How Does Parents' Post-Traumatic Stress Impact Mental Health Care for Refugee Children?

What you need to know

• Maternal post-traumatic stress significantly increases the likelihood that refugee children will need mental health services
• The impact is strongest for recently arrived refugee families and for anxiety and depression diagnoses
• Fathers’ post-traumatic stress did not show the same association with children’s mental health care needs

Understanding the Impact of Parents’ Trauma

When families flee war and persecution, the psychological impacts can ripple through generations. Parents who have experienced severe trauma may struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health challenges that affect not only their own wellbeing but also their children’s emotional development. This large study of over 16,000 refugee adolescents in Sweden examined how parents’ trauma-related mental health issues influenced their children’s need for psychiatric care.

Key Findings on Family Mental Health

The research revealed that when mothers experienced post-traumatic stress, their children were more than twice as likely to need mental health services. This was true both for children born in Sweden to refugee parents and those who were themselves refugees. The impact was particularly strong for recently arrived families - children who had been in Sweden for less than 5 years were four times more likely to need psychiatric care if their mother had post-traumatic stress.

Interestingly, fathers’ post-traumatic stress did not show the same connection to children’s mental health needs. This may be because mothers often spend more time in caregiving roles, though more research is needed to understand this difference.

Understanding the Parent-Child Connection

The study found that anxiety and depression were the most common mental health challenges for refugee children whose parents had post-traumatic stress. This suggests that parents’ psychological difficulties can affect their ability to provide emotional support and security for their children. When parents are struggling with trauma, it may impact:

• Their emotional availability to their children
• The stability of family routines and relationships
• Their parenting style and responses to children’s needs
• The overall family environment and sense of security

Early Years Are Critical

The strongest effects were seen in recently arrived refugee families, highlighting how the early period of resettlement is especially challenging. During this time, families are coping with:

• Adjusting to a new culture and language
• Economic challenges and housing instability
• Loss of social support networks
• Ongoing effects of trauma and displacement
• Navigating unfamiliar healthcare and social service systems

What This Means for You

If you work with refugee families or are part of a refugee community, understanding these intergenerational effects is crucial. Some key takeaways:

• Mental health support for refugee parents, especially mothers, is vital for the whole family’s wellbeing
• Recently arrived families may need extra support and outreach
• Both parents and children should be included in mental health screenings and support
• Cultural barriers to accessing mental health care need to be addressed
• Schools and community organizations can help identify families who need support

Conclusions

• Parents’ trauma can significantly impact children’s mental health, particularly through mothers’ post-traumatic stress
• Early intervention and family-based approaches are crucial for supporting refugee mental health
• Reducing barriers to mental healthcare access should be a priority, especially for new arrivals