[Quality of life and distress among former refugees--a representative community survey of Germans born before 1946].
OBJECTIVE
By the end of Word War II, a substantial proportion of the German population was subjected to flight and expulsion. Severe strain and traumatization were described in individual reports. Preliminary studies based on selected samples indicated profound long-term consequences but no representative studies have been carried out to date. The purposes of the present study were to compare quality of life and well-being of former refugees and non-refugees and to identify risk factors for compromised well-being.


METHODS
A representative sample of the German population (N = 2.043) was interviewed about experiences of flight and expulsion and their present quality of life.


RESULTS
The refugees (18 % of the respective age group; N = 133) reported a reduced physical quality of life at the time of the study (SF-36). Furthermore, they suffered more often from panic attacks and were compromised in their health and well-being. In the regression analysis, the status as a former refugee was predictive for a reduced quality of life and anxiety, in addition to female gender, higher age and lower income.


CONCLUSIONS
The study demonstrates the long-term consequences of flight and expulsion. Further studies are needed on individual coping with the aging process and biographical exposure to traumatic experiences.
Von Beutel
Manfred E
ME
Klinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie der Universität Mainz. beutel@psychosomatik.klinik.uni-mainz.de
Decker
Oliver
O
Brähler
Elmar
E
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D028683:National Socialism; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D047789:World War II