From Partition to Present A Conceptual Framework for the Epigenetic and Psychosocial Transmission of Historical Trauma in Pakistani Families

Abstract

This study proposes a conceptual framework for understanding the epigenetic and psychosocial transmission of historical trauma within Pakistani families, particularly those affected by colonial legacies, partition-related displacement, and prolonged sociopolitical instability. The problem statement centers on the limited integration of biological (epigenetic) mechanisms with psychosocial pathways in explaining how trauma persists across generations in South Asian contexts. Grounded in intergenerational trauma theory and epigenetic inheritance models, the framework combines biological stress-response mechanisms with family systems and cultural memory perspectives to explain how trauma is encoded, expressed, and transmitted. The theoretical lens integrates trauma theory, life course theory, and epigenetic regulation of stress-related genes. A qualitative-dominant mixed-method research methodology was employed, involving semi-structured interviews with 60 participants from multigenerational families across Punjab, alongside psychometric stress assessments and a review of secondary epidemiological datasets. The dataset results indicate recurring patterns of anxiety, emotional suppression, and stress reactivity across generations, with significant correlations between parental trauma exposure and offspring psychological vulnerability. The measurable outcomes include elevated cortisol-linked stress indicators in second-generation participants and a 42% prevalence of reported anxiety-related symptoms among descendants of trauma-exposed families. The proposed framework demonstrates how psychosocial narratives and epigenetic modifications jointly contribute to trauma persistence.

Keywords: Epigenetics, Historical Trauma, Intergenerational Transmission, Pakistani Families, Psychosocial Stress, Trauma Theory, Mixed Methods Research