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Cited by 24Migration, Health and TraumaMemory, History, Trauma, IdentityResilience and Mental Health

Intergenerational Transmission of Traumatic Stress and Resilience Among Cambodian Immigrant Families Along Coastal Alabama: Family Narratives

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Mak, Chansophal, Lewis, Denise C., Seponski, Desiree M.·2021·Health Equity
DOI 10.1089/heq.2020.0142PMC PMC8237097
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Abstract

Purpose: Intergenerational transmission of psychological trauma is an ongoing global public health concern. Cambodia experienced ∼4 years of genocide, causing about 2 million deaths. Many survivors fled and resettled in the United States where they continued to face the psychological and relational consequences of forced displacement, with limited access to mental health treatment. This study employed an ecological social determinants of health framework to explore how resettled families discussed traumatic experiences and resilience transmitted across three generations. Methods: Narrative inquiry-guided, in-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with intergenerational families: five grandparents, six parents, and nine adult children. The interview protocol included developing detailed family genograms that facilitated the sharing of experiences of living through the Cambodian genocide (1975–1979) and resettlement to the United States in the 1980s. A thematic data analysis was conducted across individual and family experiences before, during, and after the genocide and resettlement. Results: The findings highlight parent–child relationships as the primary mechanism of intergenerational transmission of traumatic stress and resilience among Cambodian immigrant families. Specifically, high parental expectations, authoritarian parenting, corporal punishment, and submissive communication styles were reported. On the other hand, strong bonds and less hierarchy between parents and children were found to be resilience factors among this population. Conclusions: The results of this qualitative study underscore the need for a systemic mental health conceptualization for practitioners working with resettled Cambodian families to overcome the cycle of intergenerational transmission of traumatic stress and promote resilience postresettlement.

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  • Among South Sudanese refugees, studies consistently show that ongoing challenges of life in camps play a crucial role in shaping mental health outcomes.

    “This perspective is particularly pronounced among South Sudanese refugees, where studies (Hynie, 2018;Mak 2021;Tutlam 2022) consistently show that the ongoing challenges of life in camps play a crucial role in shaping mental health outcomes.”

    From Exploring trauma and resilience of Urban South Sudanese refugees in Sudan (2024) · cites this paper as Mak 2021

    The Discussion links poverty, inadequate support after resettlement, and chronic traumatic stress to mental and relational health among Cambodian immigrant families. It does not address South Sudanese refugees or the ongoing challenges of life in camps, so it cannot support those specific parts of the claim. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. [8]Chandler D. A History of Cambodia. New York: Routledge, 2008
  2. [35]Torbenfeldt Bengtsson T, Andersen D. Narrative analysis: thematic, structural and performative. In: Qualitative Analysis: Eight Approaches for the Social Sciences. Edited by Jarvinen M, Mik-Meyer N. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2020, pp. 265– 282
  3. [42]Danieli Y, Norris F. A multidimensional exploration of the effects of identity ruptures in Israeli and North American holocaust survivors: clinical, policy and programmatic implications. Kavod. 2016; 6: 7– 16
  4. [45]DeMaria R, Weeks G, Twist ML. Focused Genograms: Intergenerational Assessment of Individuals, Couples, and Families. New York: Routledge, 2017

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Authors
Mak, C., Lewis, D. C., & Seponski, D. M.
Affiliations
University of Georgia (US)
Corresponding author
Mak, Chansophal
ORCID
Venue
Health Equity
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2021-06-01
Volume
5
Issue
1
Pages
431-438
ISSN
2473-1242 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1089/heq.2020.0142
PMC
PMC8237097
OpenAlex
W3174835056
Cited by
21
References
42
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1
FWCI
1.53
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Health Equity (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Memory, History, Trauma, Identity
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Resilience and Mental Health
Keywords
intergenerational trauma, traumatic stress, resilience, Cambodian immigrants, forced displacement, resettlement, parent-child relationship, authoritarian parenting, corporal punishment, family communication, social determinants of health, genogram, coastal Alabama

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