Protective factors in intergenerational trauma: A mixed methods investigation of the role of holistic well-being and parental empowerment by parents’ gender

Parents who have experienced trauma often experience symptoms and challenges that impact their children as well, potentially resulting in intergenerational trauma transmission. To help address intergenerational trauma, better understanding of strengths-based and holistic protective factors, as well as the interplay of gender and protective factors, can inform empowering interventions to support parents. This study used a convergent mixed methods design to explore the role of parents’ holistic well-being and parental empowerment in intergenerational trauma, with subsequent analysis of gender and fathers’ lived experiences. The analysis included 98 parents who completed quantitative and qualitative questions on an online survey. Regression analyses controlling for parents’ and children's trauma exposures investigated affliction and equanimity domains of holistic wellness and parenting and connection domains of parental empowerment as predictors of child trauma symptoms. Three of four domains (except connection) were significant predictors among all parents. When examined by gender, only affliction was a significant predictor among mothers, and all four domains were significant predictors among fathers. To better understand the significance of these constructs among fathers, the qualitative responses from fathers were interpreted using thematic analysis and revealed major themes related to mental health challenges, dealing with the past, and motivation to break the cycle. Overall, the mixed methods analysis indicated the importance of reducing body-mind-spirit affliction and promoting equanimity and parental empowerment in addressing intergenerational trauma, especially among fathers. Based on these findings, clinicians should consider using strengths-based and holistic interventions to engage fathers as a protective resource in interrupting intergenerational trauma.