Trauma over the Life Course for Black Mothers in Chicago: Understanding Conditions, Meaning Making and Resiliency

Abstract

Background: Scholars are increasingly linking Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) to mental and physical health outcomes over the life course. However, the influence of ACEs and continuous traumatic stress on health outcomes is less understood, particularly in contexts with high concentrations of community and police violence. Methods: This study analyzes survey and interview data from 93 low-income Black mothers living in neighborhoods with high levels of violence on the South side of Chicago to better understand the life course consequences of ACEs and continuous traumatic stress exposure. Results: Our analysis demonstrates the conditions and events that give rise to trauma over the life course, participants’ layered meaning making about trauma at the intersections of stress and resilience, the consequences of trauma exposures in the lives of the mothers, and their culturally-rich healing resources. Discussion: The relationship between continuous traumatic stress exposure on physical and mental health outcomes are particularly relevant for physicians and other health providers serving populations dually impacted by racial health disparities and high levels of violence in their communities. Garnering deeper understandings of the impact of trauma will equip medical providers with tools to understand and support patients using a trauma and recovery informed lens. Conclusion: These findings showing the impact of ACEs and continuous traumatic stress are relevant in communities with high rates of community and police violence. These findings are also relevant due to the current COVID-19 pandemic with increased rates of stress, mental health challenges, child abuse and deaths from gun violence associated with the virus. Family Medicine and Primary Care: Open Access Mendenhall R, et al. J Family Med Prim Care Open Acc 5: 159. https://www.doi.org/ 10.29011/2688-7460.100059 www.gavinpublishers.com