There are cascading effects in families following experiences of racism – impacting parenting, parent-child relationships, and family mental health. Parents and teenagers shared their first-hand knowledge and experiences through this research. Teenagers described growing up in British society that is biased against them and their parents, which they hope will change. Meanwhile, parents grappled with the reality that racism impacts their children, after generations of battling for change, and that their children must learn to adapt and cope. Our work documents urgent need for action by policymakers, teachers, mental health practitioners and researchers, who can help alleviate the burden on families facing racism.
Dr Yasmin Ahmadzadeh, Postdoctoral Research Associate at King's IoPPN
10 October 2023
Parent and child experiences of racism affect whole family's mental health, according to new study
Parents’ experiences of racism affect their children’s mental health and vice versa, according to a new briefing published today, on World Mental Health Day, by Centre for Mental Health and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London.
A constant battle finds that racism has far-reaching impacts on parents, their children, and the relationships between them. Based on IoPPN research with both parents and teenagers from UK racialised communities, the briefing finds that both past and present experiences of racism can affect mental health across generations of a family.
The study provides more evidence that racism has a profound and negative impact on a person’s mental health. One participant described the daily fight against racism as “a constant battle that knocks you”. Parents referred to the “heavy” sadness of seeing their child experience racism at school, and one participant described “always [being] in that high-stress sensitive state because you’re always being triggered”. Another participant referred to the heightened fear for themselves and their family caused by racist threats on social media following England’s loss at Euro 2020.
A constant battle finds that daily experiences of racism also influence parent-child relationships, with parents attempting to limit their children’s exposure to racism and having to answer their children’s questions about racism.
The briefing calls on the Government to commit to tackling all forms of racism through a cross-government strategy. It also says that the Department for Health and Social Care and NHS England should fully resource work with racialised communities to design more racially equitable mental health support.
Kadra Abdinasir, Associate Director of Policy at Centre for Mental Health, said: “We know that racism harms people’s mental health and can have a lasting impact. This research builds on earlier studies demonstrating the trauma racism causes, while also highlighting the shared and distinct experiences of parents and teenagers in the UK. Like other forms of trauma, racial trauma requires a deep understanding and action from a broad range of practitioners and policymakers to better protect and support those affected.”
The research is the culmination of the TRADE Project (Transmission of experiences of Racism, Anxiety and Depression in families), which has been reviewing existing research and talking with parents and adolescents whose communities have historically experienced racism to better understand how experiences of racism can affect mental health, and how these negative experiences can transmit between generations. The TRADE Project is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Emerging Minds Network, which is supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
The research paper was published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health in March 2024.
For more information, contact ioppn-pr@kcl.ac.uk.
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