Coping with Trauma: The Stories of Salvadoran Refugees Who Survived the Civil War
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Authors
Figueroa, Susan
Issue Date
2011
Type
Dissertation
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
The harsh realities experienced by survivors of the civil war in El Salvador have contributed to various mental health challenges. Even so, an increasing number, especially among immigrants to the Bay Area, have been able to adapt to their new lives successfully. They have shown tremendous strength in the face of adversity. Salvadoran civil war survivors who have been active through the SHARE Foundation and their resiliencies have not been studied in the psychology literature. This qualitative research examines, through in-depth interviews, the lived experiences of ten Salvadorans to learn about their resiliency. The life stories of the participants in this study illuminated the following themes of resilience: 1) pursuit of academic degrees, 2) involvement in social activities, 3 ) spiritual connections, 4) post-civil war political activism, 5) increased self-awareness with treatment. Implications for psychological work and future studies are also discussed.
Description
"Trauma","refugees' mental health”,“ resiliency”,“Central Americans","PTSD"