The Relationship Between Historical Trauma, Ethnic Identity, and Well-Being in Sikh Emerging Adults

<p>Sikhs have endured significant historical trauma, including colonial violence, displacement, and an unrecognized genocide (Tatla, 1999). Research suggests that a strong ethnic identity can mitigate the negative effects of historical trauma (Phinney, 1990; Phinney & Ong, 2007), particularly during emerging adulthood—a critical period for identity development. However, research has yet to examine how ethnic identity, historical trauma, and well-being intersect for Sikh emerging adults. The present dissertation sought to address this gap. To do so, this sequential exploratory mixed-methods dissertation comprised two distinct studies. Study 1 explored whether Sikh emerging adults come to a consensus on activities and experiences through which they express their ethnic identity. Using Cultural Consensus Theory (CCT), participants demonstrated moderate to strong agreement around key indicators of ethnic identity. Items with the highest consensus involved practicing seva (selfless service), engaging in Sikh religious practices, and maintaining strong family and community connections. These findings highlighted the importance of ethnoreligious identity as a central expression of ethnic identity. Study 2 examined the relationship between historical trauma and well-being among Sikh emerging adults, using quantitative methods to assess the moderating role of ethnic identity. Findings indicated that historical trauma was positively associated with some indicators of well-being and that participants reported high levels of life satisfaction despite also thinking about traumatic events. Importantly, ethnic identity moderated the relationship between historical trauma and life satisfaction, such that those with stronger ethnic identity reported greater well-being in the context of historical trauma. Together, these findings highlight the role of ethnoreligious identity as a protective factor and underscore the importance culturally grounded, responsive frameworks for understanding trauma and resilience in diasporic Sikh communities.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Psychology, PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

School of Social Science, Politics, and Evaluation

Year dc:date.available

2025

Author dc:creator

• Uchida, Hartrisha Kaur

Contributors dc:contributor

• Saida Heshmati
• Jeanne Nakamura
• Muninder Kaur Ahluwalia

• Emerging adulthood
• Ethnic identity
• Historical trauma
• Resilience
• Sikh
• Well-being
• Psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgu_etd/1028

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarship.claremont.edu:cgu_etd-2050