Addressing Intergenerational Trauma with an Innovative Instrument and Process

Abstract

Parent-child relationships have been researched in many ways. This article describes a qualitative study using the concept of reflective functioning (defined by Slade as the parent's capacity to hold and reflect upon her own and her child's internal mental experience) as a framework. The study focused on understanding the experiences of early childhood adversities, social supports, and the reflective functioning capacity of 11 young adult African American mothers and their children in urban and suburban areas of Minnesota. Findings included that the participants did not perceive adversities as bad, but as part of a daily norm; they demonstrated that they have social support and know how to access it; and they showed the ability to reflect on their children's emotions and experiences as well as the parent-child relationship. Participants talked about transmitting good things to their children while simultaneously protecting them from negative experiences. Thus, parents were able to change patterns that could affect their children's well-being.