"I feel like her daughter not her mother": Ethnographic trans-cultural perspective of the experiences of aging for a group of Southeast Asian refugees in the United States

Objective: This study seeks to understand trans-cultural aging and stressors for aging refugees. It describes the experiences of Cambodian refugee women as they age in the United States. Method: Experiences of 16 Cambodian refugee women (ages 44-60), participants of a Cambodian community health center support group, were examined over a year. Results: Analysis revealed complex experiences of aging in the U.S. including these: (a) loss of role as respected elder. (b) fear of living separate from children. (c) feeling devalued by children, and (d) feeling self-blame for intergenerational cultural gap. The women described years of employment interrupted by the exacerbation of post-traumatic symptoms later in life preventing further employment. Discussion: An ethnographic trans-cultural perspective of the experiences of aging for Southeast Asian refugees. Aging refugees face stressors even 20-30 years after resettlement. Findings show decrease in functioning as survivors of torture age. Recommendations for social service programs and providers are made. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Inc.