Intergenerational transmission of trauma on third-generation survivors of the Armenian Genocide

This dissertation study was conducted to explore the intergenerational transmission of trauma from the Armenian Genocide of 1915 on third-generation survivors living in the Armenian Diaspora in Los Angeles, CA. Sixteen third-generation Armenian genocide survivors were recruited using flyers, social media, and snowball sampling (6 females and 10 males, mean age = 33.25). The Interviews took place in the participant homes and consisted of 25 open-ended, semi-structured questions developed by this researcher. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the constant comparative method and NVivoX. Emergent categories and themes were analyzed and a model theory of the intergenerational transmission of trauma on third-generation survivors of the Armenian genocide was constructed. The results of this study were then compared to existing literature on intergenerational transmission of trauma. Finally, clinical implications, limitations, and suggestions for future research were discussed.;The findings of this study indicate that trauma from the Armenian genocide is transmitted to third-generation survivors. The events of the genocide were communicated to the participants in the following ways: 1) learning about the genocide from grandparents, 2) learning about the genocide in school, and 3) silence within the family. The impact of the Armenian genocide on third-generation survivors appeared to be twofold: direct impact, and "burden"/ "responsibility." Lastly, a category emerged from the data, demonstrating third-generation survivors' ability to reframe their legacy.