Poster #156 - Traumatic Events and Psychopathology amongst Caregiver-Child Dyads: Exploring Caregiver Sex Differences

• In Event: 3-106 - Poster Session 11
  In Poster Session: PS 11 Section - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Integrative Statement

Abstract
The intergenerational patterning of exposure to traumatic events amongst caregivers and their children, has been a point in question over the last 70 years (Bloch, Silber & Perry, 1956; Carey-Trefzer, 1949; Folger et al., 2017; Scharf, 2007; Yehuda et al., 1998). Much of the research in this area has focused on mother-child groups; however, in recent years intergenerational trauma research has expanded its consideration of the father’s role (Belsky et al., 2005; McHale, 2007; McHale & Phares, 2015). This includes the effects of fathers’ traumatic experiences, post-traumatic stress responses, and the associated developmental consequences on their children via parenting (Snyder et al., 2016).
Given the multifaceted nature of chronic trauma exposure (van der Kolk et al., 2005), in addition to sex differences in the types of traumatic events to which men and women are exposed and in rates of PTSS (Tolin & Fua, 2006), broadening our understanding of the father’s role in intergenerational transmission is critical. Men are more often exposed to traumatic events in the context of criminality, gang involvement, and incarceration (Singer, Anglin, Song & Lunghofer, 1995). Moreover, males’ involvement in violent crime is predicted by child maltreatment (Hill, Howell & Hawkins, 1999; Widom, 1989), and predicts perpetration of intimate partner violence and child maltreatment in later life (Augustyn, Thornberry, & Krohn, 2014; Menard, Weiss, Franzese, & Covey, 2014; Song, Singer, & Anglin, 1998), highlighting the need for intergenerational research.
The present study examined the relationship between caregiver exposure to traumatic events (# of types) and child psychopathology (post-traumatic stress symptoms [PTSS] and internalizing/externalizing) via three mediating mechanisms: (a) child exposure to traumatic events (# of types), (b) caregiver psychopathology (depression and PTSS) and (c) caregiving stress. Moreover, in order to determine if patterns of association differed for male and female caregivers, means and pathways were permitted to differ as a function of caregiver sex. Participants were caregiver-child dyads referred to a hospital clinic that specialized in the treatment of PTSS amongst children aged zero to five (N=222, 28% male caregiver). Caregivers completed assessments and reported on response variables.
Hypotheses were tested using a multi-group path analysis. Male caregivers reported less risk on all variables despite there being no difference in number of events experienced by children. That being said, pathways of intergenerational transmission looked largely similar, with the exception of caregiver stress. There was no relationship between number of events experienced by caregivers and caregiver stress for males, though there was for females. Findings suggest that, while male and female caregivers may present differently at assessments in terms of risk levels, the overarching patterns of intergenerational transmission are mostly similar. Because fathers have been largely left out of intergenerational trauma research, differences in responses may be indicative of the kinds of questions that were asked of male caregivers (McHale & Phares, 2015). Future research may benefit from asking questions which use language less likely to evoke feelings of vulnerability.

Authors

• Megan E. Broome, California School of Professional Psychology, San Francisco Alliant International University
  Presenting Author

• Dillon T. Browne, Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo
  Non-Presenting Author

• Alicia F. Lieberman, University of California, San Francisco
  Non-Presenting Author