The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Historical Trauma on the Asian Population in North America
Loading...
Authors
Trieu, Jessica
Issue Date
2025-06-19
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
historical trauma , intergenerational trauma , COVID-19 , Asian , North America , immigrants , xenophobia , stigma , discrimination , model minority myth , bicultural identity , mental health
Alternative Title
Abstract
This capstone explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the historical trauma experienced by the Asian population in North America. It specifically examines how the surge in racism, xenophobia, and racial discrimination during the pandemic has intensified pre-existing historical trauma, leading to significant mental health concerns within this community. The rise of anti-Asian sentiment during this global health crisis has reopened old wounds. Still, it has also compounded the emotional and psychological distress that many Asian individuals have carried for generations. This paper highlights the critical importance of psychologists’ awareness of the unique struggles faced by Asian individuals, mainly how the intersection of historical trauma and the pandemic has created new challenges in mental health care. It emphasizes the need for practitioners to understand the cultural context and historical factors that influence the mental health experiences of their Asian clients. This capstone advocates for trauma-informed care and culturally adaptive practices within therapeutic approaches. Through an extensive literature review, the literature review identifies significant gaps in the existing body of research and calls for additional empirical studies to understand better the long-term mental health effects of COVID-19-related discrimination on Asian communities. The capstone concludes by offering recommendations for improving clinical practices, urging the mental health field to prioritize culturally competent, trauma-sensitive interventions and to develop a more nuanced understanding of the intersection between historical trauma and contemporary social crises.
Description
Citation
Publisher
License
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States
openAccess
openAccess