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Trauma exposure in pre-school children in a war zone
- Authors:
- THABET Abel Aziz Mousa, KARIM Khalid, VOSTANIS Panos
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 188(2), February 2006, pp.154-158.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This study investigates the relationship between exposure to war trauma and behavioural and emotional problems among pre-school children. A total of 309 children aged 3–6 years were selected from kindergartens in the Gaza Strip, and were assessed by parental reports in regard to their exposure to war trauma, using the Gaza Traumatic Checklist, and their behavioural and emotional problems, using the Behaviour Checklist (BCL) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The results found that pre-school children were exposed to a wide range of traumatic events. The total number of traumatic events independently predicted total BCL and SDQ scores. Exposure to day raids and shelling of the children’s houses by tanks were significantly associated with total behavioural and emotional problems scores. The authors conclude that direct and non-direct exposure to war trauma increases the risk of behavioural and emotional problems among pre-school children, which may present as non-specific psychopathology.
Post traumatic stress disorder reactions in children of war: a longitudinal study
- Authors:
- THABET Abel Azia, VOSTANIS Panos
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 24(2), February 2000, pp.291-298.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This article aims to establish rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reactions and general mental health problems in children who had experienced war trauma. Concludes the reactions tend to decrease in the absence of further stressors, although a substantial proportion of children still present with a range of emotional and behavioural problems. Cumulative previous experience of war trauma constitutes a risk factor for continuing PTSD symptoms.