Poster #36

A Literature Review on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Racially Minoritized Individuals

By: Emma (Eliza) Farran

Abstract:

This presentation explores and summarizes the available literature on the ways Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) presents and can effectively be treated in racial minority populations. Of particular interest is the impact of racism and racialized trauma. In a cultural milieu that puts people of color at a higher risk of experiencing trauma, and provides less support to manage such trauma, the likelihood of experiencing PTSD symptoms is heightened. Amid the dearth of research in this area, the present author calls for further exploration of the mechanism of PTSD development in response to the chronic stressors of racial microaggressions, ambiguous loss, and marginalization. This presentation will look at the effects of racialized trauma and the ways PTSD symptomology can be managed, and potentially avoided in racial minorities in the U.S.

Emma (eliza) farran

I am a candidate for The Family Institute at Northwestern University's Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy. I am in my first year of the program and have begun my clinical work as a therapist. Prior to joining the 2023 cohort, I worked as a college counselor at a high school in North Philadelphia serving predominantly low-income adolescents. I also was a community-based qualitative researcher for Skip Designed in St. Louis where I interviewed caretakers to better understand the Early Childhood Education climate. The work of my team was presented in parallel at 37th International Conference of the System Dynamics Society in 2019. Our paper, "Parent and Caregiver Perspectives Impeding the Adoption of Early Childhood Education in Urban Cities with Concentrated Poverty," highlighted the important role trust plays among caretakers making education decisions. I have worked with individuals who have experienced trauma in either research or practice since 2013.