ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of familial and cultural influences on trauma and stressful experiences for adolescents. The impact of historical trauma, intergenerational trauma, and complex trauma need to be considered when working with culturally diverse and marginalized young people and their families. We review diagnostic criteria for trauma- and stressor-related disorders based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The chapter outlines information about cultural concepts of distress, prevalence, clinical course, and etiology. Screening, prevention, and treatment within trauma-informed care settings are encouraged. The impact of trauma on the development of personality traits is addressed. The chapter concludes with a discussion of vicarious trauma, self-care, and suggestions for working with adolescents who have endured traumatic experiences. The chapter also includes a vignette, reflective questions, and supplemental resources to promote critical thinking and multicultural competence.
