HITT-Q is a self-assessment questionnaire designed to examine how the historical experiences of a family and a people may be linked to family patterns, psychological vulnerability, and resilience in subsequent generations
This approach does not reduce transgenerational experience solely to traumatic consequences. It allows us to see both the challenges that complicated the family’s life and the resources that helped it survive, maintain connections, and recover
What Does the Questionnaire Consist Of?
The main section of the HITT-Q contains 65 items, which are rated on a five-point scale from 0 to 4.
Of these:
- 57 items comprise 12 factors and 5 scales;
- 2 additional items pertain to current post-traumatic symptoms;
- 6 additional items describe current experiences of discrimination and oppression.
Clarification Regarding Historical Events and Losses
A separate contextual section on historical events and losses in the family’s life precedes the main set of questions.
Answers to these questions are not converted into a total score and are not rated as “high” or “low.” The number of events indicated does not determine the severity of the trauma, and the list of losses does not convey their personal significance.
This material helps to outline the family’s historical background and formulate questions for further exploration of the individual’s story. In group analysis, it can be considered separately as descriptive data.
Additional Screenings
Screening for PTSD Symptoms
Items 36 and 37 pertain to intrusions and avoidance. A pronounced response to one or both items warrants a more detailed assessment using a validated instrument and a clinical interview.
Screening for Discrimination and Oppression
Items 53–58 describe recent experiences of discrimination and/or societal oppression. No validated “high” or “low” thresholds have been established for these items. They are analyzed as descriptive data.
Five scales, twelve factors, a brief description
Vulnerability of the Family System
F1. Dysregulated traumatic communication.
F2. Upbringing shaped by parental trauma.
F3. Fear.
F4. Distress (emotional exhaustion of the family)
The scale describes patterns of family communication, parenting, feelings of safety, and emotional exhaustion within the family system that are associated with traumatic experiences.
Resilience of the Family System
F5. Family Resilience.
The scale reflects a family’s ability to cope with difficulties, adapt to change, maintain relationships, and recover from traumatic experiences.
The Vulnerability of the Descendant
F6. Avoidance.
F7. Increased responsibility.
F8. Traumatic distress.
The scale describes individual patterns of avoidance, excessive responsibility, and traumatic distress that may be linked to family experiences and those of previous generations.
A Descendant's Resilience
F9. Adaptation (ability to cope).
F10. Belonging.
F11. Values.
The scale reflects a person's coping strategies, ability to handle difficulties, sense of belonging, and reliance on values.
Historical Psychological Trauma
F12. Historical psychological trauma.
The scale measures experiences of injustice, betrayal, or moral harm associated with the history of a family, community, or people.
Vulnerability and resilience are not mutually exclusive. A family or an individual may simultaneously exhibit pronounced traumatic patterns and significant resources.
The HITT-Q does not provide a single overall score: the results of the various measures are considered separately and combined only during professional interpretation.
The HITT-Q results do not constitute a diagnosis, do not identify the causes of psychological difficulties, and do not classify a family as “healthy” or “traumatized.” The scores provided by the questionnaire should be clarified through dialogue with the individual and considered in the context of their personal history, family history, and current life circumstances.
Select a survey based on your goal: a basic survey with automatic scoring or participation in a research study
Please note
The questionnaire currently available on this page is the Ukrainian adaptation of the HITT-Q, developed and validated specifically for people with experience of Ukrainian collective traumas — the Holodomor, Soviet occupation, and the ongoing war. If you are not from this cultural context, the results may not be meaningful or accurate for your experience.
However, if you have Ukrainian-speaking friends or family members who might benefit from this tool — feel free to share this link with them.
We are actively working on adaptations for other cultural and linguistic contexts. If you are a researcher interested in collaboration, or if you would like to be notified when a version relevant to your background becomes available — please contact us at.
Thank you for your interest in this work.
