Reviews literature pertinent to the experiences of Southeast Asian refugee children to assist public health nurses in meeting the needs of this population in communities in the United States. The overarching aim of the literature search was to determine the effects of violence and trauma, experienced before migration, on subsequent health status and socioacademic adaptation of Southeast Asian refugee children. Data sources included Sociological Abstracts, Psychological Abstracts, MEDLINE, Index Medicus, Dissertation Abstracts, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature. Research examining the effects of violence and trauma on children was scare, possibly because depression and posttraumatic stress disorder in children have only been addressed recently. The literature review did identify several studies that correlated premigration trauma and violence with less successful postmigration adaptation and poorer health status. Future research would be strengthened by designs that allow for multivariate examination of factors explaining adaptive behavior and that also take into account the diversity of children’s backgrounds, including language, culture, socioeconomic status, and pre- and postwar experiences. A broader understanding of the effect of traumatic experiences on refugee children will enable health care practitioners to help these children gain meaning and control over their lives.
