Intergenerational Trauma in Hong Kong

In psychology, trauma is any disturbing experience causing significant fear, helplessness, dissociation, confusion, or other disruptive feelings with long-lasting negative effects (see definition and related topics by APA). They can also be non-catastrophic and non-physical, with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as abuse or neglect from family members also being categorized as traumatic experiences. These lasting marks can disrupt mental health, relationships, and physical well-being. When unresolved, trauma doesn’t just stay with one person; it can echo across generations. A 2020 report by the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong (BGCA) dived into the critical issue of intergenerational trauma, examining how trauma experienced by caregivers (parents, grandparents, siblings etc.) can affect children. Based on a study conducted from 2018 to 2019, this report offers insights into trauma’s prevalence and impact in Hong Kong.

• What is intergenerational trauma?

  Intergenerational trauma occurs when harmful experiences affect caregivers through their behavior, communication, and sometimes biology. This trauma then affects the mental health and relationships of later generations through intergenerational interactions.

• Intergenerational trauma in Hong Kong

  60.6% of caregivers and 40.3% of children in HK experienced trauma. Trauma was linked to parenting methods, affecting children’s internalizing and externalizing problems.

• The way forward

  Recognizing and working through trauma can help with reducing its impact on the next generation, and can open up options to help children with their experiences.

What Is Intergenerational Trauma?

Trauma is the emotional or physical toll from distressing events, such as accidents, losing someone close, or encountering intense stress, that can be caused by human behavior or cause of nature. When caregivers carry their own trauma but do not resolve its effect on themselves, it can shape their parenting and influence their children’s emotional health or behavior. This transfer across generations is what the BGCA study set out to explore by surveying 903 caregivers aged under 20 to over 70, with 302 children aged 3 to 12 across Hong Kong.

Key Takeaways from the Study

1. Trauma Is Widespread

   • Caregivers: 60.6% of caregivers reported having experienced at least one traumatic event, such as loss or illness of loved ones (211 persons) and academic stress (202). On average, caregivers in this study reported experiencing more than three traumatic events in their life.

   • Children: 40.3% of children faced traumatic experiences (as reported by their caregivers), with academic pressure (159), loss or illness of loved ones (66), and serious accidents (66) being the most common. On average, the children in this study experienced two traumatic events.

   • Notably, education-related stressors were the most common source of trauma for both groups combined. These traumatic experiences include adjusting to schools, exam-related stress, parental expectations, and punishment from educators.

2. Trauma’s Ripple Effects

   • Children who have experienced trauma showed more internalizing struggles (emotional or peer relationship difficulties) and externalizing issues (conduct issues, trouble with focusing), and reported more health issues.

   • The more trauma a caregiver has experienced, the more they were affected by symptoms of PTSD and poorer physical health. Further, they used fewer emotion regulating strategies for themselves, and reported a lower sense of coherence over their life.

3. Intergenerational Trauma
   The study pinpointed two main ways the effects of trauma passes from caregivers to their children:

   • For caregivers who experienced trauma and reported experiencing symptoms of PTSD, they also reported using more “negative” parenting methods (rejection, chaos, coercion) characterized by disapproval of children, unstructured family environment, and more control/pressure on the child. This connection was heightened with more reported symptoms of PTSD.

   • When caregivers experience a lower sense of coherence about their own life stories and employ more negative parenting methods, their children tend to exhibit an increase in both internalizing and externalizing problems.

   • Interestingly, the study found that caregivers’ emotion regulation strategies wasn’t a significant driver of trauma transfer.

4. Few Seek Help

   • Only 10.5% of children and 6.9% of caregivers who experienced trauma received counselling help. Barriers like lack of time, awareness of resources, and understanding of the effects of intergenerational trauma were the reported reasons for these low numbers in the study.

These findings are echoed by a 2025 study from Jockey Club Project Stride, where the focus was on the prevalence and effects of ACE for parents in Hong Kong. For parents who reported experiencing ACE, their parenting methods included more physical punishment and psychological aggression, along with parent-child conflict. The parents themselves were also more likely to report having symptoms of anxiety and depression. This study shows how experiencing difficult situations from one’s past could link to similar situations affecting the next generation.

What Can Be Done?

The report offered suggestions for tackling the issue of intergenerational trauma:

1. For Caregivers:

   • Acknowledge past trauma and its effect (ex. symptoms of PTSD), and consider professional mental health support.

   • Focus on supportive parenting, and offer guidance on overcoming effects of trauma if children encounter similar experiences.

2. For Communities:

   • Talk openly about trauma to reduce stigma surrounding those experience and seeking help.

   • Establish support programs that teach children and adults how to manage stress and build resilience.

How Counselling Helps

The BGCA’s report made it clear: trauma is common in Hong Kong, and intergenerational trauma reshapes our families. By recognizing its impact and taking deliberate steps, the cycle of intergenerational trauma can be disrupted. In particular, recognizing the impact of education-related stressors can be the start of engaging in thoughtful and restorative conversations with children. Many caregivers might have encountered similar academic pressures the children they are caring for are experiencing. Openly discussing these stressors to relate to the child can create a meaningful connection to their daily experiences. Additionally, caregivers can share their own journeys of overcoming trauma and fostering resilience, bringing valuable insights and support to their children.

For parents and caregivers, this report emphasizes the importance of acknowledging trauma and its impact on themselves. Recognizing trauma is essential as it helps individuals understand some of the underlying causes of their physical, emotional, and psychological distress. By acknowledging trauma, caregivers can find support and coherence in their sense of self, promoting restoration and preventing long-term negative effects on their own mental health.

Often times, trauma can be complex and deeply buried. Caregivers might not have the understanding of how trauma can occur, or they might not have the tools to navigate the delicate discussions of trauma with children. Some individuals might also have difficulty in recognizing where trauma originated, thus lacking direction on how to confront its effects in their lives. In these scenarios, counsellors trained in trauma work can help individuals tackle these tricky dilemmas. Counsellors can recognize the effects of trauma by honing in on one’s life patterns, and they are trained to create a safe place in navigating heavily emotional events with care. Counsellors are also familiar in discussing trauma with a purpose and direction, and can facilitate caregivers in understanding the limits and usage of connecting with children on these topics.

If you need assistance with understanding yourself and recognizing trauma in your or your children’s life, contact us for more information on how counselling can help. You can also access other mental health resources in Hong Kong that can help with working through trauma for yourself or for your children. Facing trauma can be a challenge, but with the right knowledge and mental health support, everyone can move toward healing and resilience.