Transgenerational trauma amongst second-generation Cambodian-Americans.

摘要

There is a current gap in knowledge of how second-generation Cambodian Americans perceive transgenerational trauma of their parents' experiences, as well as the interactions of intergenerational and current systemic factors in second-generation Cambodians' psychosocial functioning. This specific population is under-represented and researched in the mental health field, and the clinical implications would be useful for marriage and family therapists in working with trauma and family systems. The purpose of this qualitative study was to find how second-generation Cambodian Americans perceive transgenerational trauma of their parents' experiences during the genocide and Khmer Rouge regime. In-depth interviews were conducted with five male and five female participants to explore their meanings and subjective experiences. Additionally, I sought to find how participants perceive the trauma resilience transmitted from their parents, as well as factors that might influence their current functioning. A phenomenological approach was utilized to analyze the data and increase our understanding of the lived experiences of second-generation Cambodian-Americans. Results.