Intergenerational Trauma, Parenting, and Child Behavior Among African American Families Living in Poverty

Objective: Limited research has documented the continuity of trauma exposure between parents and young children and the relation between intergenerational trauma and maternal parenting and child outcomes. This study examined intergenerational trauma among African American families from low-income backgrounds and its relation to parenting processes and children's behavior. Method: Participants represent a subsample of 157 African American mothers and their 4- to 7-year-old children in an urban prekindergarten program. Researchers collected data on maternal and child exposure to trauma, demographics, parenting stress, and child behavior in families' homes. Parent-child interaction was videorecorded and coded. Results: Parent and child trauma exposures were strongly related. Elevated parent and child trauma was related to higher sensitive-engaged parenting. Parenting stress moderated maternal and child trauma's association with sensitive-engaged parenting, as well as the association between child trauma and harsh parenting. Higher parent trauma, child trauma, and parenting stress scores were associated with increased child externalizing behavior. Conclusions: This study documented intergenerational continuity of trauma and trauma's impact on child behavior. Findings revealed complex relations between trauma and parenting that were moderated by parenting stress. Implications of these findings underscore the importance of interventions that promote positive parental mental health and parenting in the context of addressing the intergenerational risk for children's trauma exposure and sequelae.