Cambodian Americans and PTSD (Research Paper Sample)

Name Instructor Course Date Cambodian Americans and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Introduction There is a connection between human exposure, their environments and mental health. The environment and lack of essential environmental components would trigger mental instability. The experiences of a group of people and their exposures to changes within the normal environmental setting could calumniate into mental illnesses. The factor is attributed to psychological changes within the normal brain functions. The effect in most cases could affect a certain group or a specific age bracket. The risk factors are determined by the environment and previous experiences. In light of mental Disorder, the research will focus on post-Traumatic stress disorder among Cambodian American. The Immigration of the Cambodian into America has cased mental instability among the immigrants. A large population of the immigrants tends to suffer from previous experience and lack of proper mechanisms by the hosting country to ensure a positive stay in USA, the factor attributes to high prevalence rate of PTSD among Cambodian- American. Literature review The late 20th century and earlier 21st century characterized a high number of Cambodian immigrants into USA (Lee 20). The political atmosphere in Asia meant that a number of the citizens within the country had to move to seek asylum and seek other economical venture. The number of immigrants increased over the period with the already settled immigrants inviting other members to shift into the country as means of greener pastures. Lee indicates a new community created by the influx of the immigrants into the country. The population arrived as refuges and as time progressed they acquired the right to live in the country as legal migrants with others being neutralized USA citizens. The large families then occupied various regions in the country. The inability by the economy to absorb all immigrants prompted many to leave in groups as a means of minimizing cost and allowing the time to heal from trauma. The social setting meant that the new population was welcomed to both social and economic challenges facing the local community. Focusing on their background the population had entered a country with a stable economy and a clam political environment. The environment was perfect for the population to rebuild their house. Having entered the country as refugees, most of them had left their wealth in their country of origin. Lee indicate how a number of immigrants where opposition leaders and other occupied high ranks in society. The changes in social class and economic strength meant the population would be affected psychologically. The war effect would be felt in an event other occurrences resemble their war torn country. The move from Cambodia to America meant a cultural change. The living condition had to change as social and economic conditions of the two countries varied. Blair (1999) highlights a high number of Asian immigrants with the Cambodian immigrants forming a minority of the group. The migration of the population meant a conflict of interest from the locals and other aid groups. The new community was to invent models that ensure their survival. According to Sack et al (1997), a social problem was created. The failure by each immigrant to access necessary need created a problem. The problems have recurred from generation to generation. The PSTD is a disorder that is triggered by stressful environmental and other social factors beyond the control of the affected party. The environmental the immigrants were exposed to could be a risk factor in PSTD. Previous researches have indicted a prevalence of PSTD among political immigrants compared to other immigrants. PSTD is manageable given if proper mechanisms are applied. Working on systems and identifying the risk factors are essential in the management of PSTD. Methodology The paper will base of previous research conducted on different population but of the same ethnical background. The research will base on the findings of researches and compare them in an effort to determine PSTD among Cambodian- Americans. Blair (1999) conducted the first research; a sample size of 124 adults was chosen. The population was based in Utah with an age bracket of 18-76 years being preferred as a sample size. Cognitive ability was a factor while determining the sample size. A questioner was design to determine to test their cognitive ability. The risk factors tested included depression, previous war experiences and the new environmental factors. A specific period was chosen to determine the time taken to develop PSTD. The data collected was analyzed based on different models. Other factors included financial constraint, social factors, previous experiences and the age factors. The results were analyzed to determine the effect of war and other social factors to determine the effect of PSTD on Cambodian- American population. The second research is based on Carlson and Rosser-Hogan (1991). The research uses a smaller sample size compares to the previous research. In the research, a random sample size was utilized to determine PSTD among Cambodian immigrants living in the United States of America. DSM-III-R creation was used to evaluate the sample size. The date collected was based on 50 randomly selected individuals. The evaluation was based on risk factors including stress, dissociation and other positive symptoms. The research focused on refugees and other immigrants in the USA with the controlled experiment basing their model DSM-III-R. The research was done on various immigrants with focus being on how long they where exposed to traumatic events and the effect on their mental status. The symptoms were analyzed to determine the correlation between PSTD and past and current events among the immigrants. The third research had a larger sample size, with focus being on a larger population of immigrants regardless of their country origin. The aim of the research was determine PSTD among various refugees and immigrants. The prevalence of the same among Immigrants from Cambodian was researched and data recorded. The research by Sack et al (1997) collects sample from immigrants of different origins. The fist sample is that of Caucasian origin, the second sample was collected among African immigrants and the third was based on Cambodian refugees. The research determined the rate of PSTD among immigrants and Cambodians living in USA. The samples are placed under same condition and risk factors determine based on a compressive approach. Data is analyzed and result determined. The results are based on a collective aspects with the data of the Cambodians isolated in an n effort conclusively identify the prevalence of PSTD among Cambodian- Americans. Result From the first, research the result points at high prevalence rate of PSTD among the samples. The adult age tend to more affected compared to the young population. The result indicted that 24 percent of the interviewed population tend to exhibit elements of PSTD. Earlier events tend to be the reason behind the mental cases. The research focused on a population living in similar condition. Current living conditions tend to aggravate previous encounters. The old population tends to recall past political oppression and relate them to hash living conditions within the country. The two factors tend to affect their normal brain function. The age 18-25, tends to focus on harsh conditions within the country and their parents failure to facilitate their stay. Risk factors accessed in the research include depression, anxiety and trauma. The older population was mostly affected compared to the young adults. Financial constraint contributed to the high cases of Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder among the sample size. The second research focuses on a small sample size. The result indicted that a high number of the refugees, exhibited elements of severe trauma, and exhibited more than eighty percent of the symptoms tested. Using the DSM-III-R, 86 percent of the sample population met the creation. Ninety nine percent of the population scored highly in dissociations and 80 percent conclusively exhibited traits that clinically classify them as PSTD patients. A moderate and large correlation between Trauma scores and symptoms scores was recorded among the sample size. The random sample size was effective as it established variables and factors within which the researchers to consider. The DSM-III-R indicates high symptoms of posttraumatic stress among 48 of 50 participants. The high rate of PSTD correlates to the living standards and past experiences. The third research article focuses on a larger sample. The inclusion of other ethnical groups was effective while comparing PSTD traits on Cambodian Americans and other immigrants. The research narrowed down to 59 young adults of Cambodian origin. DSM-III-R axis, indicate that 60% of the sampled size exhibited positive symptoms. Depression and anxiety was recorded in the entire 59 participant. The male population was at a higher risk compared to the female sample; more than 70 percent was at higher risk of developing PSTD symptoms. The record indicted a difference compared to other ethnical groups. Less than 20 % case was recorded among Caucasians and other immigrants of European origin. A similar trend was observed with other immigrant from other Asian states with the Chinese recording less than 5 percent. Discussion Effects of Past Events The three researches indicate a higher prevalence of PSTD among Cambodians immigrants in USA compared to other immigrants. The traits exhibited are enough to indicate a PSTD trend among the immigrants. The age factor plays a role in evaluating the cases. Past events are partly to the reason for the current situations of the immigrants. According to Lee (2010), a high number of immigrants living in USA are asylum seekers and political...