Honors Projects

Emma BergmanFollow

Abstract

Over time, research on immigrant populations has revealed a trend known as the immigrant paradox in which, the further generations get from the generation of immigration, the poorer their outcomes are in areas such as mental health, delinquency, substance abuse, and education. Though a definitive explanation for this trend has yet to be identified, prevailing theories include several social, familial, and community-based factors such as the impacts of bilingualism, parental expectations, biculturalism, co-ethnic peers, quality of schools, and community support. Little attention has been paid to individual factors such as mental health and trauma. The present study proposes the transgenerational transmission of immigration-based trauma as a potential additional explanation for the immigrant paradox. Through observation and analysis of two fourth-grade math classes at a Spanish-English bilingual school which eliminates the presence of the current explanatory factors, it can be concluded that this paradox persists even without those influences, implying an additional underlying factor such as trauma. In the future, more direct research should be done on the impacts of trauma on the immigrant paradox. Additionally, schools, especially bilingual schools should implement regular psychological screenings for students and encourage the development of caring relationships, high expectations, and oppurtunities for participation within their schools in order to promote resiliency and provide a buffer against the potential impacts of transgenerational transmission of trauma amongst immigrant populations.

Department

Psychology

Major

Psychology

Second Major

Spanish

First Advisor

Dr. William O'Brien

First Advisor Department

Psychology

Second Advisor

Dr. Luis Moreno

Second Advisor Department

Ethnic Studies

Publication Date

Spring 4-19-2024

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