ORCID

Https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6369-3259

Date of Award

Summer 2025

Language

English

Embargo Period

8-19-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

College/School/Department

Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology

Program

Counseling Psychology

First Advisor

Hung-Bin Sheu

Committee Members

Hung-Bin Sheu, Eric Hardiman, Myrna Friedlander

Keywords

homeland havoc, international, multicultural, qualitative, psychology

Subject Categories

Counseling Psychology

Abstract

The current study explored the psychological experiences of first-generation raised U.S. citizens whose ancestral homelands are affected by ongoing or recent havoc. First-generation raised Americans are defined as the first-generation to be born in the U.S. or those who immigrated to the U.S. during infancy (less than two years of age). While research on trauma, resilience, and identity has previously addressed collective and intergenerational responses within culturally homogenous groups, few studies have examined the cross-cultural psychological impact of homeland turmoil among diverse diasporic populations living in the U.S.

Using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), this qualitative study employed semi-structured individual interviews and a group member-check/focus group to explore participants’ lived experiences. The final sample included ten individuals from different homelands (i.e., Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Kashmir, Ukraine), who were selected through purposive and maximum variation sampling to include rich and diverse expressions of the phenomenon. The data were analyzed inductively using IPA's iterative method, with triangulation via participant feedback, a group member check, and auditor review to enhance trustworthiness.

Nine major themes emerged, including: (1) influences on how havoc is experienced, (2) relationship to havoc, (3) havoc effects on relationship to the homeland, (4) relating to homelands, groups, and people, (5) tension between homeland and U.S., (6) identity, (7) inner experience: thoughts, emotions, conflict, (8) professional life effects, and (9) contributing to change: activism, advocacy, allyship. Each of the nine themes carried several subthemes.

Additionally, several points of divergence arose between participants that are explored in further detail. In addition to reviewing past data collected, the group member check also gathered new data and held the role of a focus group between participants with ethnic roots in Ukraine, Sudan, Palestine, and Haiti. The new data obtained highlighted the potential for unexpectedly nourishing connections among those from differing homelands in havoc. The study’s findings can be informative to guide clinicians in individual therapy, group therapy, and assessments. Overall, this study highlights the complex ways homeland havoc psychologically tends to affect individuals in the diaspora from a geographic distance while remaining personally connected.

License

This work is licensed under the University at Albany Standard Author Agreement.

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