Harsh parenting among veterans: Parents' military-related PTSD, mentalization, and pre-military trauma
Research Report:
Research SummaryAPA Citation:
Wang, X., Liu, Q., Merrin, G. J., Keller, A., Yoon, D., & Henderson, A. (2023). Harsh parenting among veterans: Parents’ military-related PTSD, mentalization, and pre-military trauma. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, Article 1283801. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1283801
Abstract Created by REACH:
Prementalization involves inaccurate and inappropriate interpretations of a child’s mental state as malevolent (e.g., “my child is fussy just to annoy me”). Prementalization can impact parenting practices and may occur more often for parents with trauma. This cross-sectional study examined the associations among military-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, prementalization, and harsh parenting practices (i.e., corporal punishment, psychological aggression) in a sample of 509 Veteran parents. The associations among these variables were also considered in connection to Veterans’ self-reported premilitary trauma experiences (i.e., no prior trauma, physical trauma only, psychological trauma only, or both). Overall, Veterans’ military-related PTSD symptoms were related to more prementalization which, in turn, was related to more harsh parenting. However, these associations differed based on premilitary physical trauma exposure.
Focus:
Veterans
Mental health
Parents
Trauma
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Veteran
Subject Affiliation:
Veteran
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Methodology:
Cross-Sectional Study
Authors:
Wang, Xiafei, Liu, Qingyang, Merrin, Gabriel J., Keller, Amanda, Yoon, Dalhee
Abstract:
Objectives: Veteran parents experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may resort to harsh parenting. The indirect pathway from parental military-related PTSD to harsh parenting, and the moderating role of parents' pre-military trauma histories, has been less explored. Informed by mentalization theory, as well as trauma-sensitive and posttraumatic growth perspectives, we aim to explore the associations between veteran parents' military-related PTSD, mentalization, harsh parenting, and prior trauma before military service. Methods: Data were collected from an online research panel of 509 veteran parents with children under 10. We employed Structural Equation Models to test indirect and moderating effects. Results: We identified an indirect effect of parental pre-mentalization from military PTSD to harsh parenting (corporal punishment: b = .35, p < .001, 95% CI [.23, .46]; psychological aggression: b = .14, p < .001, 95% CI [.09, .19]). Multi-group analysis on four parent groups (parents with only pre-military physical trauma, parents with only premilitary psychological trauma, parents with both pre-military physical and psychological trauma, and parents with no pre-military physical or psychological trauma) highlighted differences in these associations, particularly between parents with only pre-military physical trauma and those without any physical and psychological trauma. The military-related PTSD effects on psychological aggression, corporal punishment, and pre-mentalization were all significantly higher for parents without pre-military physical and psychological trauma. Conclusion: Modifying parents' interpretation of their child's mental states can potentially counteract the effects of veterans' military PTSD on harsh parenting. Family-based programs should be created considering veteran parents' pre-military trauma histories.
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Featured Research
Keywords:
parenting, harsh parenting, ptsd, military-related ptsd, pre-military trauma
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary
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