The Long-Term Impact of Political Activism on Mental Wellbeing in the Context of Adult Immigrants Who Experienced Childhood Political Trauma

Abstract

There is limited literature on the long-term impact of political activism on mental wellbeing in the context of childhood political trauma and subsequent forced migration. Such information is important for developing mental health services suitable to this population. This qualitative study contributes to this gap by exploring the experience of an understudied population: adult Jewish Argentinian immigrants to Israel, who as children experienced the military dictatorship in Argentina (1976–1983). Thematic textual analysis of narrative interviews revealed that in the case of participants who escaped with their parents as political exiles to Israel, political activism during childhood and adulthood can be both a risk and protective factor and affect a range of positive and negative long-term mental health outcomes including resilience and symptoms that appear as Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.