Intergenerational Transmission in Refugee Families: Ethnic Identity As Resilience Among Cambodian American Youth

Background: In recent years there has been growing interest in the multigenerational impact of trauma, particularly within migrant families exposed to persecution and/or collective violence in their countries of origin (Han, 2005). Research on intergenerational trauma – trauma in one generation that affects development and well-being in subsequent generations – has focused on negative developmental and mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and loss of cultural identity (Goodman & West-Olatunji, 2008) as well as greater vulnerability to stress (van Ijzendoorn et al., 2003). Furthermore, patterns of non-communication and silence regarding parental and familial trauma may affect family processes and parent-child relationships, thereby influencing child outcomes (Nagata & Cheng, 2003).

However, fewer studies have attended to positive psychological outcomes that can emerge from trauma, including posttraumatic growth (Taku et al., 2008) or familial narratives of survival that restore dignity and meaning in light of trauma and loss (Lin et al., 2009; Uehara et al., 2001). Scholars have described ethnic identity as a form of resilience in light of forms of cultural and historical traumas (Mangassarian, 2016; Tummala-Narra, 2007). Ethnic identity, rooted in greater exposure to and knowledge of one’s cultural group history, is considered an indicator of psychological well-being and is conceptualized as a positive outcome in this study (Sellers, et al., 1998). Drawing on data from Cambodian American youth, the present study aimed to examine associations between youth’s knowledge of trauma-related family history, maternal closeness, and ethnic identity.

 Methods. Data were collected from 473 children of Cambodian refugees between the ages of 13 and 19 residing in Southern California. Over half (52%) of the sample was female and the vast majority (95%) were U.S.-born, with a mean age of 15.87 (SD=1.28). On a scale of native Khmer language comprehension (1=not at all, 4=fluent), the mean score was 2.63 (SD=.79). About 91% of participants lived with their mothers and 61% lived with their fathers. Variables in this analysis included knowledge of family history (i.e. youth’s knowledge of family’s history and reasons for coming to the U.S.), maternal closeness (i.e. level of comfort and openness with one’s mother), and ethnic identity (Sellers et al., 1998). The analysis controlled for native Khmer language comprehension. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to simultaneously test the relationships among the study variables. Model fit was evaluated using CFI and RMSEA.   

 Results: SEM analyses indicated the proposed model provided reasonable fit with the data (CFI=.985; RMSEA=.049, CI=.028, .069). Controlling for native Khmer language comprehension, knowledge of family history was directly associated with maternal closeness (b=.12, SE=.05, p<.01), which was directly associated with ethnic identity (b= .15, SE=.05, p<.01). Furthermore, knowledge of family history was directly associated with ethnic identity (b= .18, SE=.05, p<.001).

Implications: The findings highlight the importance of family-centered interventions that address intergenerational relationships, which can support the healthy adjustment of Cambodian American youth. In particular, education about one’s family history and cultural past can build social and emotional bonds between refugee parents and their children, which in turn can enhance ethnic identity.