Stellenbosch 肆客足球 (SU) researchers have uncovered alarming evidence that the trauma of sexual violence extends beyond survivors, potentially impacting their children's mental health and genetic makeup.
In a study using rat models, researchers examined how traumatic experiences, such as sexual assault and prenatal stress, alters mental health and gene expression (a process by which a cell responds to the environment by making more or less of a specific protein). The study revealed signs of transgenerational trauma transmission, suggesting that the profound and lasting psychological consequences of sexual violence are passed down to the next generation.
Sexual violence is a global crisis, with sub-Saharan Africa bearing the most severe burden: by 2018, nearly two-thirds of women in the region were affected.
Emerging research reveals the deeply traumatic nature of sexual violence, showing that traumatic experiences can dramatically reshape gene expression in critical brain regions governing learning, memory and emotional responses. These genetic changes appear to be passed to children, potentially predisposing future generations to mental health challenges like anxiety, depression or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
In the study, female rats that endured trauma exhibited hallmark signs of PTSD, including dramatically heightened stress reactions and erratic maternal care. Most critically, researchers observed a spike in corticosterone levels—a key stress hormone intricately linked to the body's complex stress-response system, known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
Researchers also measured changes in three genes: NTN5, FZD9, and ZNRF3 associated with brain plasticity and resilience. Altered expression patterns of these genes were detected in trauma-exposed mothers, with the changes partially mirrored in their offspring. These findings suggest that the biological effects of trauma may not stop with the individual but could potentially ripple into future generations through epigenetic inheritance.
Implications for human populations
While the study was conducted on animal models, its findings translate to human experiences, especially for survivors of sexual violence and gender-based trauma. Corroborating earlier research on human populations, the findings show similar patterns where maternal trauma is linked to higher levels of stress markers in their children. This inherited vulnerability, combined with altered caregiving abilities, could predispose children to psychiatric disorders like anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
A call to action
These findings underscore a critical need to address the impacts of sexual violence on both individual and societal levels.
Interventions aimed at trauma survivors should not only focus on immediate psychological recovery but also on mitigating the biological effects that could be passed on. Psychosocial support, targeted mental health interventions, and community resources could play a crucial role in breaking the cycle of transgenerational trauma.
As the global community grapples with the rising rates of sexual violence, studies like this serve as a stark reminder of the long-term consequences. By addressing trauma with science-backed solutions, we can aim to heal survivors and protect future generations from inheriting its invisible scars.
Research funded by the South African Medical Research Council
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Image credit: Freepik
