The long-term implications of maternal childhood victimisation and betrayal trauma on parenting attitudes, behaviours and parent outcomes: a scoping review.

Abstract

Childhood experiences of interpersonal victimisation are shown to have detrimental effects on an individual’s well-being. When the perpetrator of these violations is a caregiver or other close individual, the victim experiences “betrayal trauma” (BT). The long-term implications of childhood BT are largely unknown. The current scoping review study aims to map the existing literature on the topic of BT as it relates to parenting attitudes and behaviours, with consideration towards intergenerational trauma and the associated child outcomes. Informed by attachment theory (Bowlby, 1988) and Betrayal Trauma Theory (Freyd, 1994), the current study examines the effect of childhood BT on parenting practices, to conceptualise and situate this topic within research. This scoping review aims to synthesise existing literature on maternal childhood victimisation and its subsequent effects on parenting, examining whether emotional dysregulation is a prevalent pattern among mothers who have experienced betrayal trauma. The methodology follows Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) scoping review framework, utilising Braun and Clarke’s (2006) reflexive thematic analysis alongside descriptive statistics. A total of five studies were included, comprising various maternal populations who experienced childhood BT. The data was analysed to identify key themes related to emotional dysregulation, parenting behaviours, and the intergenerational transmission of trauma via child outcomes. The findings revealed two main themes: the Effect of Betrayal Trauma on Parenting Practices and the Consequences of Childhood Betrayal Trauma. The findings reveal that BT significantly influences maternal perceptions of parenting practices, with emotional dysregulation emerging as a critical mediator in the development of maladaptive parenting behaviours. Additionally, the research highlights the role of trauma in the transmission of emotional and behavioural dysregulation across generations. These findings underscore the importance of addressing emotional dysregulation in trauma-informed interventions for mothers and lay the foundation for future studies to explore BT within the South African context to develop clinical interventions targeting intergenerational trauma transmission.