Identifying intergenerational transmission of historical trauma using the genogram psychosocial assessment tool

Abstract

Intergenerational Transmission of Historical Trauma (ITHxT) is a real-world challenge that is multifaceted for Black children. As children with a legacy of slavery, the passing of trauma into their environment (home life) can impact that child’s individual temperament and development. Culture is a huge factor in all families and shapes how behavior is expressed. The genogram is a tool that can assess ITHxT. The ability to assess a family’s coping skills when exposed to daily toxic stress with a holistic measurement tool can yield information to impact life outcomes for children enrolled in early childhood programs. This research explored and evaluated the use of the genogram psychosocial assessment tool for identifying ITHxT. The identification deepened and extended knowledge of how many African American family systems adapt to daily and/or major stressors. Early identification of ITHxT in the young child’s ecological and/or school system informs, transforms, supports, and empower parents, pediatricians, and/or educators of possible interventions.