By Dave DeFusco
A Katz School study has found that while a mother’s exposure to traumatic experiences can hinder her child’s psychological development, strong family relationships and involvement in play and leisure activities can help lessen these negative effects.
Published in the Journal of Child and Family Studies, , “Children’s Play and Leisure Engagements: The Effect of Maternal Traumatic Events,” highlights the intricate relationships between trauma, family dynamics and the role of children’s play in buffering the negative effects of parenting in the aftermath of maternal trauma.
“Responsive and sensitive parenting has long been recognized as a protective factor for children and adolescents, promoting psychological well-being and healthy emotional regulation,” said Dr. Amiya Waldman-Levi, senior author of the paper and clinical associate professor in the Katz School’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate.
According to the findings, children whose mothers reported trauma exposure and poor family relations showed fewer emotional and social difficulties if they were actively involved in play and leisure activities. This suggests that play provides children with mental space to process negative emotions and develop social skills, even when their home environment may be emotionally challenging.
“Family relationships are foundational to a child’s psychological adjustment, with responsive and nurturing care promoting security and well-being,” said Dr. Ricky Finzi-Dottan, a co-author of the paper and professor in the Bar-Ilan University School of Social Work. “Our study found that negative parenting practices, such as maternal rejection, were strongly associated with poorer emotional outcomes in children, particularly in families affected by trauma.”
While family dynamics are crucial, the study found that family relations did not mediate the relationship between maternal rejection and children’s psychological adjustment. Instead, it was the children’s participation in play and leisure activities that acted as a buffer against the negative effects of maternal rejection.
Trauma limits emotional resources necessary for managing stress and parenting effectively, potentially leading to maladaptive parenting behaviors, such as unresponsiveness or rejection of the child. Mothers exposed to trauma often struggle to interact positively with their children and may misinterpret or perceive their children’s behavior more negatively, directly impacting their parenting practices. This study, which included 99 mothers and their children, ages 6 to 12, emphasizes that these effects are most pronounced during the transition from early childhood to middle childhood, a critical period in a child’s psychological development.
While the damaging effects of maternal trauma on children’s emotional health have been well-documented, the study goes further to say that involvement in play and leisure activities, such as sports or social interactions, can help offset the negative impacts of poor parenting due to trauma.
The timing of the study, which was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, may have influenced the nature of children’s play and leisure activities. Social distancing and other pandemic-related restrictions led to children spending more time engaged in solitary or indoor activities, such as video games or board games. This shift may have provided children with opportunities to regulate their emotions through imaginative or symbolic play, despite the limitations on social interactions.
“This study provides important insights into the complex interplay of trauma, parenting and child development, emphasizing the need for holistic approaches to supporting both parents and children in the face of adversity,” said Dr. Sara Chiara Haden, a co-author of the paper and associate professor of psychology at Long Island University.
