Korean J Adult Nurs.  2011 Feb;23(1):50-59.

A Study on Acculturation Stress and Stress-coping among North Korean Defectors

• Kim JK
• Yang YH

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study investigated the degree of acculturation stress among North Korean Defectors and the coping method that they used to deal with it.
METHODS
Ninety-nine participants of this study were North Korean Defectors in Seoul and Daejeon. The tools of survey for this study were acculturation stress and stress-coping.
RESULTS
The score for acculturation stress among North Korean Defectors was 2.97+/-0.47 which was a moderate level of stress. The score of problem-solving coping was 3.10+/-0.47 and emotional coping got 2.85+/-0.52. On acculturation stress, there were higher scores among people who were old-aged, married, low educational levels, dissatisfied with job, low monthly income, and living alone. On problem-solving coping, there were higher score among people who have jobs. Regarding emotional coping, there were higher score in people who have jobs, dissatisfaction with job, and living alone. The higher the problem-solving coping skill, the less the acculturation stress.
CONCLUSION
Reducing of acculturation stress and increasing adaptation mechanism of North Korean Defectors are very important due to the results of this study. Therefore, adaptation programs like psycho-social counseling should be created for North Korean Defectors.

MeSH Terms

Acculturation
Adaptation, Psychological
Counseling
Stress, Psychological