The Palestinian people have experienced significant trauma as a result of the ongoing occupation of Palestine. As a result, many Palestinian families in the diaspora have experienced generational trauma, which has significant impacts on their psychological well-being and identity formation. Intergenerational trauma is a phenomenon where traumatic experiences are passed down from one generation to the next. This can manifest as the transmission of trauma symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, as well as negative coping mechanisms and disrupted family dynamics. Several studies focused specifically on the experiences of Palestinian women. Shalhoub-Kevorkian (2016) explored the politics of resilience among Palestinian women in exile, highlighting the ways in which Palestinian women have developed strategies for coping with trauma and rebuilding their communities. Saadeh and Erde (2019) explored intergenerational trauma among Palestinian families in the diaspora, finding that women in these communities play a critical role in maintaining family cohesion and supporting family members who have experienced trauma.

Abed (2021), explored the impact of intergenerational trauma on Palestinian identity formation in Canada. The author found that the trauma of displacement and loss of homeland has resulted in a complex and multifaceted Palestinian identity that is influenced by historical trauma and ongoing experiences of discrimination and marginalization. Another study, by Barakat and Maddux (2018), examined the relationship between intergenerational trauma and family functioning among Palestinian refugees. The authors found that the transmission of trauma across generations can result in disrupted family dynamics, including communication breakdowns and intergenerational conflict. Farhood (2020) conducted a qualitative study on intergenerational trauma and identity formation among Palestinian refugees in Canada, finding that the transmission of trauma across generations has significant impacts on the psychological well-being of refugees and their ability to form a cohesive sense of identity. Similarly, Gharib and Odeh (2020) conducted a systematic review of the impact of intergenerational trauma on the psychological well-being of Palestinian refugees in Canada, finding that the transmission of trauma across generations can result in increased rates of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Finally, several studies in this review explored the experiences of Palestinian refugees in the United States. Shaheen (2019) conducted a study on the experiences of Palestinian refugee adolescents, finding that the transmission of trauma across generations can result in increased rates of anxiety and depression, as well as difficulties in forming a cohesive sense of identity. Lennick (2021) explored the transmission of trauma in Palestinian families in the United States, finding that the trauma of displacement can result in disrupted family dynamics and negative coping mechanisms. Khamis (2020) conducted a study on generational trauma and resilience among Palestinian youth, finding that the transmission of trauma across generations can result in negative coping mechanisms, such as substance abuse, and decreased rates of resilience. Khamis (2018) explored the experiences of Palestinian-American youth, finding that the process of acculturation can result in significant stress and difficulties in forming a cohesive sense of identity.

The transmission of trauma across generations can result in disrupted family dynamics, negative coping mechanisms, and a number of mental health symptoms including depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research has found that exposure to trauma in childhood can have long-lasting effects on an individual's mental and physical health. For example, a study conducted with Palestinian adolescents found that exposure to trauma was associated with an increased risk of depression and anxiety (Hammad et al., 2021). The effects of trauma can also extend into adulthood, with research indicating that adult Palestinians who have experienced trauma are more likely to experience chronic physical health problems (Mataria et al., 2019). The impact of generational trauma on Palestinians is complex and multifaceted, and can have long-lasting effects throughout an individual's lifespan.

Furthermore, it is crucial to develop and implement trauma-informed care programs that cater to the unique needs of the Palestinian diaspora. Odeh and Oweini (2020) stressed the importance of such programs, highlighting their effectiveness in reducing trauma-related symptoms and improving the quality of life of refugees in non-Arabic speaking countries. Such programs can empower refugees to take control of their lives, address their mental health needs, and strengthen their resilience. By taking a trauma-informed approach, professionals can facilitate a sense of safety and respect and provide the necessary tools and resources for Palestinian refugees to heal and thrive in their new environments. Lastly, the research identifies that generational trauma can be seen over a lifespan, including in childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood, and late adulthood.

References

• Abed, E. H. (2021). Palestinian identity formation and intergenerational trauma among Palestinians in Canada. Journal of Muslim Mental Health, 15(1), 1-21.

• Barakat, S., & Maddux, W. W. (2018). When the past weighs heavy: Intergenerational trauma transmission and perceived family functioning among Palestinian refugees. International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation, 7(4), 186-199.

• Bawalsa, N. (2018). Palestine west of the Andes chile is home to the world's largest Palestinian diaspora community. How did Chile's Arabic newspapers contribute to its formation? NACLA Report on the Americas, 50(1), 34–39.

• Farhood, L. (2020). Palestinian refugees in Canada: A qualitative study on intergenerational trauma and identity formation. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 48(5), 569-580.

• Gharib, L., & Odeh, T. (2020). The impact of intergenerational trauma on the psychological well-being of Palestinian refugees in Canada: A systematic review. Journal of Muslim Mental Health, 14(1), 61-74.

• Giordano, C., & McGillicuddy-De Lisi, A. (2017). Palestinian American adolescents' ethnic identity and psychological well-being. Identity, 17(3), 162-176.

• Khamis, V. (2020). Generational trauma and resilience among Palestinian youth in the diaspora. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 25(5), 444-458.

• Khamis, V. (2018). Becoming a “third culture kid”: Palestinian-Americans’ experience of acculturation. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 65, 48-56.

• Khamis, V. (2019). Between two homes: Palestinian-American emerging adults' experiences of bicultural stress and coping. Journal of Adolescent Research, 34(4), 423-448.

• Khamis, V. (2021). Ambivalence and identity: A qualitative study of Palestinian-American emerging adults. Emerging Adulthood, 9(3), 195-206.

• Lennick, B. (2021). Intergenerational transmission of trauma in Palestinian families in the United States. Clinical Social Work Journal, 49(1), 57-65.

• Odeh, S. M., & Oweini, R. T. (2020). Trauma-informed care in work with Palestinian refugees in non-Arabic speaking countries: A scoping review. Traumatology, 26(4), 349-358.

• Saadeh, L. E., & Erde, J. A. (2019). Intergenerational trauma among Palestinian families in the diaspora. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 30(3), 165-179.

• Shaheen, M. A. (2019). Palestinian refugee adolescents in the United States: Identity, cultural adjustment, and generational trauma. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 89(3), 351-361.

• Shalhoub-Kevorkian, N. (2016). Palestinian women and the politics of invisibility: Towards a feminist politics of resilience in exile. Journal of Middle East Women's Studies, 12(1), 33-54.

• Swanson, J., Fiske, A., & Ibrahim, H. (2019). Facilitating resilience in Palestinian refugee families: Understanding and responding to intergenerational trauma