"We are all under the same roof": Coping and meaning-making among older Bhutanese with a refugee life experience.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Refugees have elevated risk of psychological distress and mental health disorders compared to the general population. The majority of research has been conducted with youth and younger adults, and little is known about the mental health of older refugees. We apply the theoretical framework of meaning making to understand how older Bhutanese with a refugee life experience cope with migratory traumas and grief.

Method

We conduct semi-structured individual interviews with 41 ethnic-Nepali Bhutanese aged 50 and over with a refugee life experience resettled in the United States and analyze data using thematic content analysis.

Results

Forced expulsion from Bhutan was viewed as a violation of core ethnic-Nepali beliefs and sense of purpose related to collective id

SUBMITTER: Frounfelker RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9412077 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature