Exploring communication of traumatic experiences from Khmer Rouge genocide survivors to their offspring: In-depth interviews with both generations

Melander, Marianne; Dahlblom, Kjerstin; Jegannathan, Bhoomikumar; Kullgren, Gunnar

doi:10.1177/0020764016631364

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 24 publications

(23 reference statements)

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“…The way in which parents struggle between keeping silent and disclosing aspects of their experiences with collective violence to their children has been a key issue in studies about intergenerational legacies of genocide across the world (Braga et al, 2012; Eastmond & Selimovic, 2012; Eramian & Denov, 2018; Jordanova, 2012; Kagoyire & Richters, 2018; Kahn & Denov, 2019; Kidron, 2009; 2012; Melander et al, 2016; Münyas, 2008; Parens, 2009; Rosenthal, 2002). Many of these studies focus on the effects these choices have on the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of the children.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, studies conducted among Khmer Rouge genocide survivors and their descendants in Cambodia come to findings different from those of Kidron (2012). Survivor parents in Cambodia do inform their offspring about their traumatic experiences with different results in terms of descendants’ wellbeing, ranging from gratitude for being born after the Khmer Rouge era and empowerment, to disbelief and feelings of anger, fear, and revenge (Melander et al, 2016; Münyas, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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“They tell us little and we end up being confused”: Parent–child communication on familial experiences of genocide and its aftermath in Rwanda

Ingabire¹,

Kagoyire

Habarugira³

et al. 2022

Transcult Psychiatry

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In the current study we explore how Rwandan youth negotiate, within the family setting, a myriad of social and interpersonal dilemmas around silence and disclosure of genocide-related experiences of their parents. The study draws primarily on individual interviews and focus group discussions with 20 children of genocide survivor and perpetrator parents in the western and eastern provinces of Rwanda. Using the conceptual framework of social navigation which theorizes agency in a fluid, often unpredictable, and constantly moving social environment, we focus specifically on the difficult and often contradictory complex of factors that drive the communication strategies and tactics of the children as they seek information to understand the past of their parents. This includes the children’s urge to get to know the specific stories of their family but fearing the emotional disruption it may cause in the parent–child relationship; the push–pull dynamics of the parents wanting to disclose some experiences but admonishing silence on others; and the often ambiguous divergences between the public and private discourses. Our findings show that the steadiest navigational point guiding communication choices, made by both parents and their offspring, was a desire to contribute to a peaceful social environment, and to reduce the risk of future violence. We present emerging evidence suggesting that community-based sociotherapy, a program that includes healing the social space and not only intrapsychic wounds, may contribute to a steadier navigation of the tricky communication issues, enhancing psychosocial wellbeing.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“They tell us little and we end up being confused”: Parent–child communication on familial experiences of genocide and its aftermath in Rwanda

Ingabire¹,

Kagoyire

Habarugira³

et al. 2022

Transcult Psychiatry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…While the parental understanding and attitudes towards disabilities might be influenced both by religion and current prevailing Western notions of biomedical causality, siblings may in turn be influenced by the members of the multigenerational family as grandparents share the same house or live quite close-by. A study which addressed intergenerational transmission of trauma in Cambodia reported how parents and grandparents may use their experiences, beliefs, and attitudes to discipline their children in the process shaping their belief system on health, trauma, and disabilities (Melander et al 2016).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Manual-Based Group Intervention for Siblings and Parents of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Cambodia

et al. 2020

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Siblings of children with neurodevelopmental disorders (ND) are at increased risk of mental health problems. The burden on families of children with ND is exacerbated in low-income countries with limited health services and dependency on informal care systems. Yet, there is little research on family impacts of ND in non-Western settings, and no evidence-based interventions for siblings. We examined initial outcomes and feasibility of a manual-based intervention for siblings and parents of children with ND, called SIBS, delivered in Cambodia. SIBS has promising evidence from an open trial in Norway. We delivered eight groups for 52 siblings (M age = 12.7 years, SD = 2.7; 44.0% female) and 56 caregivers (M age = 43.5 years, SD = 8.5; 61.1% mothers) of 54 children with ND at the only public child mental health clinic in Cambodia. We aimed to improve sibling and parent mental health and family communication. The SIBS intervention comprises three separate sibling/parent group sessions and two joint sibling-parent dialogue sessions. Parent-reported mental health scores for siblings were higher than sibling self-report. Parent mental health problems at baseline were high, with no difference between mothers and fathers. There was significant improvement in parent mental health and parent-rated mental health for siblings from baseline to 4-month post-intervention (effect sizes d = 0.44 to 0.52). There was no change in sibling-reported mental health or family communication. Sibling- and parent-rated user satisfaction was high. We conclude that the SIBS intervention showed promise in Cambodia. However, revision of the communication component is needed.

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Silencing or silent transmission? An exploratory study on trauma communication in Kurdish refugee families

Kevers,

de Smet,

Rober

et al. 2024

Family Process

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Trauma communication in refugee families is increasingly recognized as an important relational dynamic influencing psychosocial well‐being, yet studies exploring interactional dynamics and meaning making at play in intra‐family trauma communication remain scarce. This article reports on a qualitative study with Kurdish refugee families including parents (N = 10) and children (N = 17) resettled in Belgium, aiming to explore practices on trauma communication within refugee family relationships. In a multiple‐phased qualitative design, semi‐structured family interviews and participant observation administered in the homes of the participant families are followed by parental interviews involving a tape‐assisted recall procedure to investigate observed intergenerational trauma communication and parent–child interactions. Data analysis shows parents and children seldom explicitly talked about the families' lived experiences of trauma. This silence was especially related to parental wishes to avoid their children's future involvement in violence. However, findings also indicate how the intra‐family transmission of memories of collective violence occurs in many subtle ways. Four modes of indirect trauma communication could be distinguished: (1) focusing on the repetition of violence in the present; (2) transmission of the collective trauma history; (3) family storytelling; and (4) interaction with meaningful objects of the past. These findings shed light onto the interwoven nature of personal–familial and collective trauma and loss and illuminate the meanings of silence and disclosure in the context of the Kurdish diaspora. In the final section, we discuss our findings and outline its clinical implications for family therapeutic practices in refugee trauma care.

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Exploring communication of traumatic experiences from Khmer Rouge genocide survivors to their offspring: In-depth interviews with both generations

Abstract: The study discloses the complexity, pros and cons of intergenerational sharing of trauma.

Cited by 4 publications

References 24 publications

“They tell us little and we end up being confused”: Parent–child communication on familial experiences of genocide and its aftermath in Rwanda

“They tell us little and we end up being confused”: Parent–child communication on familial experiences of genocide and its aftermath in Rwanda

Manual-Based Group Intervention for Siblings and Parents of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Cambodia

Silencing or silent transmission? An exploratory study on trauma communication in Kurdish refugee families

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