Written by: Zeenat Hatami
Edited by: Taina Stuart
Trauma is the emotional response often triggered by distressing events, with manifestations both physiological and psychological. Its impact can be enduring, affecting emotional regulation, coping strategies, and increasing susceptibility to mental health disorders. Moreover, trauma transcends generations, transmitted from caregivers or parent-figures to their children, perpetuating cycles of adversity within communities affected by socio-cultural trauma.
Intergenerational trauma results in the effects of trauma being experienced by the second generation without exposure to the original traumatic experience or event (Isobel et al., 2020). The process of transmission of trauma is discrete, and happens when parent figures who have experienced trauma transmit the effect of their trauma onto their children, whether it be through family dynamics, genetic pathways, or interactional patterns. Regardless, the second generation often unintentionally, and usually without awareness, replicate their caregivers' traumatic responses and behaviors. Therefore, the next generation develops similar stress responses, and altered perceptions regarding safety, trust, worldview, and self (Isobel et al., 2020).
Any trauma can be transmitted intergenerationally, but intergenerational is also observed through larger cultural traumas. This can apply to those who have gone through detrimental traumatic experiences such as war, and systematic experiences such as social and political oppression. An example of this is adult children of Holocaust survivors, who experience multigenerational traumatic effects such as a predisposition to post-traumatic stress disorder, interpersonal functioning, and persistent nightmares. Similarly, Indigenous communities also experience intergenerational trauma, based on systematic oppression, loss of culture, and colonization. As described by Brokenleg (2012), “Traumatic experiences are cumulative. If one generation does not heal, problems are transmitted to subsequent generations. In some form, this cultural trauma affects every Native person. It sculpts how we think, how we respond emotionally. It affects our social dynamics and, at the deepest level, impacts our spirituality.” Although the process of exactly how trauma is passed down intergenerationally is relatively unknown, there is no doubt that the trauma received by the second generation is a new trauma on its own, constituting a distinct form of trauma that has its own complex impact on an individual.
Intergenerational trauma is complex in terms of treatment and intervention by mental health professionals. In a study conducted by Isobel et al. (2020), researchers conducted semi-structured interviews of specialists. They discovered that although psychiatrists were aware that their patients may have experienced intergenerational trauma, particularly in cases of cultural trauma, they were unable to take appropriate action because doing so would require them to view the patient's past and future consequences from a different perspective. They also feared reenacting traumatic dynamics, and felt limited in how they could assist in breaking the cycle of trauma. Furthermore, these mental health professionals felt like mental health services were inadequate in terms of providing trauma-specific services for patients.
Increasing awareness about intergenerational trauma and its profound impact on affected generations is crucial for improving support services. Mental health interventions should begin to incorporate trauma-specific treatments to address the unique challenges posed by intergenerational trauma. Emphasizing resilience—the ability to adapt successfully in the face of adversity—and cultural strength can serve as foundational elements in treating intergenerational trauma effectively. By fostering resilience and intergenerational resilience through family therapy, individuals can begin to process their traumatic experiences and construct new narratives.
References:
Brokenleg, M. (2012). Transforming cultural trauma into resilience. Reclaiming Children and Youth, 21(3), 9–13. https://reclaimingjournal.com/
Isobel, S., McCloughen, A., Goodyear, M., & Foster, K. (2020). Intergenerational trauma and its relationship to mental health care: A qualitative inquiry. Community Mental Health Journal, 57(4), 631–643. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-020-00698-1
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