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

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.

Mental health status of North Korean refugees in South Korea and risk and protective factors: a 10-year review of the literature

“…Consistent with a meta-analysis of refugee populations that identified traumatic events as the strongest mental health risk factor (Steel et al, 2009), the number and severity of these traumatic experiences were all predictive of a wide range psychiatric disorders among NKRs in most studies (Baek, Kil, Yoon, & Lee, 2007; Cho & Kim, 2010; Cho et al, 2011; Choi et al, 2017; Emery, Lee, & Kang, 2015; Jeon, Eom, & Min, 2013; Kim, 2012b, Y. Kim 2013; Kim, Cho, & Kim, 2015; Lee et al, 2016; Lim & Han, 2016; Park et al, 2015). However, in a few studies (Cho et al, 2009; Jeon et al, 2013; Kim, 2016), traumatic experiences were not related to conditions other than PTSD, such as anxiety and depressive symptoms.…”

“…Choi et al (2009)Male adult NKRs22735Personality and Psychopathology (K-PAI)NoY. Choi et al (2017)Adult NKRs21138.4Depression (CES-D), Anxiety (STAI), PTSD (IES-R), Somatization (SCL-90-R)NoEmery et al (2015)Adolescent NKRs, China born children of NKRs8218.0 (15–25)Depression (CES-D)NoB. Jeon et al (2009)Adult NKRs36740.4Depression (CES-D)NoW.…”

Associations between Defense Mechanisms and Life Satisfaction among North Korean Refugees

“…To check for previous traumatic events, the Trauma Exposure Check List for North Korean Refugees, which is based on the Traumatic Experiences Scale for North Korean Defectors, was used [15,28]. This self-report questionnaire evaluates previously experienced traumatic events that have frequently occurred among North Korean Refugees.…”

“…After settlement in South Korea, they have experienced prejudice, an unfamiliar culture, and rapid socioeconomic changes [27]. This series of painful experiences can undermine life satisfaction among North Korean refugees living in South Korea [28][29][30].…”

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Social Isolation among North Korean Refugee Women in South Korea: The Moderating Role of Formal and Informal Support

“…People in North Korea experience massive trauma before fleeing to South Korea [31]. The communist regime of North Korea has for more than half a century exercised absolute internal control and enforced isolation policies on its people [32], resulting in human rights violations, extra-judicial executions, forced disappearances, torture, famine as an instrument of political control, internment in political prisons that have been compared to the concentration camps of the Nazis, and other violations too numerous and heinous to list [33,34].…”