Psychiatry - November 2008 - (Page 42)

FIGURE 1. Continuum of biracial identity11 Experiencing negative social reactions. Though most interracial families enter into treatment for reasons other than race, most have experienced social disapproval at some time. They are likely to possess some memories of unkind stares, questioning by others, family disapproval, feelings of uncertainty and discomfort, or outright racism.12 Studies have also shown that biracial children are at risk to develop racial identification issues, lowered self esteem, violence, substance abuse, and feeling marginal in two cultures.13 A sample dialog follows between a parent of a biracial child and a psychiatrist follows. Parent: Sometimes I feel others are judging us. For example, last week Ryan and I were at the grocery store and someone asked me if Ryan was my son. I took it as judgmental. Psychiatrist: Have you talked to Ryan about this? Parent: I don’t want him to have to deal with that. I guess I figured if we don’t talk about it,and ignore any comments it won’t affect us. Psychiatrist: Ryan, what do you think about what your mom has stated? Child: There have been times that I’ve felt different, and sometimes, if someone is looking at us, I wonder what they are thinking. You know, someone at school said to me that my mom couldn’t be my real mom. Addressing lowered self esteem and/or violence in therapy. A psycho-educational approach is helpful when working with biracial children. Some basic but important suggestions 42 Psychiatry 2008 [ N O V E M B E R ] to raise psychologically healthy children are listed in Table 2. A sample dialog between a biracial child and a psychiatrist follows. Child: Sometimes, I don’t like myself. I look different from everyone else in my family and I always do the wrong thing. Psychiatrist: Why is being different a bad thing? Child: I don’t know. I guess it shouldn’t be but it’s harder to fit in and then I try too hard and mess things up. Psychiatrist: I think we need to talk about this more. Looking different is ok, and we need to start with why you don’t accept yourself for who you are. Environmental factors that can facilitate a healthy identity. The psychiatrist should help the family to see how identity formation occurs and what environmental factors can facilitate a healthy identity can promote change. These factors include 1) encouraging children to acknowledge and discuss their racial heritage with their parents and other significant individuals; 2) parents acknowledging that their children’s racial/ethnic heritage is different from their own and recognizing that as a positive; 3) giving their children opportunities to develop relationships with peers from many different backgrounds by allowing them to attend integrated schools and by living in integrated neighborhoods; 4) allowing their child to meet role models through participation in social activities held by support groups; and 5) forming as a family an identity as an interracial unit.14 Parents of biracial children should acknowledge the differences and help form a sense of pride in their childrens’ “doubly rich” heritage.15 Opportunities for children to take part in cultural activities of both parents should be attempted. This can give a sense of normalcy and comfort in their dual heritage. Parents can take an active role in facilitating their children’s healthy identity development by exposing them to persons, books, dolls, pictures, and toys that are representative of all races and cultures. One challenge that biracial children face is in finding an acceptable name. Often in today’s society, biracial individuals are forced to pick a classification that may deny half of their heritage. Having a child choose sides can be a difficult decision for any child who is emotionally attached to both parents, even if one of the parents is physically absent. It is recommended that when working with families, a preferred racial “label” is chosen that the family can negotiate. By having others in the child’s life (e.g., teachers and relatives) use this label, it can be actualized. Studies have shown that biracial children who grow up with a true biracial identity are happier than biracial children who grew up with a single-race identity.17 Having each parent create a cultural narrative should be part of the therapy. Each parent can construct a cultural genogram that focuses on identity, coping strategies, child-rearing

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Psychiatry - November 2008

Psychiatry - November 2008 Editor's Message Editorial Advisory Board Contents PsychRx Letters to the Editor Measuring Adverse Events in Psychiatry Nonsuicidal Self Injury in Adolescents Relative Tolerability of Alzheimer's Disease Treatments Biracial Identity Development and Recommendations in Therapy Depression and Cardiovascular Disease: Just an Urban Legend? Three Risk Management Basics Journal Watch Classified Advertising Information for Authors

Psychiatry - November 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.