Beyond conflict: a bioecological perspective on health and resilience among North Vietnamese war survivors

Le résumé fourni par la source

Abstract This study investigates the long-term physical and psychological health impacts of early-life wartime trauma among North Vietnamese survivors and examines how resilience may moderate these outcomes. Using a lifecourse perspective and Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model, we conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 36 older Vietnamese adults, aged 64 to 92 (M = 75.2), from a region heavily affected by the American War. Our qualitative analysis highlights cumulative physical health challenges such as musculoskeletal degeneration and the lasting effects of chemical exposure. Many survivors still experience psychological distress, including recurring nightmares, anxiety and unresolved grief. Participants used coping strategies such as proactive health management, gratitude, acceptance of uncertainty, maintaining a forward-focused mindset and, in some cases, deliberately avoiding painful memories. Family and community support reinforced these coping mechanisms. However, structural inequities in economic policies and resource distribution created barriers to financial assistance, which participants saw as harmful to social cohesion. While many survivors drew strength from a collective wartime identity, concerns about declining community connectedness raised questions about the sustainability of traditional resilience strategies. The findings illustrate how resilience moderates the long-term physical and psychological health impacts of early-life wartime trauma within interconnected bioecological contexts. They highlight the need for integrated, culturally responsive interventions that address both chronic health conditions and the social determinants of resilience in post-conflict environments.

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