Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristics of North Korean Refugees (n = 178)

Demographic characteristics

 Age, years

37.84 ± 11.40 (range: 19–73)

 Female, n (%)

135 (76%)

Life satisfaction in South Korea

 Economic

3.05 ± 1.10

 Occupational

2.94 ± 1.17

 Medical

3.93 ± 0.94

 Educational

3.90 ± 0.94

 Overall

3.51 ± 1.03

Defense Style Questionnaire

 Acting out

3.33 ± 1.39

 Consumption

2.74 ± 1.30

 Denial

2.70 ± 1.24

 Fantasizing

2.70 ± 1.29

 Resignation

3.12 ± 1.43

 Inhibition

3.57 ± 1.11

 Reaction formation

3.26 ± 1.24

 Passive aggression

2.89 ± 1.08

 Projection

2.50 ± 0.92

 Splitting

3.74 ± 1.16

 Sublimation

3.74 ± 1.24

 Undoing

3.51 ± 1.24

 Withdrawal

3.80 ± 1.67

 Omnipotence

3.79 ± 1.47

 Humor

3.92 ± 1.42

 Isolation

2.58 ± 1.15

CES-D

19.83 ± 12.14

STAI-S

44.45 ± 11.75

Number of traumatic events experienced

7.04 ± 5.48