| To date there has been a significant gap in the psychological literature regarding the psychosocial adjustment processes of elderly Iu-Mien refugees following the Laotian civil war (nearly four decades later) with respect to their psychological wellbeing. The current study was conceived as an introductory exploration into the lives of such persons. In depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 elderly Iu-Mien refugee (EIMR) participants. Using the qualitative method of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, 23 themes emerged from the interview transcripts and were categorized into five stages: Escape, Refugee Camp, Early Resettlement, Current Resettlement, and Processes, and two domains: Challenges and Protective Factors. Stages, domains, and their constituent themes are presented and discussed with links to the existing literature. This study illuminates several findings. The EIMRs continue to: (1) suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to the Laotian civil war (which occurred in the 1970s), (2) experience barriers related to accessing culturally appropriate mental health services to alleviate their psychological distress, and (3) encounter issues related to acculturation and aging. EIMRs have also persevered across many life stages by namely relying on, (1) family and external support, (2) religion, and, (3) individual factors (skillsets and coping strategies). Clinical applications and suggestions for future research are also discussed. |
