Investigation of the Effect of Childhood Traumas on Mental Health and Family Functionality in Context of Intergeneration Line

Abstract

The quality of the mother-daughter relationship is critical in the healthy raising of girls, who hold an important position in improving the progress and welfare level of societies. Do childhood traumas, mental problems, and family functioning in women transmit between generations? This research is a mixed method design. The findings of this research were integrated with convergent design. Purposive sampling was used as the sampling method. 108 members from three generations, 36 from each generation, agreed to participate in the quantitative phase and met the inclusion criteria in the quantitative phase. 13 participants from the third generation agreed to participate in in-depth interviews in the qualitative phase. It was determined that the transmission of childhood traumas, psychological symptoms, and family functioning occurred between two generations (p < 0.05). The second generation did not have a mediating effect on the transmission of trauma and psychopathology between the first and third generations. (p > 0.05). Views on the intergenerational transmission of trauma and psychopathology were parallel with the quantitative findings. It is recommended to adopt and implement effective parenting styles to prevent the intergenerational transmission of trauma and psychopathology.