Trauma, complex PTSD, and somatoform dissociation among disadvantaged parents in a community center: Prevalence and relationships with parenting and children’s behavioral problems

Hong Wang Fung, Zheyuan Mai, Henry Tak Shing Chiu, Henry Wai-Hang Ling, Shu Cheng Chen, Maddie Weng Ian Ho, Kyle Langjie He and Edward KS Wang

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2026, vol. 72, issue 1, 55-62

Abstract: Background: Although the health effects of trauma have been increasingly recognized, much less is known about the intergenerational effects of trauma and its outcomes. Aims: This study examined trauma and trauma-related mental health problems among socio-economically disadvantaged parents. Methods: We recruited parents in disadvantaged housing and living conditions from a community development center in Hong Kong (response rate = 74.09%). Participants completed standardized self-report measures. Results: In this sample of 203 parents, 40.39% and 43.84%, respectively, reported at least one childhood and adulthood traumatic event; 6.90% suffered from probable ICD-11 PTSD/Complex PTSD and/or somatoform dissociation. Parents’ disturbances in self-organization (DSO) symptoms were associated with problematic parenting styles. Parents’ childhood trauma and DSO symptoms were also associated with children’s behavioral problems. Conclusions: Although trauma is not particularly prevalent in this sample, trauma and trauma-related symptoms are strongly linked to problematic parenting styles (such as over-reacting) and children’s behavioral issues. More attention to the intergenerational effects of trauma is necessary from a public mental health perspective.

Keywords: Trauma; complex PTSD; dissociative disorders; parenting; intergenerational trauma (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:72:y:2026:i:1:p:55-62

DOI: 10.1177/00207640251355829

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