An Original Theoretical Investigation of Intergenerational Trauma Transmission in Nigerian Families Affected by Conflict and Displacement

Intergenerational trauma transmission, the process through which the psychological effects of trauma are passed from directly affected parents or communities to subsequent generations, has been theoretically and empirically documented in Holocaust and war veteran populations, but its operation in Nigerian families affected by the Biafran War, Boko Haram insurgency, and communal violence has not been theoretically modelled or empirically characterised. This study conducted an original theoretical investigation of intergenerational trauma transmission in Nigerian families affected by conflict and displacement, drawing on evidence from North East, South East, and North Central Nigeria. A mixed-methods theory-building design was employed over 24 months, combining systematic review of intergenerational trauma theory (54 publications), longitudinal qualitative family system research with 30 multigenerational families across three conflict-affected communities, and quantitative assessment of trauma symptomatology across two generations using structured family interviews. The longitudinal qualitative research tracked families across six interview cycles over 18 months, generating a rich dataset analysed using narrative-structural methods. An original Nigerian Intergenerational Trauma Transmission Model was developed, proposing five transmission pathways: physiological pathway (epigenetic-influenced stress reactivity), attachment disruption pathway (insecure parenting patterns from parental PTSD), narrative transmission (explicit trauma storytelling to children), cultural silence pathway (unspoken trauma creating family ghost narratives), and community collective memory pathway (group-level transmission through cultural practices and commemorations). The model uniquely integrates Islamic and Christian theological frameworks as both facilitating and complicating factors in intergenerational transmission. Expert review confirmed theoretical originality.

Keywords: intergenerational trauma, transmission pathways, Nigeria, conflict families, trauma theory