Relationship Between Trauma, Discrimination, and Suicidal Ideation Among North Korean Defectors

• 발행기관: 대한신경정신의학회
• 저자명: Kyungho Lim Jiwon Baek Hokon Kim Ocksim Kim Sang Hui Chu Young-Chul Jung
• 간행물 정보: 『Psychiatry Investigation』제21권 제11호, 1203~1210쪽, 전체 8쪽
• 주제분류: 의약학 > 정신과학
• 파일형태: PDF
• 발행일자: 2024.11.18

국문 초록

Methods A total of 448 North Korean defectors were recruited from online and offline communities and counseling centers. Participants provided sociodemographic and psychiatric history information via an online survey. Various assessment tools, including the Traumatic Event Checklist for North Korean Defectors, International Trauma Questionnaire, Experiences of Discrimination Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale (short-form), and World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument, Short Form (WHOQOL-BREF), were employed. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between suicidal ideation and different types of trauma and discrimination. Results Among participants, 38.4% reported experiencing suicidal ideation. The most prevalent trauma was “unwanted separation from spouse, parent, or sibling” (69.4%), and the primary form of discrimination was “unfairness during employment” (35.7%). After adjusting for relevant variables, experiencing “extreme life-threatening hardship,” “unwanted separation from a child,” and “discrimination in income” significantly increased the likelihood of suicidal ideation. Importantly, unlike other refugee groups, interpersonal violence like torture or sexual abuse did not significantly contribute to suicidal ideation in this population. These findings highlight the unique vulnerabilities of North Korean defectors and suggest that income-related discrimination, unwanted separation from children, and life-threatening hardships are critical factors influencing suicidal ideation. Limitations such as recall biases and the cross-sectional nature of the data should be acknowledged. Conclusion This study underscores the need for tailored psychiatric support for North Korean defectors, recognizing their distinctive needs compared to other refugee populations.

목차

INTRODUCTION

METHODS

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

REFERENCES

키워드

Refugees Suicidal ideation Trauma Discrimination Democratic People’s Republic of Korea