The Impact of Generational Trauma on Pediatric Patients

Summary: The impact of generational trauma on pediatric patients is a cycle that gets passed on from generation to generation. This is particularly true for children who are brought up in war-torn countries, and their parents experienced the implications of war firsthand. The child may have unexpected reactions to harmful and dangerous situations happening around them, from walking alongside a building that had just been bombed without any outward reaction to their body shutting down and not being fazed by their environment. Children take on adult roles, which strips them of their childhood. This detachment is reflected in how they care and provide support to their children. This presentation will discuss ways to break the cycle of trauma and highlight the health implications associated with not doing so.