How trauma related to sex trafficking challenges parenting: Insights from Mexican and Central American survivors in the US

Abstract

Sex trafficking, a form of human trafficking for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation, with a global prevalence of 4.5 million, has pervasive effects in the mental and physical health of survivors. However, little is known about the experiences and needs of Latinx migrants (the majority of sex trafficking victims in the US) after trafficking, particularly regarding parenting. This QUAL-quant study examines how 14 survivors of sex trafficking (mean age = 30) from Mexico and Central America encounter and respond to parenting experiences after escaping sexual exploitation. Combining a bio-ecological model of parenting with Zimmerman’s framework on human trafficking we identified how trauma related to sex trafficking can challenge parenting and how relational and contextual pre and post trafficking factors (dis)enable women to respond to such challenges. Psychological consequences of daily victimization primarily manifested in three ways: overprotective parenting in a world perceived to be unsafe, emotional withdraw when struggling with stress and mental health symptoms, and challenges building confidence as mothers. These experiences were accentuated by pre-trafficking experiences of neglect and abuse, forced separation from their older children, poverty post-trafficking, and migration-related stressors. Yet, finding meaning in the birth of their child, having social support, and faith, also enable mothers to cope with such challenges. We conclude that motherhood after surviving sex trafficking presents new challenges and opportunities in the path to recovery from trauma. Interventions at the policy, community and individual level are needed to support survivors of sex trafficking as they enter motherhood.

Factors Influencing Recovery and Well-Being Among Asian Survivors of International Criminal Sex Trafficking in an Urban U.S. City

“…In line with previous studies that have identified various service needs for sex trafficking survivors in the United States (Marti Castaner et al, 2021;Macy & Johns, 2011;O'Brien et al, 2019), our study results suggest that the following services would be needed to facilitate survivor recovery and wellbeing: trauma-informed and culturally appropriate services that provide or promote community building, legal assistance, medical care, life skills and employment training, and affordable housing. Our study adds to the existing literature on recovery by identifying specific structural and cultural factors that may need to be addressed when working with Asian women.…”

Trauma-informed intervention with survivors of human trafficking.

“…Trauma-related impacts on survivors' parenting of their own children can include lack of confidence in parenting abilities, overprotective parenting and avoidance of socialization with other children or adults, and emotional disconnection from children when the caregiver is struggling with chronic stress and/or mental health symptoms (Marti Castaner et al, 2021). Thus, parentchild interventions (e.g., child-parent psychotherapy, parent-child interaction therapy, ARC-based parenting support) or family therapy (e.g., ecologically based family therapy; Murnan et al, 2018) may be important therapeutic modalities for some trafficking survivors.…”