Research on the Connection Between Childhood Trauma and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Across Generations

A study published in the Nordic Journal of Psychiatry looked at how childhood trauma affects kids with developmental disorders, like ADHD and autism, and their parents. These tough life events, called adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), can lead to problems with health, feelings, and behavior.

The researchers found that when mothers had more ACEs, their children were also more likely to have ACEs. These mothers also showed more traits of ADHD and autism themselves. Moreover, children who had more ACEs were more likely to have emotional problems.

It’s interesting to note that these connections were observed with mothers but not with fathers.

This research is important because therapists and mental health professionals sometimes focus only on the child’s behavior without asking about family stress or trauma. This particular study shows that understanding a mother’s trauma history can help explain some of the child’s challenges.

Understanding the Research

The study focused on examining how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) in families, particularly those with children newly diagnosed with ADHD and/or ASD.

The researchers wanted to answer three questions:

• First, is there a connection between parents’ ACEs and their children’s ACEs in families with NDD?
• Second, do parents with ADHD or autism traits have more of these difficult experiences?
• Third, do these ACEs in parents or children cause more emotional and behavioral problems in the child?

Families with children aged 8–18 newly diagnosed with ADHD and/or ASD were recruited from clinics in Jönköping and Gothenburg, Sweden. Diagnoses followed DSM-5 criteria. The researchers collected data through parent and child questionnaires and interviews.

Out of 147 families asked to join the study, 97 families said yes. The study had 86 mothers, 37 fathers, and 48 children.

These were the main findings from the study:

• Adversity experienced by mothers in childhood can increase the risk of adversity in their children. (Possible reasons may include parenting styles and the mother’s mental health issues affecting family dynamics.)
• Mothers with higher ACEs were more likely to have ADHD and ASD traits. (Childhood adversity may worsen these traits in adulthood.)
• Maternal ACEs were linked to more emotional and behavioral problems in children.
• Children’s ACEs were also linked to specific emotional and behavioral symptoms.

Practical Strategies for Parents and Caregivers

We cannot change the past, but as parents, we can take steps to end the cycle of trauma and be able to support our child’s emotional health. Here are three strategies:

Seek trauma-informed support.

As parents, healing our own emotional wounds is an important part of supporting our children. Working with a trauma-informed therapist can help us process past adversities. Through therapy, we can understand how our difficulties may be affecting our current parenting.

Related Resource: Trauma Infographic Bundle

Practice mindful parenting.

Mindful parenting means being fully present and attentive to your child in the moment. It’s about not letting past experiences or even future worries take over.

Here’s an example of mindful parenting: Imagine your child is having a tantrum because they can’t have more screen time. Instead of getting upset right away, you take a deep breath and do your best to stay calm. You listen to your child’s feelings and help name them.

Create opportunities for positive experiences with your child.

When life feels stressful, it’s easy to only focus on problems. But having good moments with your child helps them feel safe and loved. You don’t need big plans. For instance, playing a quick game, reading a book together, or even cooking a simple meal can be special.

The researchers are also suggesting that future studies need to examine how fathers’ involvement affects children’s outcomes.

Check out our Trauma Worksheets and Coping Skills Worksheets that help parents and children heal together.