RELATIONSHIP OF CHILD LOSS TO PSYCHIATRIC AND FUNCTIONAL IMPAIRMENT IN RESETTLED CAMBODIAN REFUGEES

One hundred sixty eight respondents, recruited from a community of res ettled Cambodian refugees in Massachusetts, were interviewed for a stu dy of trauma, physical and emotional health, and functioning. Of the 1 61 respondents who have ever had any children, 70 parents (43%) report ed the death of between one and six of their children. Child loss was positively associated with health-related concerns, a variety of somat ic symptoms, and culture-hound conditions of emotional distress. No re lationship was found with conventional psychiatric symptoms of depress ion and posttraumatic stress disorder. Parents whose children died wer e performing most routine daily activities and participating in social activities to a similar and even greater extent than were parents who did not lose children. Nevertheless, child loss was strongly associat ed with a perception of health-related limitation in both physical fun ctioning and social activities. Further research on the prevalence of child loss and its impact on long-term adjustment in survivors of mass trauma is indicated.