Abstract
In forced marriage cases, individuals and couples are coerced by emotional and physical violence into marriage and risk ostracization from their community. Often compounding these complexities are the challenges many forced marriage survivors additionally have as first-generation college students (FGCS), specifically when wanting to pursue an education that conflict with the marriage chosen for them by their families. However, there are limited studies and clinical interventions addressing the nature of forced marriage and its emotional and psychological impact on at-risk adult survivors and FGCS in the United States. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR), a trauma intervention targeting post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety symptoms including guilt and shame, may help at-risk forced marriage survivors and FGCS address these symptoms. I hypothesize that using EMDR as a clinical intervention may empower at-risk adult forced marriage survivors, including those who also identify as FGCS, to free themselves from taking responsibility for their families, prioritize their emotional needs, and work towards independence.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data Availability
Not applicable.
Code Availability
Not applicable.
References
Aha Foundation. (2015). Is forced marriage a problem in the United States? Retrieved from: https://www.theahafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/AHA_Forced-Marriage-Report.pdf. Accessed 22 Dec 2021.
Alanen, J. (2012). Shattering the silence surrounding forced marriage and early marriage in the United States. Children’s Legal Rights Journal, 32(2), 1–37. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2143910
Blackwell, E., & Pinder, P. (2014). What are the motivational factors of first-generation minority college students who overcome their family histories to pursue higher education? College Student Journal, 48(1), 45–56.
Chantler, K. (2012). Recognition of and intervention in forced marriage as a form of violence and abuse. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 13(3), 176–183. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838012448121
Covarrubias, R., Valle, I., Laiduc, G., & Azmitia, M. (2019). “You never become fully independent”: Family roles and independence in first-generation college students. Journal of Adolescent Research, 34(4), 381–410. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558418788402
Dank, M., Love, H., Esthappan, S., & Zweig, J. (2018). Exploratory research into the intersection of forced marriage, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence. https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/251485.pdf. Accessed 22 Dec 2021.
Dennis, J., Phinney, J., & Chuateco, L. (2005). The role of motivation, parental support, and peer support in the academic success of ethnic minority first-generation college students. Journal of College Student Development, 46(3), 223–236. https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.2005.0023
Gill, A. (2006). Patriarchal violence in the name of ‘honour.’ International Journal of Criminal Sciences, 1(1), 1–12.
Gill, A., & Anitha, S. (2011). Framing forced marriage as a form of violence against women. Forced marriage: Introducing a social justice and human rights perspective (pp. 1–22). Zedd Books.
Jenkins, S. R., Belanger, A., Connally, M. L., Boals, A., & Duron, K. M. (2013). First-generation undergraduate students’ social support, depression, and life satisfaction. Journal of College Counseling, 16(2), 129–142. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-1882.2013.00032.x
Keefe, K., Hammersley, J., Sizemore, S., Bainter, G., & Najdek, R. (2020). Presenting symptoms and psychological treatment outcomes among first-generation and non-first-generation college students. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 2020, 1. https://doi.org/10.1080/87568225.2020.1791775
LeStrat, Y., Dubertret, C., & LeFoll, B. (2011). Child marriage in the United States and its association with mental health in women. Pediatrics, 128(3), 524–52430. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-0961
Lipson, S., Kern, A., Eisenberg, D., & Breland-Noble, A. (2018). Mental health disparities among college students of color. Journal of Adolescent Health, 63, 348–356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.04.014
Marcus, A., Begum, P., Alsabahi, L., & Curtis, R. (2019). Between choice and obligation: An exploratory assessment of forced marriage problems and policies among migrants in the United States. Social Policy and Society, 18(1), 19–36. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1474746417000422
McFarlane, J., Nava, A., Gilroy, H., & Maddoux, J. (2016). Child brides, forced marriage, and partner violence in America: Tip of an iceberg revealed. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 127(4), 706–713. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000001336
Rovitto, T. (2020). (Cultural) humility in practice: Engaging first-generation college students. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy. https://doi.org/10.1080/87568225.2020.1819924
Sauti Yeti Occasional Report. (2012). A closer look at forced and early marriage in African immigrant communities in New York City. Retrieved from: https://www.sautiyetu.us/media/pdfs/EFMReportFINAL.pdf. Accessed 22 Dec 2021.
Sekine, K., & Hodgkin, M. (2017). Effect of child marriage on girls’ school dropout in Nepal: Analysis of data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2014. PLoS ONE, 12(7), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0180176
Shapiro, F. (2014). The role of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in medicine: Addressing the psychological and physical symptoms stemming from adverse life experiences. The Permanente Journal, 18(1), 71–77. https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/13-098
Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures (3rd ed.). The Guilford Press.
Sri, V., & Raja, D. (2013). Voices from the frontline: Addressing forced marriage within the United States. Retrieved from: https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/files/violenceagainstwomen/files/vidyasri_voicesfromthefrontline.pdf. Accessed 22 Dec 2021.
Swegman, C. (2016). The intersectionality of forced marriage with other forms of abuse in the United States. Retrieved from http://www.tahirih.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/AR_ForcedMarriage.pdf
Tahirih Justice Center. (2011). Forced marriage in immigrant communities in the United States. Retrieved from https://www.tahirih.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/REPORT-Tahirih-Survey-on-Forced-Marriage-in-Immigrant-Communities-in-the-United-States.pdf. Accessed 22 Dec 2021.
Funding
Not applicable.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The author declares that the author has no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Husain, B. EMDR with First-Generation College Students At-Risk of Facing a Forced Marriage. Clin Soc Work J 50, 265–274 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-021-00828-6
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-021-00828-6