Date
2-13-2026
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
Bethany Mims-Beliles
Keywords
trauma, intergenerational trauma, generational trauma, historical trauma, secondary trauma, trauma prevention, trauma reduction
Disciplines
Counseling | Psychology
Recommended Citation
Abalo, Claudia, "The Impact of Communication on Generational Trauma" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7934.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7934
Abstract
Trauma has occurred since God made man, and it has been passed down through generations. Now, even though generational trauma may not end until our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ returns (Revelations 21:4), in the meantime, the Scriptures encourage us to love one another as God loves us (John 13:34-35), to care for each other, and to share our burdens with one another (Galatians 6:2). However, there is limited research as to whether sharing our burdens such as discussing traumatic experiences within the home impacts generational trauma. Therefore, this qualitative, interpretative phenomenological study aimed to answer how the children of parents or caregivers who experienced trauma made meaning of the discussion, silence, or non-verbal communication in their homes. A convenience sample of 10 participants was procured from Liberty University, ages 18 and over, who scored 4 or more on the Adverse Childhood Experiences questionnaire. Thematic analysis was utilized to transcribe, code, interpret, and extract common themes provided by the participants during semi-structured interviews. Results showed that whether parents or caregivers discussed or did not discuss their traumatic experiences in the home impacted generational trauma by teaching participants how to be better parents who chose to stop trauma transmission to subsequent generations. Findings also showed that participants were able to heal due to their faith and taking part in therapy. Findings from this study fill a gap in literature, provide valuable insights in developing programs, training, and new treatment options, which in turn help in the reduction and prevention of trauma transmission from one generation to another.
