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. 2020 Dec;22(6):1232-1239.
doi: 10.1007/s10903-020-01052-z.

Mechanisms Explaining the Relationship Between Maternal Torture Exposure and Youth Adjustment In Resettled Refugees: A Pilot Examination of Generational Trauma Through Moderated Mediation

Sarah J Hoffman  1 , Maria M Vukovich  2 , Abigail H Gewirtz  3 , Jayne A Fulkerson  4 , Cheryl L Robertson  4 , Joseph E Gaugler  5
Affiliations

Mechanisms Explaining the Relationship Between Maternal Torture Exposure and Youth Adjustment In Resettled Refugees: A Pilot Examination of Generational Trauma Through Moderated Mediation

Sarah J Hoffman et al. J Immigr Minor Health. 2020 Dec.

Abstract

The intergenerational effects of trauma resulting from torture and war are complex and multi-faceted and have important implications for the family system. The current study aimed to identify key relationships between refugee maternal caregiver exposure to torture, mental health, and physical health with maternal-reported youth adjustment. Ninety-six Karen maternal caregivers originating from Burma and resettled in the United States participated in a cross-sectional, explanatory mixed methods study. Maternal mental health distress was found to mediate the relationship betweenmaternal torture experiences and youth adjustment, R2 = .357. Physical health problems was found to moderate the degree to which mental health distress mediated the relationship between torture and war trauma experiences and youth adjustment, R2 = .409. The current study is significant in that it enhances our mechanistic understanding of factors relevant to the intergenerational effects of trauma within families where maternal caregivers experienced trauma from torture and/or war.

Keywords: Generation; Maternal caregiver; Mental health; Physical health; Refugee; Torture; Trauma; Youth adjustment.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors have no conflict of interest to report. We acknowledge the essential contributions in early project phases by the Center for Victims of Torture, headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. Specifically, we thank the Director of Research, Craig Higson Smith for his guidance and expertise. We thank the Karen Organization of Minnesota for key project support. We attribute the depth and richness of the data, in part, to our interpreter, Ehtaguy Zar.

Figures

Figure 1a.
Figure 1a.
Mediation model indicating the relationship between torture experiences and youth adjustment is partially dependent on mental health distress reported by the maternal caregiver.
Figure 1b.
Figure 1b.
Moderated mediation model illustrating the effect of the mental health distress on the relationship between maternal torture experiences and youth adjustment varies based on the degree of physical health problems endorsed by the mother. Note. Change in beta weight when the mediator is present is highlighted in bold.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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