Depression, a leading cause of disability and poor health globally, is projected to be the top-ranked health issue by 2030. The concept of intergenerational trauma, which refers to the transfer of adverse events from one generation to another, has long been recognized as a factor in the development of mental illnesses such as depression. Research by Chan et al. (2018) highlights the growing evidence supporting the idea that children can be impacted by traumas experienced by their parents even before their birth or conception.
Racism, categorized as systems within societies that create unfair inequalities across racial or ethnic groups, may contribute to the transmission of intergenerational trauma. Murry et al.’s (2018) model of stress suggests that racism can manifest through various forms of discrimination and oppression, affecting the parent-child relationship and attachment, ultimately influencing the child’s mental health and emotional well-being. While this theory is supported by studies, there is a need for further exploration specifically focusing on Black mother-child dyads, who are disproportionately affected by adverse outcomes.
A recent study by Mekawi et al. (2023) aimed to investigate the impact of maternal experiences of racism on child depression through maternal depression within Black mother-child dyads. The study recruited 148 Black or African American mothers with low socioeconomic resources and their children aged 7 to 13 from primary care and physical health clinics in a large urban city in the southeastern US. The researchers utilized self-report measures to collect data on experiences of discrimination, maternal depressive symptoms, child depressive symptoms, and traumatic events.
Results from the study revealed high rates of discrimination and trauma in the sample, with maternal experiences of racism and trauma significantly associated with more severe maternal and child depression. Maternal experiences of racism indirectly influenced child depression through the effect of maternal depression, with exposure to trauma showing a stronger association with depression than experiences of racism. The degree of maternal trauma exposure was found to impact the indirect effects of maternal experiences of racism on child depression, emphasizing the intergenerational effects of trauma and racism on mental health outcomes.
While the study provides valuable insights into the complex relationship between racism, trauma, and mental health in Black mothers and children, limitations such as the cross-sectional nature of the study and reliance on parent-reported measures highlight the need for further research in this area. Nonetheless, the implications for practice suggest a systemic approach that considers the interconnected nature of mental health within families, emphasizing the importance of culturally sensitive and evidence-based trauma-informed care when working with families who have experienced racism and trauma. Screening for such difficulties and implementing culturally sensitive frameworks for assessment and treatment are essential steps towards addressing the impact of intergenerational trauma and racism on mental health outcomes.
