Growth of North Korean Adolescent Defectors through Temporal Acceptance and Feeling of Security about Traumatic Experience

Lee, Jooyoung; Park, Subin; Jun, Jin Yong

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to understand the growth of the North Korean adolescent defectors (NKAD) through temporal acceptance and feeling of security about their complex traumatic experience.
METHODS
We surveyed 146 NKAD, selected by two alternative schools and an NK defector clinic, to study the quality of life and related factors of the NKAD. The survey consisted of self-report questions on the satisfactory level about their past, present, and future, which follow the survey by Gallup World Poll, as well as questions about traumatic symptoms from the Child Revised Impact of Event Scale-13.
RESULTS
Subjective well-being satisfaction is higher in the future than the present or past. Also, relative satisfaction to the present is higher in the future than in the past. According to our survey, 71.9% of the NKAD have symptoms at traumatic levels, and these symptoms in the present show significant correlation only with the subject view of the past. Another significant correlation was observed between the temporal spectrum and subjective life satisfaction between the past and present (r=0.386), and between the present and future (r=0.587), but was not observed in those with traumatic symptoms. A relative view from the present to the future or to the past shows partial correlation with each temporal spectrum.
CONCLUSION
Applying psychodynamic analysis and mind-model visualization, we sought to understand the integration of the self of the NKAD through temporal acceptance and a feeling of security, as well as the treatment approach for secure growth.