Date
10-16-2025
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)
Chair
Jonathan A. Green
Keywords
trauma, vicarious trauma, Haitian diaspora, Haiti
Disciplines
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Cadet, Marie Danie, "The Lived Experience of The Haitian Diaspora Living with Vicarious Trauma in South Florida" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7564.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7564
Abstract
The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand the lived experience of the Haitian diaspora with vicarious trauma in West Palm Beach. The Haitian diaspora, due to their ties to the homeland, is exposed to the trauma of their fellow citizens. The theory guiding this study is McCann and Pearlman's Constructivist Self-Development Theory (CSDT). This theory explains the nature of understanding the interpersonal and psychological influence of trauma. The primary research question that guides this study is: How does the Haitian diaspora describe their experience with vicarious trauma? What are the mental health help-seeking behaviors of the diaspora? The study used purposeful sampling to select ten people from the church and the surrounding community areas. The literature was examined by the political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental (PESTLE) framework to look through the literature on how external factors were negatively impacting the Haitian community through Vicarious Trauma (VT). The data was collected, analyzed, and coded for themes—the research endeavored to bring awareness of the influence of vicarious trauma on the Haitian community.
