Early Life Adversity, Epigenetics & Parenthood: New Familial Responsibilities?

Description: This project explores the academic and social discourses surrounding the long-term health effects of early-life adversity. In particular, we investigate how these discourses evolve and influence conceptions of family and responsibility. 

43% of the German population experiences trauma during childhood. Scientific studies suggest a link between the number of specific negative childhood experiences, such as sexual abuse or drug abuse in the home, and mental and physical illnesses later in life – a topic that has increasingly been the subject of biomedical research in recent years. More recently, epigenetics has been proposed as a possible mechanism for the embedding of such experiences in molecular structures. 

Using a mix of social science methods, we investigate how family is conceptualized and positioned in the discourse surrounding the health consequences of early-life adversity, and what ideas about familial responsibility for health emerge. In this context, our research also analyzes which discriminatory narratives arise from these discourses. These narratives can not only disproportionately affect those directly impacted, but also overemphasize responsibility on groups, such as mothers. Finally, through a participatory workshop bringing together parents, researchers, and other stakeholders, we aim to intervene in the discourse and critically examine and reinterpret the relationship between family, childhood experiences, and health, particularly with regard to issues of social justice. 

People (working on the project at the STS Department): Mary Jones, M.A., Prof. Dr. Ruth Müller, Dr. Georgia Samaras, 

Period: 2024-2027

Project type: Consortium Project Third-party funded Project

Funding Institution: Bavarian State Ministry for Science and Art

Other: https://forfamily-forschung-bayern.de/projekte/negative-kindheitserfahrungen/