Spiral Loss of Culture: Cultural Trauma and Bereavement of Bhutanese Refugee Elders

Abstract

Despite the rapidly growing need to understand and address the unique needs of refugee elders in resettlement, few studies have focused on how continued losses of culture affects coping and distress among refugee families with elderly parents. This qualitative study explores Hindu Bhutanese elders’ cultural losses and coping and their bereavement of cultural resources and life transition. Thematic analysis revealed three major thematic domains of cultural losses: cultural collision, cultural trauma and bereavement, and continued distress and loss spiral. This study emphasizes efforts to address cultural losses and trauma to bridge intergenerational gaps and to invigorate family and social support.

Keywords:

• acculturation
• Bhutanese refugees
• cultural bereavement
• cultural trauma
• loss spiral
• qualitative research
• refugee elders
• resettlement
• stress & coping

Acknowledgement

The author wishes to acknowledge the Bhutanese Community of Greater Richmond and the Refugee Mental Health Council of Virginia, who helped mobilize the community and provided invaluable feedback on the findings of this study. This study is also indebted to dedicated Bhutanese community leaders, Prakash “Om” Adhikari, Chandra Chhetri, Bidesh Thapa, and Chandra Manger. This research project was possible thanks to the funding from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS).

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

Virginia Department of Behavioral Services & Developmental Services.