Intergenerational Trauma and Cultural Dissonance in the Face of Ongoing Social Issues

• DOI: 10.33015/dominican.edu/2021.psy.rp.01
• Publication Date: 2021-05-25T23:04:22Z
• Authors: Mia Nguyen
• Keywords: Vietnamese; Social distance

Intergenerational Trauma (IT) occurs when the effects of traumatic events are passed down across generations (Isobel et al., 2020), typically through family dynamics and interactional patterns (Hesse & Main, 2000). In Vietnamese American population, IT is exacerbated by a culture that has historically deprioritized/ignored mental well-being. Which pressure to adhere Model Minority Myth (Hall Yee, 2012), Cultural Dissonance (ICD; conflict caused values younger diverge from traditional their parents (Choi 2008)). While health resources for this population were severely inadequate before COVID-19, access these services now becoming more limited. Moreover, few studies have examined issues within community without generalizing Americans with other Asian ethnicities. The present study explores intersection Black Lives Matter movement, ongoing struggles youth stemming ICD. Thirty 18-25 year old second-generation recruited various social media outlets participate in either focus group interview two participants or individual interviews gain better understanding upbringing, parental relationships, identity. Participants also completed survey containing Parent-Adolescent Relationship Scale (Wu Chao, 2007) short scale Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (Hills Argyle, 2002) measure relationship between parent-child relationships participant’s Results expected reveal untreated/undertreated issues, as well occurrence ICD among participants. whose less educated and/or immigrated at an older age exhibit severe ICD/IT, especially regarding contemporary issues. By identifying community’s unique needs, research could improve culturally-relevant resources.