Cross-Generational Transmission of Distress in the Context of Chronic Marginalization and Culture Loss: A Qualitative Study of Somali Refugee Parents Resettled in the U.S

J Immigr Minor Health. 2026 May 1. doi: 10.1007/s10903-026-01931-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Experiences with forced displacement are associated with poor mental health and psychosocial wellbeing for Somali refugee families. Current understanding of family distress experiences primarily revolves around individual-level behavioral, psychiatric, or psychodynamic characteristics, neglecting the potential impact of system-level traumatization on individuals and family units. This qualitative study explores Somali refugee parents’ experiences with familial distress, the strategies employed to augment negative displacement experiences, and the culturally-embedded re/productions of resilience to help limit distress in light of culture loss. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 Somali refugee families living in a homeless shelter. Thematic analysis resulted in three main findings concerning family distress experiences: (1) transnational experiences with traumatic stress; (2) the deterioration of family units and structures; and (3) the emergence of chronic, collective-based cultural marginalization. The study’s results highlight how chronic marginalization and discrimination may help increase the risk for cross-generational distress for Somali refugee families. Findings provide important insights for understanding the capacity for previously neglected sources of distress in the displacement and resettlement process that may influence the cross-transmission of distress in refugee families.

PMID:42067748 | DOI:10.1007/s10903-026-01931-x