Date of Award
8-2024
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Lisa Armistead
Second Advisor
Gabriel Kuperminc
Third Advisor
Sierra Carter
Fourth Advisor
Daniel Whitaker
Abstract
The U.S. immigrant-origin population is sizeable and increasing. In the presence of various risk factors like high rates of parent trauma exposure, immigrant-origin offspring and families display both adaptive and maladaptive psychosocial functioning. However, our understanding of the parent trauma-offspring functioning relation remains circumscribed. Thus, this project aims to examine the psychosocial functioning of U.S.-based immigrant-origin offspring in the U.S. in terms of parent trauma, parent-child relationship perception, parent-child trauma disclosure efficacy, and the relations between these variables. In addition to a descriptive goal, this study examined the association between parent trauma and child psychosocial wellbeing directly and indirectly through the family functioning variables of parent-child relationship perception and trauma disclosure efficacy. This mixed-method study also prioritized a qualitative understanding of immigrant-origin parents’ trauma disclosure process and associated factors. This study included 230 quantitative participants and 10 qualitative participants who were parents of children 7 years old or older. Most notably, parallel multiple mediation shows that parent-child relationship and parent-child trauma disclosure efficacy mediate the association between immigrant-origin parent cumulative trauma and child prosocial behaviors but not child psychosocial difficulties. Additionally, beyond some demographic differences in disclosure status and efficacy, non-trauma-exposed parents reported fewer child psychosocial difficulties compared to trauma-exposed parents. Finally, grounded theory analyses informed a model of immigrant-origin parent-child trauma disclosure comprised of interdependent multi-level antecedent factors, the content and context of (non)disclosure, and the subsequent child, parent, and family functioning. These findings have implications for clinical practice, program development, and future research.
Recommended Citation
Ishiekwene, Martha, "Trauma, Family Functioning, and Offspring Psychosocial Wellbeing in Immigrant-Origin Families." Dissertation, Georgia State University, 2024.
https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/psych_diss/285
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