College of Education and Human Development

Family Social Science

Chansophal Mak

  • Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

  • Post-Doctoral Associate

Areas of interest

Traumatic Stress; Intergenerational Transmission of Traumatic Stress; Multi-Level Resilience; Refugee Families

Degrees

Doctoral of Philosophy in Human Development and Family Science

Biography

Chansophal Mak (Sophal) is originally from Cambodia. She received her PhD in Human Development and Family Science with emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Georgia in Spring 2023. Chansophal’s broad research areas are around Traumatic Stress/Intergenerational Transmission of Traumatic Stress and Resilience, Global Mental Health, Culturally Responsive Treatment for Traumatic Stress, and Prevention Intervention Science. Chansophal is passionate about improving Mental Health, Family Relationships, and Wellbeing of Forcibly Displaced Populations through Multi-level Interventions (i.e., Individual, family, community). During the PPFP fellowship, Chansophal is hosted under the Department of Family Social Science, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota. Chansophal’s project aims to document parenting strategies through multi methods (i.e., survey, interview, focus group, and structural observation) within Cambodian refugee communities in Minnesota and across the U.S. if possible. The ultimate goals of her project are to support refugee parents and promote child outcomes at post-resettlement, and to interrupt the intergenerational transmission of traumatic stress among Cambodian refugee communities across the U.S.

Publications

Mak, C., & Wieling, E., (2024), "Intergenerational transmission of traumatic stress and relational disruptions among Cambodian refugee families in the United States." Journal of Health Psychology, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053241245098

Mak, C., & Wieling, E. (2022). "A systematic review of evidence-based family interventions for trauma-affected refugees." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(15), 9361. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159361 

Mak, C., Lewis, D., & Seponski, D. (2021). "Intergenerational transmission of traumatic stress among Cambodian immigrant families: Collective Narratives." Journal of Health Equity, 5(1), 431-438. https://doi.org/10.1089/heq.2020.0142.

Mak, C.& Ouano, J. (2017). "Stress appraisals and coping strategies of Cambodian dual-degree students: The moderating role of achievement emotions." Philippines Journal of Counseling Psychology.19(1). p.39-50.