Abstract:

The concept of the transgenerational transmission of trauma posits that the effects of traumatic experiences can be transferred from one generation to the next within the family through various mechanisms. The study mainly aims to examine trauma exposure and traumatic stress level in women who experienced the last period of the Bulgarian migration (1989) and their relationship with the psychological symptoms of individuals in the second generation without a direct experience of the migration. The Trauma Exposure Scale, Impact of Event Scale-R, Brief Symptom Inventory, World Assumptions Scale, and the Inventory of Family Protective Factors were used for data collection. The study was conducted on women (N = 170) who experienced the last period of the Bulgaria migration, aged at least 41 years, and with children aged between 16 and 27 years. The results indicate that increases in traumatic exposure and traumatic stress among mothers are associated with increases in the psychological symptoms of children. Furthermore, comparison was made between individuals in the second generation, who were categorized into three groups according to the mothers’ traumatic stress level. The findings indicated that the children of mothers with high levels of traumatic stress experienced more symptoms of anxiety than those of mothers with low levels of traumatic stress. Family functioning and basic assumptions serve as protective mechanisms for the psychological health of individuals in the second generation. Moreover, the results indicate that migration led to transgenerational effects. Previous studies on the subject emphasized the importance of traumatic stress. Similarly, symptoms of anxiety among individuals in the second generation differed according to the stress level of the mothers. In turn, traumatic experiences can exert negative effects on parenting style. For this reason, the increased frequency of symptoms of anxiety among individuals in the second generation are discussed in this context. Consistent with the literature, high family functioning is one of the protective mechanisms for the psychological health of individuals in the second generation. The number of people forced to leave their homes due to war has reached the highest level. The finding that the psychological impacts of the migration can be transmitted between generations increases its significance.

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