Parenting among mothers exposed to ongoing military conflict in childhood: An exploratory study

Abstract

Mothers living in areas exposed to ongoing military conflict are at higher risk for psychological difficulties, such as posttraumatic stress disorder, than those not living in such areas. The aim of this two‐part exploratory study was twofold. The first aim was to examine differences between mothers who grew up under ongoing military conflict in childhood and mothers who did not grow up in affected areas in terms of their levels of differentiation of self and parental self‐efficacy (PSE). The second aim was to identify and describe the parenting experiences of mothers who were exposed to military conflict in childhood. In Part 1 of the study, the sample included 120 mothers (half of whom reported on being exposed to ongoing military conflict in childhood). Findings showed that mothers exposed to ongoing military conflict in childhood reported lower levels of differentiation of self and PSE than their counterparts. In Part 2, 10 mothers who were exposed to ongoing military conflict as children were interviewed about their experience as parents and their PSE. Results indicated that the mothers felt their childhood experiences affected their parenting and PSE negatively, resulting in anxiety, difficulty dealing with stress and sometimes posttraumatic symptoms as well as parental patterns of overprotectiveness, separation anxiety and intergenerational transmission of anxiety. The results highlight the consequences of exposure to ongoing military conflict during childhood on levels of differentiation of self and parenting practices.

Group identification attenuates the effect of historical trauma on mental health: A study of Iraqi Kurds.

“…This is evidenced by greater prevalence of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress in victimized (vs. non-victimized) societies and groups (Daud et al, 2005; Ehlers et al, 2013; Karenian et al, 2011; Wilk et al, 2017). Groups that experienced traumatic historical events also tend to have greater prevalence of child abuse (Montgomery et al, 2019), maladaptive parenting styles (Field et al, 2011; Hadar et al, 2020), domestic violence (Burnette, 2016; Ellington et al, 2015), suicide rates, and psychoactive substance addiction (Brave Heart, 2003; Brave Heart & DeBruyn, 1998; Elias et al, 2012; Guenzel & Struwe, 2020; Wiechelt et al, 2012).…”

Медико-Психологічні Наслідки Дистресу Війни В Україні: Що Ми Очікуємо Та Що Потрібно Враховувати При Наданні Медичної Допомоги?

“…Окремо слід наголосити на міжпоколінних дистресових наслідках війни [29][30][31]. Так, матері, які в дитинстві зазнали тривалого військового конфлікту, повідомили про нижчий рівень диференціації себе та батьківської самоефективності, ніж їхні колеги.…”

“…Так, матері, які в дитинстві зазнали тривалого військового конфлікту, повідомили про нижчий рівень диференціації себе та батьківської самоефективності, ніж їхні колеги. Матері відчули, що досвід дитинства негативно вплинув на їх виховання та батьківську самоефективність, що призвело до тривоги, труднощів у боротьбі зі стресом й іноді посттравматичними симптомами, а також батьківських моделей надмірної опіки, тривоги розлуки та передачі тривоги з покоління в покоління [29]. Такі дані свідчать про необхідність тривалого родинного медико-психологічного супроводу та реабілітації постраждалих родин.…”

The Association between Differentiation of Self and Life Satisfaction among Chinese Emerging Adults: The Mediating Effect of Hope and Coping Strategies and the Moderating Effect of Child Maltreatment History

“…Snyder also considers that being ignored and abused as a child is one of the primary causes of children’s hopelessness [ 11 ]. There is some evidence that adverse early life events, such as growing up with alcoholic family members or experiencing ongoing military conflict as a youngster, are associated with lower levels of DoS [ 26 , 27 ]. Furthermore, evidence suggests that violence and trauma may impair the development of coping mechanisms [ 28 ].…”