A Qualitative Study on the Experiences of North Korean Women Defectors who Experienced Trafficking

The moderating role of neighborhood social cohesion in the mediation effects of the loneliness between acculturation stress and post-traumatic growth among female North Korean defectors

“…Female NKDs may undergo acculturation stress and PTG in different ways from male NKDs or other refugee populations due to the unique traumatic events they have endured and the challenges they face. Prior research indicates that female NKDs frequently encounter gender-specific forms of trauma, including sexual violence, which may result in additional challenges as they adapt to a new culture and society 3 , 5 . For the cultural adaptation of refugees and immigrants, language issues have been reported as the most significant source of acculturation stress.…”

“…Generally, NKDs have been exposed to extreme trauma such as witnessing other’s deaths, experiencing life-threatening poverty, inhuman treatment, and the fear of repatriation to North Korea in the process of escaping from North Korea. Additionally, female NKDs are exposed to even sexual violence and prostitution in neighboring countries due to the unstable illegal immigrant state before entering South Korea 3 – 5 . Throughout this process, female NKDs face higher vulnerability to physical and mental violence as well as discrimination, compared to male NKDs 4 .…”