Trauma, complex PTSD, and somatoform dissociation among disadvantaged parents in a community center: Prevalence and relationships with parenting and children’s behavioral problems

Background: Although the health effects of trauma have been increasingly recognized, much less is known about the intergenerational effects of trauma and its outcomes.

Aims: This study examined trauma and trauma-related mental health problems among socio-economically disadvantaged parents.

Methods: We recruited parents in disadvantaged housing and living conditions from a community development center in Hong Kong (response rate = 74.09%). Participants completed standardized self-report measures.

Results: In this sample of 203 parents, 40.39% and 43.84%, respectively, reported at least one childhood and adulthood traumatic event; 6.90% suffered from probable ICD-11 PTSD/Complex PTSD and/or somatoform dissociation. Parents’ disturbances in self-organization (DSO) symptoms were associated with problematic parenting styles. Parents’ childhood trauma and DSO symptoms were also associated with children’s behavioral problems.

Conclusions: Although trauma is not particularly prevalent in this sample, trauma and trauma-related symptoms are strongly linked to problematic parenting styles (such as over-reacting) and children’s behavioral issues. More attention to the intergenerational effects of trauma is necessary from a public mental health perspective.