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Parental Posttraumatic Stress and School Performance in Refugee Children
Lisa Berg1,2, Monica Brendler-Lindquist3, Edith de Montgomery4
1Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
Journal of Traumatic Stress
|July 18, 2021
Summary
Parental posttraumatic stress negatively impacts refugee children's school performance. Paternal posttraumatic stress was linked to lower grades and reduced eligibility for further education, highlighting intergenerational trauma effects.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Refugee children often face academic challenges.
- Familial posttraumatic stress is prevalent in refugee populations.
- Intergenerational impacts of trauma on child development are a growing concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between maternal and paternal posttraumatic stress and school performance in refugee children.
- To quantify the impact of parental psychological trauma on academic outcomes.
- To understand the long-term consequences of trauma exposure in refugee families.
Main Methods:
- Utilized national register data for 18,831 refugee children in Stockholm County (2011-2017).
- Analyzed school grades (Z scores) and upper secondary school eligibility.
- Employed multivariable linear and logistic regression models, adjusting for demographic and migration factors.
Main Results:
- Paternal posttraumatic stress correlated with lower mean grade point averages (SD = -0.14) and increased odds of not being eligible for upper secondary education (OR = 1.37).
- Maternal posttraumatic stress showed a similar crude effect, which diminished after adjustments.
- Effects were consistent across genders and care levels, indicating a small but significant negative impact.
Conclusions:
- Parental posttraumatic stress adversely affects refugee children's academic performance.
- Findings underscore the intergenerational transmission of psychological trauma.
- Interventions addressing parental mental health are crucial for supporting refugee children's educational attainment.
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