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Secondary Trauma in Children of Parents with Mental Illness

Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York

Robert W. Motta

Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York, Robert.W.Motta{at}hofstra.edu

In this study, the relationship between parental mental illness with and without comorbid traumatic symptoms, and secondary trauma in children was explored. There were three groups of parent-child dyads (N = 106). Group I included parents with mental illness and comorbid traumatization, and their children. Group II included parents with mental illness and no traumatization, and their children. Group III included non-mentally ill parents and their children. The measures used in the study consisted of the Secondary Trauma Scale, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children, the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale, the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale 21-Item Version, and the Modified PTSD Symptom Scale — Self Report. Results indicated that children of parents with mental illness experience significantly more secondary trauma than children of non-ill parents, regardless of parental traumatization. In addition, secondary trauma in children was correlated with depression and anxiety.

Key Words: secondary trauma • traumatization in children • mental illness and trauma • parental mental illness

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