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Western conceptualizations and eastern experience: A cross‐cultural study of traumatic stress reactions among Tibetan refugees in India
Author(s) -
Terheggen Maaike A.,
Stroebe Margaret S.,
Kleber Rolf J.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1023/a:1011177204593
Subject(s) - refugee , traumatic stress , psychology , distress , anxiety , depression (economics) , clinical psychology , intrusion , mental health , psychiatry , macroeconomics , archaeology , geochemistry , economics , history , geology
This study investigated the nature and impact of traumatic experiences among Tibetan refugees in India. It explored the applicability of western conceptualizations of reactions to traumatic events among this cultural group. A randomly selected sample of refugee camp students was assessed on measures of psychological and physical complaints, and on impact as well as severity of traumatic experiences. Respondents had experienced multiple traumatic events. The majority reported ongoing health problems. More than half demonstrated symptoms of intrusion‐avoidance. Those with more traumatic experiences reported more symptoms of anxiety and depression (psychologically and, particularly, somatically manifested). Cultural differences in types of experienced traumatic events and manifestations of distress are discussed, as are implications for cross‐cultural trauma research using western conceptualizations and instruments.