Assessing transgenerational trauma transmission: development and psychometric properties of the Historical Intergenerational Trauma Transmission Questionnaire (HITT-Q)

Objective/Background: Despite increasing attention on transgenerational trauma, currently no comprehensive model and measure exists to be applied on various populations. This study represents the first step in the validation of such a model and a related scale. The Historical Intergenerational Trauma Questionnaire (HITT-Q) assesses family and offspring self-reported vulnerability and resilience, as well as offspring historical moral injury and current levels of insidious trauma.Method: We developed the HITT-Q based on the cross-population model (HITT model; [Starrs, C. & Bekes, V. (2024). Historical and transgenerational trauma: A conceptual framework. Traumatology. In Press]) which incorporates key findings in existing population specific studies. For initial validation of the model and its measurement, Holocaust survivors' offspring (N = 1104) completed the HITT-Q, measures of current mental health symptoms (PTSD, C-PTSD, anxiety, and depression), and a resilience scale.Results: In line with the HITT model, confirmatory factor analyses supported a 12-factor solution with the following factors under theorized dimensions: I. Family Vulnerability: (1) Dysregulated and Trauma-related Communication; (2)Trauma-influenced Parenting, (3) Fear; (4) Distress; II. (5) Family Resilience, III. Offspring Vulnerability: (6) Escape; (7) Heightened Responsibility; (8) Trauma-related distress; IV. Offspring Resilience: (9) Coping; (10) Belonging; (11) Values; V. (12) Historical Moral injury. The 12-factor model showed acceptable to good internal validity, and comparison with an existing measure of transgenerational Holocaust trauma indicated good concurrent validity. Finally, the HITT-Q demonstrated predictive validity for mental health symptoms and current resilience.Conclusions: The current study represents the first step in validating the HITT-Q as a comprehensive measure of historical intergenerational vulnerability and resilience. Our findings provide strong support for the underlying model, and suggest that the HITT-Q represents a valuable scale for both research and historical trauma-informed care. The papers provides support for the underlying model of historical and transgenerational trauma.Findings showed that the Historical Intergenerational Trauma Questionnaire (HITT-Q) has 12 factors, and that it has good psychometric qualities, including internal, concurrent, and predictive validity.The Historical Intergenerational Trauma Questionnaire (HITT-Q) represent a valuable scale for both research and historical trauma-informed care. Objetivo/Antecedentes: A pesar de la creciente atencion al trauma transgeneracional, actualmente no existe ningun modelo ni medida integral que se pueda aplicar en diversas poblaciones. Este estudio representa el primer paso en la validacion de dicho modelo y una escala relacionada. El Cuestionario de Trauma Intergeneracional Historico (HITT-Q en su sigla en ingles) evalua la vulnerabilidad y resiliencia auto informadas por la familia y los hijos, asi como el dano moral historico de los hijos y los niveles actuales de trauma insidioso.Metodo: Desarrollamos el HITT-Q basado en el modelo interpoblacional (modelo HITT en su sigla en ingles; Starrs & Bekes, 2024) que incorpora hallazgos clave en estudios poblacionales especificos existentes. Para la validacion inicial del modelo y su medicion, los descendientes de los sobrevivientes del Holocausto (N = 1104) completaron el HITT-Q, medidas de sintomas de salud mental actuales (TEPT, TEPT-C, ansiedad y depresion) y una escala de resiliencia.Resultados: De acuerdo con el modelo HITT, los analisis factoriales confirmatorios respaldaron una solucion de 12 factores con los siguientes factores bajo dimensiones teorizadas: I. Vulnerabilidad familiar: (1) Comunicacion desregulada y relacionada con el trauma; (2) Crianza influenciada por el trauma, (3) Miedo; (4) Estres; II. (5) Resiliencia Familiar, III. Vulnerabilidad de la descendencia: (6) Escape; (7) Responsabilidad Aumentada; (8) Malestar relacionado con el trauma; IV. Resiliencia de la descendencia: (9) Afrontamiento; (10) Pertenencia; (11) Valores; V. (12) Dano moral historico. El modelo de 12 factores mostro una validez interna de aceptable a buena, y la comparacion con una medida existente del trauma transgeneracional del Holocausto indico una buena validez concurrente. Finalmente, el HITT-Q demostro validez predictiva para los sintomas de salud mental y la resiliencia actual.Conclusiones: El presente estudio representa el primer paso para validar el HITT-Q como una medida integral de la vulnerabilidad y resiliencia intergeneracional historica. Nuestros hallazgos brindan un fuerte apoyo al modelo subyacente y sugieren que el HITT-Q representa una escala valiosa tanto para la investigacion como para la atencion basada en el trauma historico.