stress and post-traumatic growth among female North Korean defectors

Kim,

Kim

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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Loneliness negatively predicts post-traumatic growth (PTG) among North Korean defectors (NKD), one of the representative groups of refugees. Additionally, evidence also suggests that females, who account for 70% of NKDs entering South Korea, are vulnerable not only to past trauma but also to the current acculturation stress and loneliness affected by neighborhood social cohesion. This study explores whether the mediating effect of loneliness on the relationship between acculturation stress and PTG was moderated by the neighborhood social cohesion among female NKDs. In this study, the data of 166 female NKDs who completed an online survey regarding acculturation stress, PTG, loneliness, and neighborhood social cohesion were used. Moderated mediation analysis was conducted using SPSS PROCESS macro program. Loneliness was associated with PTG (B = − 1.896, p < 0.001), and mediated the association between acculturation stress and PTG (indirect effect = − 0.278, 95% LLCI − 0.403, 95% ULCI − 0.166). Neighborhood social cohesion moderated the mediation effect of loneliness on the association between acculturation stress and PTG (B = − 0.016, 95% LLCI 0.001, 95% ULCI 0.035). The indirect effect of acculturation stress on PTG through loneliness was notably high for those with low neighborhood social cohesion. Therefore, increasing neighborhood social cohesion would reduce loneliness caused by acculturation stress and support the positive growth among female NKDs. This represents the most effective approach to aiding female NKDs in achieving growth, even after suffering trauma.

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“…Our results for the association of PTG with the SF-12 are consistent with the results of other investigations into the association of PTG with quality of life (QoL). For example, a study of North Korean defectors to South Korea [ 70 ] found that PTG was positively associated with a World Health Organization (WHO) QoL measure for quality of life. Another study, of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake in Japan [ 71 ], performed trajectory analyses of PTG and found three trajectories: no growth, illusory growth, and growth.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post-Traumatic Growth and Quality of Life among World Trade Center Health Registry Enrollees 16 Years after 9/11

Alper

Feliciano

Millien

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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A recent study of World Trade Center Health Registry enrollees found that about one-third experienced post-traumatic growth (PTG) in the wake of the 9/11 attacks and that PTG was associated with social support and social integration. However, the implications of PTG for the enrollees’ overall quality of life are unknown. The present study investigated the prevalence of PTG and its association with the SF-12 physical and mental functioning quality of life scales in a sample of 4760 enrollees from the Registry’s Health and Quality of Life Study (HQoL) who completed the first four surveys, were older than 18 on 9/11, reported English as their primary spoken language, and provided consistent self-report of 9/11 physical injury at the Registry’s baseline and HQoL surveys. We employed multivariable linear regression to evaluate the association between PTG and the SF-12 physical and mental scales, controlling for sociodemographic and other variables. We found that 31% of the sample enrollees experienced PTG and that PTG exhibited a clinically and statistically significant association with the SF-12 mental scale but not the physical scale (physical: b = 0.15 (−0.45, 0.75), mental: b = 3.61 (2.85, 4.37)). Those who were physically injured during 9/11 showed larger improvements in mental functioning than those who were not. PTG has implications for the overall mental quality of life that should be further investigated.

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Factors associated with posttraumatic growth among North Korean defectors in South Korea

Cited by 7 publications

References 36 publications

North Korean defectors with PTSD and complex PTSD show alterations in default mode network resting-state functional connectivity

North Korean defectors with PTSD and complex PTSD show alterations in default mode network resting-state functional connectivity

The moderating role of neighborhood social cohesion in the mediation effects of the loneliness between acculturation stress and post-traumatic growth among female North Korean defectors

Post-Traumatic Growth and Quality of Life among World Trade Center Health Registry Enrollees 16 Years after 9/11

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