The Impact of Historical Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma on Black American Women Who Endured Adverse Childhood Experiences

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe the experiences of Black American women in the Southeastern United States who endured adverse childhood experiences and whether historical intergenerational transmission of trauma (HITT) influenced the behavior of their primary caregivers. The problem was that the connection between Post traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSS) and HITT had not been explored as it related to Black American women. To conduct the study, Black American women were screened for HITT via the Black American Woman (BAW) Danieli Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma questionnaire. Qualitative data was accrued via semi-structured individual interviews. The findings of ten participants were analyzed, and thematic codes were created. The findings confirm that Historical Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma in primary caregivers lends to the development of ACEs in Black American Women. The combination of these factors established that the participants were impacted emotionally. The unanimous theme among the participants was that they did not feel loved. Consequently, they are experiencing emotional detachment, distress and feeling that they lacked support during their childhood. This distress created identities wrought with low self-worth and low self-concept. This research sets the foundation for a deeper exploration of this crucial and complex area of study, unveiling valuable insights into the lasting impacts of trauma on present-day experiences and the well-being and perspectives of Black American women.