Intergenerational childhood trauma: associations by subtype across two generations in a longitudinal Barbados birth cohort.

Background

Intergenerational continuity of childhood trauma is a major public health concern. Better understanding of patterns can inform prevention, particularly for subtypes beyond physical abuse and in underserved populations.

Objective

This study examined associations between parent and offspring histories of childhood maltreatment in a longitudinal Barbados birth cohort, with a focus on subtype-specific patterns of continuity. Method: Using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), we assessed childhood maltreatment in Generation 1 (G1; N = 68) and their emerging adult offspring (G2; N = 111). Pearson correlations and multiple regression models tested associations between G1 and G2 CTQ-SF total and subscale scores.

Results

Parental (G1) childhood sexual abuse emerged as a significant risk factor for offspring (G2) trauma across multiple domains, including emotional abuse, emotional neglect, physical abuse, and overall CTQ-SF scores. Offspring of parents who reported moderate-to-severe childhood sexual abuse had 5.7 times greater odds of reporting any form of childhood maltreatment. In fully adjusted models, G1 total CTQ-SF scores were also significantly associated with G2 emotional neglect.

Conclusions

Findings support heterotypic intergenerational continuity of childhood trauma and highlight childhood sexual abuse as a particularly salient indicator of intergenerational vulnerability to offspring trauma exposure. Results suggest that intergenerational transmission may operate through internalized, relational, and contextual pathways rather than through direct replication of specific maltreatment subtypes. Results underscore the urgency of addressing childhood sexual abuse as a global public health priority and of expanding trauma research to better include categories beyond physical abuse and communities that are underserved. Findings are discussed with recognition of the need for nuance and sensitivity in how results should be interpreted and applied.