Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma in Military Families

Xiafei Wang, Ph.D. (SWK) PI, Kenneth Marfilius (SWK) co-PI, Carrie J. Smith (SWK) mentor, Collaborators: Jennifer Genovese; Rachel Linsner.
2020-2021 Falk Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Seed Grant Award

Child maltreatment is a significant issue in the U.S. military, with evidence showing elevated levels of fatal child maltreatment and shaken baby syndrome in military communities. The unique characteristics and circumstances of military families underscore the need for understanding child maltreatment in military families.

This study aims to investigate the association between parents’ adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) /other mental health conditions, and child maltreatment among service members. Specifically, is there an interaction effect between parental ACEs and parents’ PTSD/ mental health conditions? Does the interaction effect exacerbate the impacts of parents’ PTSD/mental health conditions on child maltreatment? We use a purposive sampling strategy to recruit parents who have military experience from Amazon Mechanical Turk. Regression analyses and moderation analyses will be employed for data analyses.

This study fills a gap by unraveling the associations between ACEs, PTSD/mental health conditions, and child maltreatment among military members who are parents. Military service results in a wide range of effects for members of the armed forces. We should take action to break the cycle of trauma transmission among military families. Our findings will have significance for community-level, family-focused behavioral health provisions for the veteran population. At the national level, the results of this research can inform the Department of Defense’s policymaking in terms of screenings and interventions of the military population.