What the study found
The review found that research on intergenerational trauma in forcibly displaced populations from Latin America and the Caribbean is limited and inconsistent. It identified gaps in how intergenerational trauma is defined and measured.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that greater methodological rigor and consistency in trauma reporting are needed to support future evidence-based research. They say this would help inform supportive systems that promote the health of forcibly displaced populations and their descendants in the Americas.
What the researchers tested
The researchers conducted a scoping review, which is a type of literature review used to map what is known and where evidence is lacking. They searched 20 online databases for English- and Spanish-language articles on intergenerational trauma, transmission mechanisms, and coping strategies in forcibly displaced Latinx groups originating in Latin America and the Caribbean, then used narrative analysis to describe themes in the included studies.
What worked and what didn't
Six articles were included in the review. The authors identified three broad themes: intergenerational trauma operationalizations, transmission mechanisms and coping strategies, and gaps in research and evidence; they also noted two subthemes within operationalizations, concerning measures and samples, and forced displacement motives.
What to keep in mind
The available evidence base was small, with only six English- and Spanish-language articles included. The abstract also notes wide variation in how intergenerational trauma, transmission mechanisms, and coping strategies are operationalized, and it reports evidence gaps in the literature.
Key points
- The review included six English- and Spanish-language articles.
- Research on intergenerational trauma in forcibly displaced groups from Latin America and the Caribbean was described as scarce.
- The authors identified gaps in definitions and operationalizations of intergenerational trauma.
- Three broad themes were found: operationalizations, transmission mechanisms and coping strategies, and research gaps.
- The authors call for more methodological rigor and consistency in trauma reporting.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Scoping review finds gaps in intergenerational trauma research
- Authors:
- Catalina Correa-Salazar, D. S. Torres-Benítez, Emily N. Agudelo-Avellaneda
- Institutions:
- Universidad de Los Andes, Universidad de Los Andes, Universidad de Los Andes
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-10
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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