Entering exile: trauma, mental health, and coping among Tibetan refugees arriving in Dharamsala, India.
Each year thousands of Tibetans escape Chinese-controlled Tibet. The authors present findings on the experiences, coping strategies, and psychological distress (depression, anxiety, somatization, and posttraumatic stress disorder) of 769 Tibetan refugees arriving in Dharamsala, India (2003-2004). Distress increased significantly with greater trauma exposure. However, despite a high prevalence of potentially traumatizing events, levels of psychological distress were extremely low. Coping activity (primarily religious) and subjective appraisals of trauma severity appeared to mediate the psychological effects of trauma exposure. The potential impact of other variables, including culturally determined attitudes about trauma and timing of assessment, are discussed.
Sachs
Emily
E
Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, NY 10458, USA. Esachs@fordham.edu
Rosenfeld
Barry
B
Lhewa
Dechen
D
Rasmussen
Andrew
A
Keller
Allen
A
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D018609:Tibet / Q000208:ethnology; D014104:Torture / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data