Understanding Parental Historical Trauma and the Effect on Second-Generation Cambodian Americans

Abstract

This qualitative research study examines the effects of parental historical trauma on the educational aspirations and outcomes of second-generation Cambodian Americans. Twenty second-generation Cambodian Americans whose parents survived the Cambodian Genocide (1975–1979) participated. The conceptual framework of historical trauma addressed the research questions for this study which were to what extent were children of Cambodian genocide survivors affected by the trauma their parents experienced and what form did this inherited trauma take? The data were analyzed using qualitative methods and NVivo software. Three key themes were found. The first theme was denial of historical trauma, the second was unresolved grief among parents and children, the third theme was overprotection. It was common behavior among parents who survived the genocide to want to shield their children from any unforeseen circumstances. Building on the findings of this study, it is recommended that schools with large Cambodian American populations should educate later generations about Cambodian history including the genocide and provide dual immersion language classes. This would help to interrupt intergenerational trauma, reduce the language barrier, and allow students and their parents to find purpose and peace. Future research should explore the experiences of survivors, including survivors who lived through the genocide but did not suffer persecution. Such research could lead to truth and reconciliation.

Keywords:

• Second-generation Cambodian American
• refugees
• historical trauma
• intergenerational trauma
• unresolved grief

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).