title: Stresses of passage, balms of resettlement, and posttraumatic stress disorder among Sri Lankan Tamils in Canada.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the salience of pre- and postmigration stresses as risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and to identify resilience factors and explore their mental health salience.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a mental health survey of 1603 Sri Lankan Tamils in Toronto, incorporating the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview for PTSD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, criteria, lifetime prevalence for PTSD was 12%; according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, criteria it was 5.8%. Female sex and the number of stresses of passage increased the probability of PTSD, whereas satisfaction with life and the availability of nonfamily social relations reduced it.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consideration of pre- and postmigration stresses of passage and of the nature of resilience contributes to an improved understanding of PTSD among refugees.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario. mbeiser@psych.ryerson.ca
authors.forename: Morton
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beiser
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Simich
authors.forename: Nalini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pandalangat
authors.forename: Matilda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nowakowski
authors.forename: Fu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tian
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000208:ethnology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult