Psychological Adaptation of Vietnamese Refugees in Canada

Abstract

The influx of Vietnamese refugees to Canada has raised questions regarding their resettlement and adaptation. This study examines the psychological adaptation of 72 adult Vietnamese refugees in the City of Kingston, Ontario, by means of an interview and questionnaire consisting of 12 demographic questions and the psychological section of the Cornell Medical Index (CMI), with some modifications, the psychological adaptation of the refugees in this study is compared to other Vietnamese refugee groups, to non-refugee groups undergoing culture change, and to non-refugee groups undergoing no major culture change: all of the groups have been similarly assessed by a modified form of the CMI. It is found that the Vietnamese refugees in this study exhibit high levels of psychological dysfunction, as do the other Vietnamese refugee groups and non-refugee groups undergoing cultural change, whereas the non-refugees undergoing relatively little cultural change exhibit lower levels of psychological dysfunction. Of the twelve independent variables (age, sex, religion, marital status, previous and current education, previous and current employment, a command of the English, French and Chinese languages and sponsorship) examined for their possible language is found to be the major significant variable in predicting good psychological adaptation; this suggests the importance of an established ethnic community in the process of adaptation or refugees.