Conceptualizing and measuring the generational transference of historical trauma among deported Lebanese Armenians

Abstract

This exploratory study seeks to identify the relationship of Armenian historical loss cognitions to Armenian historical loss associated symptoms. It seeks to both conceptualize and to measure the effects of generational transference of historical trauma among deported Lebanese Armenians. The Armenian Historical Loss Scale (AHLS) and The Armenian Historical Loss Associated Scale (AHLAS) are measured using SPSS Software (Version20.0). The measurements characteristics include percentage frequencies of both AHLS and AHLAS, and cross tabulation between generational status, perceived losses and associated symptoms. Factor analysis was experimented on 75 Lebanese Armenians categorized among three generations according to their ages, marital status and gender to identify the consistent occurrence of generational transference of historical trauma resulted from "Armenian Genocide" among three generations. Results indicate that there is multigenerational transference of Historical Trauma among the three generations based on their cognition of Perceived losses and their associated negative symptoms resulted from "Armenian Genocide". The factors of Armenian Historical Loss Associated Symptoms Scale indicate both physiological and psychological components. This study was a primary step, a beginning for further investigation of multigenerational transference in Lebanese Armenian culture of the Armenian Genocide. It is the first step to conceptualize, in quantitative study, the cognitions of perceived losses and empirically verify attending emotional/psychological outcomes. Finally, it establishes an empirical need for treatment of the historical trauma phenomenon, and further investigation of the relation of resiliency to historical trauma among Lebanese Armenians.