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Violence exposure and traumatic stress symptoms as additional predictors of health problems in high-risk children

Sandra A Graham-Bermann1, Julia Seng

  • 1Department of Psychology, School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-1109, USA.

The Journal of Pediatrics
|March 10, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Exposure to violence and traumatic stress symptoms significantly worsen health status in poor preschool children, with a dose-response relationship observed. Maternal health and child

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Child Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Poor preschool children are a vulnerable population facing numerous health challenges.
  • Violence exposure and traumatic stress are significant concerns in early childhood.
  • Understanding the link between these factors and health outcomes is crucial for intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between violence exposure and traumatic stress symptoms with negative health status in impoverished preschool-aged children.
  • To examine the dose-response relationship between these risk factors and adverse health outcomes.
  • To identify key predictors of poor child health within this cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional analysis of a Head Start preschool cohort (n=160).
  • Assessed health outcomes (asthma, allergy, ADHD, global appraisal) and stress-related complaints (gastrointestinal problems, headache).
  • Collected data on sociodemographics, maternal health, violence/maltreatment exposure, and traumatic stress symptoms.

Main Results:

  • Children exposed to violence and high traumatic stress showed significantly worse health outcomes compared to peers.
  • Abuse, domestic violence exposure, and maternal substance use were linked to more health problems.
  • Mother's physical health and child's traumatic stress level were the strongest predictors of poor child health.

Conclusions:

  • Violence exposure and traumatic stress are significant risk factors for poor health in preschool children.
  • These modifiable risk factors present opportunities for healthcare provider intervention.
  • Targeted interventions can improve health outcomes for vulnerable preschool populations.
Abstract

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