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KMID : 1143820210170020049
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Anxiety and Mood
2021 Volume.17 No. 2 p.49 ~ p.58
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Longitudinal Trajectories of Mental Health Among North Korean Defectors: A Four-Year Follow-Up Study of Loneliness, Depression, and Life Satisfaction
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Park So-Hee
Hong Jin-Pyo
An Ji-Hyun
Lee Hye-Rin
Kim Myung-Hyun
Chang Hye-In
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Abstract
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Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the longitudinal trajectories of life satisfaction, loneliness, and depression and to identify the factors that influence these trajectories in North Korean Defectors (NKD).
Methods : NKD (n=300) who registered in the multi-regional adaptation center (Hana Center), within three years of settling in South Korea, were recruited into this study. Life satisfaction, loneliness, and depression were assessed with self-report questionnaires over a period of 4 years (7 waves of data). Latent growth modeling was conducted to assess the changes in life satisfaction, loneliness, and depression.
Results : Findings from both unconditional and conditional models (with gender, South Korea settlement age, household income, marital status, and PTSD at wave 1) indicated a linear increase in loneliness and depression, and a linear decrease in life satisfaction over the 4-year period. In the conditional model, gender predicted the intercept of life satisfaction and depression. In addition, PTSD predicted the intercept of life satisfaction, loneliness, and depression and slope of depression.
Conclusion : Our finding suggests that the mental health of NKD tends to deteriorate over time after settling in South Korea. Therefore, continuous support is necessary for their successful adaptation to the South Korean Society.
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KEYWORD
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North Korean Defectors, Depression, Loneliness, Life satisfaction, Latent growth modeling
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