Date of Award

5-2021

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School of Social Work

First Reader/Committee Chair

Chang, Janet

Abstract

Historical trauma has its roots in the plights of indigenous people years after the initial incident of colonization and has had lasting effects on them. The Latinx community is made up of all the groups of people, many different racial, ethnic groups, and nations, that make up Latin America. This group is connected by a similar history of colonization, slavery, war, and migration. Within the United States, the Latinx community can be further connected by the rhetoric and policies that have been used against them.

The purpose of the study was to explore how historical trauma played a role in the Latinx community. Particularly this study examined how historic trauma was related to anxiety related symptoms and anxiety disorders in this community. This study used an online survey design through the use of three different scales including the Historic Loss Scale (HLS), Historical Loss Associated Symptoms Scale (HLASS), and Beck’s Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Thirty Latinx respondents participated in the study.

The study found that there was a strong positive relationship between historical trauma and its associated symptoms in this community. However, the study also revealed that there was no connection between historical trauma and anxiety symptoms. The study found that many of the participants showed distrust and being uncomfortable around white people.

It is recommended that social workers and mental health practitioners need to aware that historical trauma is playing a role in this community and there are associated symptoms with that as well. Thus, they need to address the ramifications of historical trauma with their clients by using culturally competent interventions, addressing power dynamics, empowering clients, and making proper diagnoses in context of the historical trauma.

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