Inter-generational Trauma on Children

By Constance Ndeleko

Transgenerational trauma refers to trauma that passes through generations. Not only can someone experience trauma but they can pass the symptoms and behaviors of trauma survival on to their children who might further pass them along family line.

Trauma is described as an experience that happens in an individual’s life that generates serious harm, whether that’s physical, mental or emotional. It can be profoundly disturbing to individual and can make them feel out of control of the situation.

A mother’s unsettled trauma may impede with her ability to sensitively respond to her infant, thus affecting the development of attachment in her own child, and potentially contributing to the intergenerational transmission of trauma.

Some causes of trauma can be loss of a loved one, natural disaster, living with a parent or partner who misuses substance, severe illness or injury or witnessing and of violence.

Research show that the quality of one’s early relationships and how it affects aspects of later functioning, wherein the attachment relationship between mother and infant ensures infant survival, as well as optimal social, emotional, and cognitive development (Insel and Young, 2001; Sroufe, 2005).

Mothers who are sensitive to their children’s signals, who are emotionally available, perceptive, and responsive to their infants’ needs and mental states, have infants who are more likely to be securely attached (Siegel, 1999).

Mothers with unsolved trauma have diffident attachment and are more likely to have infants with insecure attachment. Patterns of insecure attachment across generations have also been widely substantiated, particularly when exploring the impact of unresolved trauma of parents in relation to their children.

Children who experience Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN) are at an increased risk of becoming a victim of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) or a perpetrator of IPV or CAN.

Maltreated children are at risk for developing long-lasting trauma symptoms, which can successively affect their own children’s lives. Understanding the mechanisms of the intergenerational transmission of violence and trauma is a criterion for the development of interventions.

A classic example of transgenerational trauma would be childhood abuse that causes a cycle of abuse and anxiety in ongoing generations. Other types of trauma that could cause intergenerational trauma include things like:

  • extreme poverty
  • a sudden or violent death of a family member
  • a crime against a family
  • a parent who fought in a war
  • Torture of a family member.

Historical trauma is a form of transgenerational trauma. Whereas transgenerational trauma is within a family, historical trauma affects many people or even an entire generation, where it might also be referred to as ‘collective trauma’.

Other kinds of trauma that cause historical trauma could include:

Acute problems of domestic violence or alcohol misuse that are not directly linked to historical trauma may be exacerbated by living in a community with unaddressed grief and behavioral health needs. Parents’ experience of trauma may disrupt typical parenting skills and contribute to behavior problems in children.

Transgenerational trauma is effectively a form of PTSD. It is vitalto find a therapist who specializes and is experienced in treating PTSD. Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy is often recommended. Sources

When one experiences any kind of trauma they will have both emotional; and physical reactions. These experiences can translate to anxiety, trouble sleeping, they could feel disconnected, they might have intrusive thoughts, they could portray withdrawal syndrome. This also happens in children. Children might not want to go to school, they might cause tantrums or not want to eat, tummy ache, might be angry and might seek attention frequently than usual.

The psychological effects of traumatic event being passed from one generation to the other weighs on an individual’s way of coping with life.

In the recent past, people with disabilities have been subjected to biases and falsifications about their competences and lived experiences. Attempts to eliminate people with disabilities have included eugenics campaigns, compulsory sterilization, forced psychiatric treatment, and the institutionalization of people with intellectual disabilities.

Early life experiences, such as neglect and abuse, can impact the structure and function of the brain. The effects of these experiences can appear in the trauma survivor’s offspring.

Breaking the Cycle – Intergenerational Trauma

The ability to feel safe with others- trauma is now becoming more widespread and given a more serious focus than in the past. People are now more than ever speaking about mental health issues which ultimately translates to breaking the cycle.

Talk with your child about your experiences in an age-appropriate way. This will help them feel less alone. It will also equip them to share family history with future generations who may also be impacted.

Treatment for breaking this cycle can be as simple as educating the public to understand the way that their trauma, past or present, effects their families but also ranging from the training being available to front line professionals to help them whilst dealing with traumatized members of the community.

As a society we need to recognize that we are not independent of our experiences. We need to break generational shame and find happiness by changing our mindset and being empowered.

We also need to affirm our children that things will ultimately change for the better and there’s a second chance into each situation with the right help.

Psychosocial support and therapy is crucially important to children and their family members as they relive some of their experiences.

Safe spaces are need for children to be able to express what they are doing and enlightening those around them not to stigmatize them but accept their journey and walk with them through the process of healing.

Stopping the cycle, requires a huge amount of encouragement and support.-Support groups, financial support, housing support, health care, education, nutritional support, community resources, spiritual connections, and individual therapy will all need to be addressed for successful cessation of generational trauma

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