Bosnian Post-War Transgenerational Trauma and Its Impact on Post-War Born Children

Numerous scholars attempted to investigate the phenomenon of transgenerational impact of war-related trauma on the offsprings,and came with both conflicting and matching evidence. First studies emerged around Holocaust transgenerational trauma, expanding to other war-related cases as twentieth century progressed. Majority or research established, via both qualitative and quantitative methods that the presenc e of PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) in trauma survivors has been linked with family dysfunction and symptoms in their children, including lower self-esteem, higher disrder rates and symptoms resembeling those of the traumatized parent (Davidson&Mellor,2001).The aim of this research is to critically and qualitatively explore the phenomenon of war-related transgenerational trauma in context of Bosnia.

Considering the fact that last two centuries on Balkan,especially on the ground of Bosnia, are marked by repeated political aggression and conflicts, in the course of every fifty years, attention should be directed to post-transitional society, investigating how the upcoming generations are indirectly affected by parental trauma integration and transitional adaptation. My proposal is that there is relationship between post-war transgenerational trauma which has both direct and indirect impact on post-war born children's increased levels of anxiety and depression, increased prevalence of substance abuse and implications on difficulties in personality development. Furthermore, the research will try to investigate the impact of paternal PTSD on child-upbringing style; post-war kids' political views and national and ethnic identity formation as byproduct of transgenerational trauma.

Considering the complexity and scope of research problem, I will take on Multiple Research method, combining elements of Phenomenological study and  etasynthesis. In Metasynthesis part, the paper will  eview various cases of transgenerational trauma impact and explore definitions offered by scholars with
aim to propose the most comprehensive basis for conceptualization of Transgenerational trauma through lenses of Bosnian war. In the Phenomenological part, the research will tackle specific aspects which were not investigated in previous papers,with aim to establish general patterns and offer the basis for future research.

The research concerning this problem is of crucial importance, because the future social, technological, scientific and especially in the context of Bosnia, political improvements reside upon the upcoming generations. Post-war generations are expected to bring about healing of Bosnia on grand scale, however, with the phenomenon of 'Brain Drain' and lack of initiative of youth,stemming from growing up with deeply ingrained traumatized picture of their very own nation and desire to leave it, the future does not look so bright. In order to change this mindset, we must inquire the causes and factors affecting it,so we could heal ourselves, thus the wounded nation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.