Intergenerational transmission of traumatic stress and relational disruptions among Cambodian refugee families in the United States.

This article focuses on the intergenerational transmission of traumatic stress and relational disruptions among Cambodian refugees resettled in the United States following the 1970s genocide. Drawing on interviews with 18 professionals serving Cambodian communities, the study highlights persistent mental health challenges, disrupted parent-child relationships, and systemic barriers—including limited education, poverty, and inadequate resettlement support—that contribute to ongoing trauma across generations. The findings emphasize the need for culturally responsive, multi-level interventions addressing individual trauma, parenting practices, and community resilience to break the cycle of trauma and support positive adjustment within Cambodian refugee families. Additionally, the article discusses the compounded impact of deportations on family separation and unresolved grief in this population.