Etiology of Adult Missionary Kid (AMK) Life-Struggles

Abstract

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.