Acculturation stress and post-traumatic growth among female North Korean defectors: A moderated mediation effect of loneliness and neighborhood social cohesion

Abstract

Purpose Extant literature shows that loneliness negatively predicts post-traumatic growth (PTG) among North Korean defectors (NKD). Female NKD are more vulnerable to various traumatic experience in the entire process from escaping North Korea and to entering South Korea. Evidence also suggests that the experience of migration and settlement to South Korea causes acculturation stress and loneliness and could be affected by neighborhood social cohesion. This study explores the mediating effect of loneliness on relationship between acculturation stress and PTG, and the moderating effect of neighborhood social cohesion on the relationship between acculturation stress and loneliness among female NKD. Methods Instruments used were the short-form of the UCLA Loneliness Scale, Post-Traumatic Growth inventory, part of the Neighborhood-level Cohesion and Disorder scale, and the revised Acculturation Stress Scale for International Students for NKD. Data were analyzed from 166 females NKD who participated in an online survey from July to August 2020. Statistical analysis, including mediating and moderating effect analysis, was performed using SPSS 26.0 and PROCESS 4.0. Results Loneliness negatively impacted PTG (B=-2.118, p < 0.001), and loneliness mediated the relationship between acculturation stress and post-traumatic growth (B=-0.294, 95% LLCI=-.415, 95% ULCI=-0.186). High neighborhood social cohesion decreased loneliness, and neighborhood social cohesion moderated the relationship between acculturation stress and loneliness (B=-0.018, 95% LLCI=,0.001 95% ULCI = 0.152). Conclusion Increasing neighborhood social cohesion in female NKD would reduce loneliness caused by acculturation stress and help their positive growth. This represents the most appropriate approach to help female NKD achieve growth, even after suffering trauma.