Work

Parent-Reported Behavioral and Emotional Responses of Children to Disaster and Parental Psychopathology

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: Child disaster mental health research has been largely limited by investigation of one disaster at a time and inconsistent methods across different studies. This study assessed 160 survivors of 3 disasters with structured diagnostic interviews, asking about the behavioral and emotional disaster reactions their 266 children of ages 3-17. Most children had ≥1 postdisaster behavior change or disaster-related posttraumatic stress symptom. The children's postdisaster behavioral and emotional problems were associated with parental postdisaster psychopathology. The results underscore the importance of asking disaster survivors about their children's disaster reactions and considering parental disaster experiences and reactions in addressing their children's reactions.

Source: Journal of Loss and Trauma

DOI: 10.1080/15325024.2018.1443710

Authors: Carol S. North, Steffi Mendoza, Zorica Simic, Betty Pfefferbaum

Institutions: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

Language: English

Topic: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of Mental Health