- Title
- Distress and growth: the subjective "lived" experiences of being the child of a Vietnam veteran
- Creator
- McCormack, Lynne; Sly, Rachel
- Relation
- Traumatology Vol. 19, Issue 4, p. 303-312
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1534765613481855
- Publisher
- Sage
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2013
- Description
- There is a paucity of research into the positive and negative intergenerational psychological effects of war-related trauma, particularly from a child’s perspective. Therefore, this study aimed to shed light on both positive and negative experiences of growing up in a family where one parent is traumatized by war. It explored the subjective “lived” experience of three sisters whose father, a Vietnam War veteran, was diagnosed with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) data from semistructured interviews were analyzed. One overarching theme emerged: making meaning of dual complex trauma. This encapsulated four superordinate themes: betrayal and neglect; like father, like daughter; fragile intimate self; and growthful forgiveness and self-care. Implications for therapeutic intervention with intergenerational trauma are discussed.
- Subject
- complex trauma; vicarious trauma; betrayal trauma; children of veterans; combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); interpretative phenomenological analysis
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1068105
- Identifier
- uon:18548
- Identifier
- ISSN:1085-9373
- Language
- eng
- Full Text
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