Children and Disaster: Age, Gender, and Parental Effects on PTSD Symptoms
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent PsychiatryPublished 1 November 1991
Bonnie L. Green, Mindy Korol, Mary C. Grace, Marshall G. Vary, Anthony C. Leonard, Goldine C. Gleser
Citations610
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SJR score3.00
SNIP2.88
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TL;DR
Results showed fewer PTSD symptoms in the youngest age group and higher symptom levels for girls than boys, and that life threat, gender, parental psychopathology, and an irritable and/or depressed family atmosphere all contributed to the prediction of PTSD symptomatology in the children.
Abstract
Psychiatric reports of 179 children aged 2 to 15 who were exposed to the Buffalo Creek dam collapse in 1972 were rated for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms 2 years after the disaster. Age and gender effects and the impact of the level of exposure and parental functioning were examined according to a conceptual model addressing factors contributing to adaptation to a traumatic event. Results showed fewer PTSD symptoms in the youngest age group and higher symptom levels for girls than boys. Approximately 37% of the children were given a "probable" diagnosis of PTSD. Multiple regression analysis showed that life threat, gender, parental psychopathology, and an irritable and/or depressed family atmosphere all contributed to the prediction of PTSD symptomatology in the children.
Keywords
Psychology
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