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Intergenerational trauma transmission through family psychosocial factors in adult children of Rwandan survivors of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi

Author

Listed:
  • Bonumwezi, Jessica L.
  • Grapin, Sally L.
  • Uddin, Monica
  • Coyle, Samantha
  • Habintwali, D'Artagnan
  • Lowe, Sarah R.

Abstract

Thirty years after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, children of survivors are being increasingly documented to be at higher risk compared to their peers for adverse mental health outcomes. However, no studies in Rwanda have empirically explored family psychosocial factors underlying this intergenerational transmission of trauma. We investigated family psychosocial factors that could underlie this transmission in 251 adult Rwandan children of survivors (mean age = 23.31, SD = 2.40; 50.2% female) who completed a cross-sectional online survey. For participants with survivor mothers (n = 187), we found that both offspring-reported maternal trauma exposure and maternal PTSD were indirectly associated with children's PTSD via maternal trauma communication (specifically, nonverbal and guilt-inducing communication), and that maternal PTSD was indirectly associated with children's PTSD, anxiety, and depression symptoms through family communication styles. For participants with survivor fathers (n = 170), we found that paternal PTSD symptoms were indirectly associated with children's anxiety and depression symptoms via paternal parenting styles (specifically, abusive and indifferent parenting). Although replication is needed in longitudinal research with parent-child dyads, these results reaffirm the importance of looking at mass trauma in a family context and suggest that intergenerational trauma interventions should focus on addressing family communication, trauma communication, and parenting.

Suggested Citation

  • Bonumwezi, Jessica L. & Grapin, Sally L. & Uddin, Monica & Coyle, Samantha & Habintwali, D'Artagnan & Lowe, Sarah R., 2024. "Intergenerational trauma transmission through family psychosocial factors in adult children of Rwandan survivors of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 348(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:348:y:2024:i:c:s0277953624002818
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116837
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Uwizeye, Glorieuse & Thayer, Zaneta M. & DeVon, Holli A. & McCreary, Linda L. & McDade, Thomas W. & Mukamana, Donatilla & Park, Chang & Patil, Crystal L. & Rutherford, Julienne N., 2021. "Double Jeopardy: Young adult mental and physical health outcomes following conception via genocidal rape during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    2. Otake, Yuko, 2019. "Suffering of silenced people in northern Rwanda," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 171-179.
    3. Lidewyde H. Berckmoes & Veroni Eichelsheim & Theoneste Rutayisire & Annemiek Richters & Barbora Hola, 2017. "How Legacies of Genocide Are Transmitted in the Family Environment: A Qualitative Study of Two Generations in Rwanda," Societies, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-18, September.
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