Cambodians arrived in poor health because of extreme deprivation of food, shelter and medical care. The most common diseases were tuberculosis, hepatitis B and intestinal parasites. Many also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder related to their political persecution. A few refugees who had formal education and were professionals in Cambodia have found well-paying jobs or established their own businesses in Seattle. However, because of language barriers and lack of education, many Cambodians are unemployed or work at two or three low-paying jobs.
Families fortunate enough to have their own homes often live together in extended families.
For those in public housing, regulations limit the number of family members per apartment. Often parents or older relatives are in housing apart from the family, sometimes in a different part of town. The traditional gender roles of Cambodian families also have broken down because of the need for all adults to work outside the home or because of limited English. Language Most Cambodians speak Khmer at home. Elders continue to speak only Khmer.