Parent–Child Communication About Potentially Traumatic Events: A Systematic Review

Editorial reading guide · Collaboration

How can a parent make space for a child’s account of a frightening event without forcing conversation?

The paper examines sensitive shared conversations when families face frightening experiences. It emphasizes responsiveness, timing, culture, and children’s initiation rather than a demand to disclose.

Who was studied?

26 empirical studies of parent–child communication about potentially traumatic events.

Age / stage: Children under 18; included samples approximately 2–17 years

Read with three questions

1. What did communication depend on besides simply whether a conversation occurred?
2. How did parental symptoms and responsiveness shape the evidence?
3. Why were the child-outcome findings not uniformly clear-cut?

Keep the limits in view

Studies were heterogeneous and some risked nonresponse bias. The review does not justify forcing disclosure, prescribe trauma treatment, or establish that every conversation improves well-being.