Abstract
Research evidence suggests that trauma is transmitted in families from one generation to the next. The focus in this field of study has been on the quantifiable effects of the phenomenon. No single theory has so far offered a convincing and well-researched explanation for the process of intergenerational trauma transmission. One possible perspective for understanding how trauma is transmitted, is through a focus on attachment relationships. Attachment Theory suggests that a vulnerability for future trauma may be transmitted to the child because of an insecure attachment relationship with the caregiver. The aim of this study was to understand how Attachment Theory might help explain the intergenerational transmission of trauma in military families and to explore the voices and narratives of the children of war veterans specifically. Theoretical Thematic Analysis using an Attachment Theory framework was utilised to analyse interviews with seven adult children of war veterans. Three themes and several subthemes were identified during the analysis. The data seemed to show a dominance of insecure attachment patterns in this sample. Emotions and attachment relationships appeared to often be dismissed, while the military father seemed to become idealised in many participants’ narratives. Adult children of veterans might not only carry with them potentially traumatic experiences from childhood but might also repeat maladaptive relationships in later life. The study also explored the potential influence of military culture on parenting styles and emotional expression. Attachment relationships should be considered when designing interventions for military families and military children might be targeted for support in clinical contexts as they might be particularly vulnerable to traumatisation and re-traumatisation in later life.