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A study on the mental health of North Korea refugee youth in South Korea.

A study on the mental health of North Korea refugee youth in South Korea. Yeunhee J. Kim, Ph.D Dept. of Social Welfare Daegu University. Table of contents. 1. Purpose of the study. 2. Literature Review. 3. Research Methodology. 4. Findings. 5. Discussion. 1. Pur pose of the study .

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A study on the mental health of North Korea refugee youth in South Korea.

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  1. A study on the mental health of North Korea refugee youth in South Korea. Yeunhee J. Kim, Ph.D Dept. of Social Welfare Daegu University

  2. Tableof contents 1. Purpose of the study 2. Literature Review 3. Research Methodology 4. Findings 5. Discussion

  3. 1. Purpose of the study • To estimate prevalence of mental health problems among North Korean youth • To investigate determining factors • To generate policy and practice recommendations

  4. Background • Steady increase in the influx of NK refugees in the past decade • Official count at over 21,000 in 2011 • Shift in demographic composition from male adults to women, families with children, unaccompanied children • No study on mental health status of NK children and youth yet

  5. Background • Previous mental health research focused on NK adult population • Descriptive studies on NK Youth documenting trauma, school adjustment • Acculturation issues • Indications for high mental health problems among NK youth

  6. 2. Literature Review • Predictive factors for mental health of general youth population • Gender • Intrapersonal characteristics such as self-esteem, optimism, resilience • Quality of family relationship • SES of family • Adversities in life such as abuse, loss • Health (Yang, Lee, and Lee, 2006; Lee, 2007; Ahn, 2006; ???)

  7. Literature Review • Predictive factors for mental health of refugee population • Pre-migration trauma level • Acculturation stress-discrimination, culture shock, lack of social support, survivor guilt • Presence of intimate family • Language proficiency of the host country • Employment • Gender & age (Kim, 2006; Cho, Kim & Jeon, 2009; Mollica et al., 1998; Beiser & Hyman, 1997; Miller et al., 2002)

  8. Literature Review • Predictive factors for NK youth adjustment • Trauma exposure level • Acculturation stress • Separation from Family • Length of stay in the South • Self-esteem, resilience (Yang & Hwang, 2008; Keum, Kwon & Lee, 2004; Kim, Cho, Kim, 2009)

  9. 3. ResearchMethodology • Convenience sampling • Efforts made to recruit a sample that is similar to NK youth population • Total of 200 N. K youth and 339 S. Korean youth • Self-administered questionnaire

  10. Variables & Measures • Dependent variables • Depression/anxiety measured by HSCL • PTSD symptoms measured by PDS • Predictive variables • Gender, age, health • Trauma exposure & acculturation stress • Living with family, resilience

  11. Descriptive statistics

  12. 4. Findings • Even distribution of gender • Mean age=18 • Length of stay in South=30 mo. • Migration period=24 mo. • Family composition • Both parents (26%) • Single parent (51.5%) • Relatives (10.0%) • Alone (5%)

  13. Findings • 3.5% prevalence of clinical depression/anxiety • 13% prevalence of PTSD

  14. Trauma exposure

  15. Findings • 71% of respondents report trauma exposure • Average 2.5 events of trauma • Most common trauma incidents • Witnessing and hearing about death and arrest of family • Violence and abuse by family/acquaintance

  16. Clinical profile by gender • Males report higher trauma exposure level • No difference in clinical profiles by gender

  17. Clinical profile by family presence • Absence of family associated w/ HSCL and PTSD levels

  18. Clinical profile by trauma level • High trauma exposure associated with HSCL & PTSD

  19. Clinical profile by subjective health • Subjective assessment of health associated with all clinical profiles

  20. Regression on HSCL and PTSD

  21. Findings • Acculturation stress is strongest predictor for depression/anxiety • Demographic variables not significant predictors • Risk & protective factors significant predictors • Living with family • Trauma exposure • Personal resilience • Subjective health assessment

  22. Discussions • NK youth faring better than expected • Interpretation of the results with caution • Trauma exposure and acculturation stress as markers for early identification of at-risk groups for mental health • Integrated approach to health and mental health • Policies and programs to alleviate acculturation stress

  23. Q&A

  24. THANK YOU

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