Resilience in the context of transgenerational trauma: A scoping review

Transgenerational trauma occurs when the effects of trauma transfer from one generation to future generations. While some individuals exposed to transgenerational trauma display resilience, shared resilience-promoting factors across diverse groups remain underexplored. This review applies the resilience portfolio model to identify shared protective factors across many cultures and contexts that promote resilience in offspring of those exposed to various traumatic events.

The APA PsycInfo, Published International Literature on Traumatic Stress, Academic Search Complete, and Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection databases were searched for primary empirical articles of mixed methods, qualitative, and quantitative designs. Initially, 946 abstracts were screened. After exclusions, 136 studies were reviewed. Ultimately, 40 studies were analyzed.

The articles reviewed suggest regulatory (n = 10), interpersonal (n = 25), meaning-making (n = 16), and environmental (n = 5) factors may promote resilience across cultures and contexts.

Positive emotion regulation, strong human connections, cultural connectedness, and land access emerged as key contributors to resilience across diverse populations (e.g., cancer survivors, Indigenous people, refugee families) and trauma types (e.g., child maltreatment, historical trauma, war). Interventions should prioritize these factors, though clearer definitions and assessments of resilience and transgenerational trauma are needed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).