Tracing Intergenerational Trauma From Maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences to Child Psychological Trauma Exposure in Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined heterogeneity in maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their implications for child psychological trauma in Nigeria. Latent class analysis identified three distinct maternal ACE profiles: low-risk, moderate-risk, and syndemic-heavy classes. Multinomial logistic regression showed that regional disparities significantly predicted membership in both moderate-risk and syndemic-heavy ACE classes. Binary logistic regression revealed that moderate ACE exposure was associated with increased odds of child psychological trauma, while syndemic-heavy exposure did not demonstrate a significant association. Maternal education emerged as a strong protective factor, with higher levels of educational attainment substantially reducing child psychological trauma risk. These findings highlight the central role of structural and regional inequalities in shaping maternal ACEs and its intergenerational consequences and underscore the importance of trauma-informed interventions that integrate structural reforms with maternal educational empowerment in Nigeria.