Exploring Effects of Unresolved Trauma of Maternal CSA Experiences on Parenting Behaviors and Effect on Child’s Emotional Development

Abstract

This qualitative phenomenological study explores how unresolved maternal childhood sexual abuse (CSA) trauma shapes parenting behaviors and influences children’s emotional development, with a focus on patterns of intergenerational trauma transmission. Findings reveal that unresolved CSA trauma in mothers’ manifests as emotional dysregulation, inconsistent caregiving, hypervigilance, and boundary confusion. These parenting behaviors undermine the formation of secure attachments and a stable emotional environment, leading children to exhibit heightened anxiety, emotional reactivity, low self-esteem, and maladaptive coping strategies. Moreover, patterns of intergenerational trauma transmission emerged as children internalize and replicate their mothers’ unprocessed trauma responses in relationships and self-regulation. Participants who had access to support networks or trauma-informed interventions demonstrated more adaptive parenting and reported healthier child emotional outcomes, underscoring the buffering role of resilience factors. The study highlights the urgent need for trauma-informed therapeutic and parenting support programs that address maternal trauma histories and foster secure mother–child attachments. By interrupting cycles of unaddressed trauma, such interventions can promote emotional well-being across generations.