About this srcd poster session

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Panel information
Panel 17. Race, Ethnicity, Culture, Context

Abstract

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Intro/Theory. Family systems theory (FST) suggests that individuals cannot be understood in isolation from one another but rather as a part of their family. Family members interconnect, making it appropriate to view the system as a whole rather than as individual elements. Although 1G (first-generation) refugees experience similar racialization processes, many also come from racially/ethnically homogenous societies, and they do not have prior experience with racial categorization. For minoritized families living in the U.S., there is a socialization process where parents teach their children about values, traditions, and rituals that are associated with their ethnic identity. This study aimed to understand the generational differences in racial/ethnic socialization experienced in multigenerational refugee Somali families.

Methods. This study uses data from semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom and in person in spring 2024. Participants were eight multigenerational Somali refugee families living in communities in an upper Midwest state or the Pacific Northwest. At least one parent (1st-generation refugee) and one sibling from each generation were interviewed (1.5 generation: emigrated to the US as adolescents; 2nd generation: emigrated under age five or born in the U.S.)—questions focused on racial and ethnic socialization in the family system.

Analysis. Grounded theory methodology was used to analyze the in-depth interviews. A hybrid analysis model, including deductive and inductive processes, was used. Selective coding was used to compare interviews across the three generations. To be mindful of trustworthiness, an initial round of open coding was conducted with a colleague as an objective outside analysis. In addition, two Somali colleagues will be consulted to be mindful of personal bias while being intentional about cultural appropriateness in the data analysis. Emergent themes were identified after connecting categories from the open coding.

Results. There are three systems of socialization present for our refugee family participants: 1) Outside Community System (OCS), 2) Within Community System (WCS), and 3) Internal System (IS). The OCS played a role in the experience of a socialization mismatch for the refugee family participants, as well as the racialization process they experienced becoming “Black” as they resettled. The WCS described the generational (acculturation) friction these families faced and the juxtaposition of the lived experiences of Somalis in the Diaspora vs Somalis socialized in Somalia. Lastly, the IS speaks to how these socialization systems are internalized. All three generations of participants described experiences of reorganizing their identity, code-switching, and various degrees of belongingness.

Discussion. Refugees are one of the most underserved populations in the mental health field. Due to cultural taboos, misunderstandings, and traumatic experiences, many barriers impact immigrant and refugee families from seeking mental health treatment. Recognizing the multigenerational differences in the experiences of refugees will create a better clinical understanding of this population. This will lead to further research and clinical practice interventions to fill the gaps between mental health treatment and refugee families. Highlighting the intersection of race and acculturation is essential in understanding the lived experiences of refugee family systems.

Author information

Author	Role
Zamzam Dini, University of Minnesota	Presenting author

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