Does family functioning buffer the effects of intergenerational trauma? A study of Indonesian youth

Departement of Psychology, Universitas Negeri Jakarta, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: anggimayangsari@unj.ac.id

Abstract

Intergenerational trauma has emerged as a key factor influencing mental health outcomes across generations. This study aimed to examine the moderating role of family functioning in the relationship between intergenerational trauma and mental well-being among young adults in Indonesia. The topic was selected due to increasing attention to the long-term psychological consequences of unresolved trauma. A total of 103 participants were recruited through convenience sampling and completed Indonesian-adapted versions of the Historical Intergenerational Trauma Transmission Questionnaire (HITT-Q), the General Functioning of Family Scale, and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS). Data were analyzed using Model 1 of the PROCESS Macro (Hayes, 2022). Results indicated that intergenerational trauma significantly predicted lower mental well-being (B=-0.158, SE=0.035, 95%CI [−0.227, −0.090]). However, family functioning did not significantly moderate this relationship (interaction term (B=-0.001, SE=0.014, 95%CI [-0.029, 0.026]; ∆R² = .000). These findings highlight the persistent impact of intergenerational trauma on young adults’ mental wellbeing and suggest that family functioning alone may not be sufficient to buffer this effect. Further research is needed to identify additional protective factors that may enhance.