Southeast Asian Refugee Self-Sufficiency Study, 1982

This survey gauged the economic and social status of Southeast Asian refugees who arrived in the United States after September 1978, a group generally known as the "Boat People." Special emphasis was placed on investigating how these refugees adapted to life in the United States and achieved economic self-sufficiency. The survey asked about educational and occupational backgrounds, household composition, family size, secondary migration after arrival in the United States, English proficiency, health problems, health care, insurance coverage, employment, earned income, rent payments, automobile ownership, and the use of government and private programs providing income assistance, vocational training, and other kinds of services. Respondents also were queried about financial setbacks incurred since arrival in the United States, financial support of persons living outside the household, membership in clubs and associations, problems faced in adjusting to life in the United States, degree of satisfaction with housing, neighborhood, services received, and life as a whole, and perceptions about prospects for the future.