Harsh parenting among veterans: parents' military-related PTSD, mentalization, and pre-military trauma

Xiafei Wang; Qingyang Liu; Gabriel J Merrin; Amanda Keller; Dalhee Yoon; Ava Henderson

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1283801

Harsh parenting among veterans: parents' military-related PTSD, mentalization, and pre-military trauma

Front Psychol. 2023 Dec 19:14:1283801. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1283801. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Xiafei Wang¹, Qingyang Liu², Gabriel J Merrin², Amanda Keller³, Dalhee Yoon⁴, Ava Henderson¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Social Work, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States.
² Department of Human Development and Family Science, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States.
³ Department of Social Work, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
⁴ Department of Social Work, Binghamton University-State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, United States.

Abstract

Objectives: Veteran parents experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may resort to harsh parenting. The indirect pathway from parental military-related PTSD to harsh parenting, and the moderating role of parents' pre-military trauma histories, has been less explored. Informed by mentalization theory, as well as trauma-sensitive and posttraumatic growth perspectives, we aim to explore the associations between veteran parents' military-related PTSD, mentalization, harsh parenting, and prior trauma before military service.

Methods: Data were collected from an online research panel of 509 veteran parents with children under 10. We employed Structural Equation Models to test indirect and moderating effects.

Results: We identified an indirect effect of parental pre-mentalization from military PTSD to harsh parenting [corporal punishment: b = 0.35, p < 0.001, 95% CI (0.23, 0.46); psychological aggression: b = 0.14, p < 0.001, 95% CI (0.09, 0.19)]. Multi-group analysis on four parent groups (parents with only pre-military physical trauma, parents with only pre-military psychological trauma, parents with both pre-military physical and psychological trauma, and parents with no pre-military physical or psychological trauma) highlighted differences in these associations, particularly between parents with only pre-military physical trauma and those without any physical and psychological trauma. The military-related PTSD effects on psychological aggression, corporal punishment, and pre-mentalization were all significantly higher for parents without pre-military physical and psychological trauma.

Conclusion: Modifying parents' interpretation of their child's mental states can potentially counteract the effects of veterans' military PTSD on harsh parenting. Family-based programs should be created considering veteran parents' pre-military trauma histories.

Keywords: harsh parenting; posttraumatic stress disorder; pre-mentalization; pre-military trauma; veterans.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study was funded by Syracuse University David B. Falk College in terms of data collection and article process charges. This study was also funded by the Syracuse Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement for data collection.