Intergenerational associations of resilience and traumatic exposure with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms

Family resilience theory suggests that families can collectively overcome distress and build resilience, while empirical research shows that parents can influence their children's Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms. The aim of this study is to examine the intergenerational associations between resilience and traumatic exposure, with PTSD symptoms within mother-daughter dyads. The sample included 309 Rwandan mother-daughter dyads who had experienced traumatic events. Participants completed the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 to assess PTSD symptoms, the Life Events Checklist to measure traumatic experiences, and the Nicholson McBride Resilience Questionnaire to evaluate their resilience levels. The data were analyzed using Actor-Partner Interdependence Model statistical techniques. Results show associations of mothers' resilience and resilience of their daughters with mothers' resilience negatively associated with their own and their daughters' PTSD symptoms, while daughters' resilience is negatively associated with their own and their mothers' PTSD symptoms. Furthermore, mothers' traumatic experiences were positively associated with both their own PTSD symptoms and those of their daughters. In contrast, daughters' traumatic experiences were only associated with their own PTSD symptoms. Resilience and traumatic experiences of mothers and daughters mutually impact their PTSD symptoms, suggesting that interventions targeting both resilience and trauma could benefit both generations. Furthermore, parents transmit not only their PTSD symptoms but also their resilience. Notably, the resilience of children can have a reciprocal impact positively influencing both their own well-being and that of their parents.