1. Stresses of passage, balms of resettlement, and posttraumatic stress disorder among Sri Lankan Tamils in Canada.
- Author
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Beiser M, Simich L, Pandalangat N, Nowakowski M, Tian F, Beiser, Morton, Simich, Laura, Pandalangat, Nalini, Nowakowski, Matilda, and Tian, Fu
- Subjects
POST-traumatic stress disorder ,IMMIGRANTS ,PSYCHOLOGY of refugees ,CROSS-sectional method ,TAMIL (Indic people) ,SURVEYS ,PSYCHOLOGICAL tests ,DISEASE prevalence ,QUESTIONNAIRES ,RESEARCH funding ,PSYCHOLOGICAL stress ,PSYCHOSOCIAL factors - Abstract
Objectives: 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2011