The goal of this qualitative study was to investigate the ways in which trauma has impacted the life experiences of a group of mothers involved in the child welfare system. A special emphasis was given to study how cumulative trauma and trauma symptoms have influenced the participants' parenting experiences. Twelve participants were recruited through therapists who provide services to parents involved with the child welfare system. Mothers participated in structured interviews and completed assessments on trauma symptoms and parenting. According to the data, women were exposed to intense adversity and cumulative trauma throughout their lives. In addition, mothers reported extraordinary testimonies of resilience. By developing a grounded theory framework, the author proposes an integrated model on trauma and parenting. Study strengths and limitations, as well as implications for practice and research are discussed.
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