A mixed-methods investigation of parent-child posttrauma discussion and the effects of encouraging engagement

Abstract

Recent developments in the child trauma field include preventative interventions that focus on augmenting parental support. However, we have limited knowledge of how parents experience trauma conversations with children. We examined how parents and children experienced both spontaneous trauma conversations and a structured task in which they generated a joint trauma narrative, following the child’s experience of an acute trauma. Parent and child ratings of distress during the structured narrative were low for all 127 families that took part, with child ratings of distress being lower overall than parent ratings. Task-related distress was positively associated with parent and child PTSD symptoms. Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted with a subset of twenty parents identified both facilitators of (e.g. open and honest relationship with child) and barriers to (e.g. parent/child avoidance of discussion) spontaneous trauma-related conversations with their child. Additionally, parents described the structured trauma narrative task as an opportunity to start the conversation with their child, to understand their child’s feelings, and for the child to process the trauma. However, the task was also uncomfortable or upsetting for some parents/children, and resulted in parents becoming more overprotective. The findings can inform development of low-dose interventions that encourage families to engage in trauma-related conversations following child experiences of trauma.

“Will You Still Feel Beautiful When You Find Out You Are Different?”: Parents’ Experiences, Reflections, and Appearance-Focused Conversations About Their Child’s Visible Difference

“…Research on children with medical conditions has demonstrated the importance and health-related gains of open parent–child communication about a medical condition (Middleton et al, 2018; O’Toole et al, 2021), more specifically when the child is overweight (see Gillison et al, 2016), in cases of trauma (McGuire et al, 2019), and in terminal cancer (see A. R. Rosenberg et al, 2016).…”

“…Research on children with medical conditions has demonstrated the importance and health-related gains of open parent-child communication about a medical condition (Middleton et al, 2018;O'Toole et al, 2021), more specifically when the child is overweight (see Gillison et al, 2016), in cases of trauma (McGuire et al, 2019), and in terminal cancer (see A. R. Rosenberg et al, 2016). These studies provide growing evidence that sensitive, timely, and age-appropriate information is helpful and important for a child, even in cases of distressful disclosures (Aldridge et al, 2017).…”

A Longitudinal Investigation of Children’s Trauma Memory Characteristics and Their Relationship with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

“…We also did not specifically ask about prior history of PTSD. The sample was predominantly Caucasian and participating required a parent to be willing and able to spare their time to be involved in the project, which likely skewed our sample towards parents who are keen to engage with their child about the trauma (Alisic et al, 2017;McGuire et al, 2019). Findings cannot necessarily be generalised to intentional trauma exposures such as child maltreatment, or to children living in more complex family environments, where prior experiences of trauma in the parent or the child may be important.…”

The ecology of youth psychological wellbeing in the COVID-19 pandemic.

“…Some evidence suggests that both too little and too much conversation about a traumatic event (and, as we have discussed, conversation that focuses on youth vulnerability) can each heighten children’s distress. Creating a climate for a child or young person to talk if they choose to do so is important, yet waiting until the child raises their concerns may preclude potentially helpful interactions with their parent ( McGuire, Hiller, Cobham, Haag, & Halligan, 2019 ).…”