Etiology of Adult Missionary Kid (AMK) Life-Struggles
Research suggests that many adult children of missionaries have ongoing life-struggles. Explanations for the etiology of AMK struggles provide underpinnings for interventions by a growing professional community of those ministering to missionary kids (MKs). A survey questionnaire was administered to...
| Published in: | Missiology |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Sage
2003
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| In: |
Missiology
Year: 2003, Volume: 31, Issue: 2, Pages: 171-192 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Parallel Edition: | Non-electronic
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| Summary: | Research suggests that many adult children of missionaries have ongoing life-struggles. Explanations for the etiology of AMK struggles provide underpinnings for interventions by a growing professional community of those ministering to missionary kids (MKs). A survey questionnaire was administered to 101 Wycliffe AMKs, testing hypotheses associated with two models: (1) a psychological model hypothesizing that high levels of AMK life-problems result from high levels of childhood trauma, and (2) an anthropological model hypothesizing that high levels of AMK life-problems result from a lack of relevant cultural competencies as MKs enter their parents' home country. It was found that while childhood trauma was predictive of life-struggle, trauma items distinctive of MK experience (such as frequent separations) were not predictive of adult-problems, while other forms of trauma (abuse) which are predictive of life-struggle apparently do not occur at higher rates for MKs than for others. Research results did provide support for the hypothesis that a lack of relevant cultural competencies in U.S. culture at the time of entry to the U.S. was predictive of life-problems. Practical and research implications of these findings are discussed. |
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| ISSN: | 2051-3623 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Missiology
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/009182960303100203 |