Exploring the Lived Experiences of Intergenerational Trauma with Black British Females of Caribbean Heritage Who Are Third Generation Descendants of Windrush Migrants

Background/Aim: “Intergenerational trauma” is a concept that was developed to help explain generational challenges and patterns of behaviours that existed within families (O’Neill et al., 2016). Extensive research into the effects of the phenomenon have been conducted with Jewish Holocaust survivors and their children. As the conceptual understanding of psychological trauma has broadened, scholars have begun exploring intergenerational trauma with other cultures and ethnicities. Far less is known about the psychological impact of the phenomenon for Black people, and their experiences outside of mother-daughter dyad contexts. This study aims to partially bridge the gap by capturing the lived experiences of intergenerational trauma for third-generation, female descendants of Windrush migrants giving a voice to them and their ancestors in psychological research.

Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted online via Microsoft Teams video function with eight participants. The data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Six, Group Experiential Themes (GETs) and eighteen group subthemes emerged from the data.

Findings: Participants mostly expressed gratitude and respect for their Windrush grandparents for enduring challenging times in the UK. The belief was that this afforded the third-generation an “easier life” in Britain. A weighted sense of responsibility to heal from intergenerational traumas and to teach others within their families existed. Shared experiences of unhealthy parenting, silence and poor communication around traumatic events was experienced by all the participants. Future suggestions are for clinicians to consider the social, political, and familial context that may be associated with their Caribbean heritage client’s generation.