Date of Award

January 2026

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Department

School of Public Health

First Advisor

Sarah Lowe

Second Advisor

Ashley Hagaman

Abstract

Background: Cambodian Americans face high psychological distress yet remain underrepresented in research, especially second-generation individuals. Intergenerational trauma, stigma, and family dynamics shape mental health understanding and expression. Objective: This study examines how Cambodian American young adults make sense of mental health and distress through cultural identity, family relationships, and inherited meanings of trauma. Methods: In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with six second-generation Cambodian American young adults residing in Massachusetts, United States. Participants completed brief measures of depression and anxiety symptoms (PHQ-8; GAD-7) to provide a descriptive context. Interviews were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis informed by relational, narrative, and ecological perspectives to guide interpretation of intergenerational and sociocultural processes. Results: Three themes illustrated how participants understood and navigated mental distress: (1) cultural and familial systems shape how mental health is defined and recognized in everyday life; (2) intergenerational trauma and survival narratives shape how distress is understood and given meaning across generations; and (3) stigma, silence, and identity tensions shape how distress is expressed, communicated, and navigated. Participants described mental health as relational and culturally embedded, shaped by family hierarchies, stigma, and indirect communication. Distress was understood through inherited trauma, with histories of genocide and displacement shaping emotional responses and expectations. Comparative minimization influenced how distress was recognized and expressed. Discussion: Mental health among Cambodian American young adults is shaped by intergenerational, cultural, and structural influences. Findings highlight the need for culturally responsive, family-centered approaches to care and emphasize the importance of disaggregated research to understand subgroup-specific experiences among Asian American communities.

Comments

This is an Open Access Thesis.

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