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Disasters, victimization, and children's mental health.
Kathryn A Becker-Blease1, Heather A Turner, David Finkelhor
1Department of Psychology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA. kathryn.blease@oregonstate.edu
Child Development
|July 20, 2010
Summary
Disaster exposure affects U.S. children, increasing risks for victimization and mental health issues like depression and aggression. Combined trauma from disasters and victimization significantly worsens child mental health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Trauma Studies
- Public Health
Background:
- Disasters and stressful events are prevalent among U.S. children.
- Understanding the impact of multiple traumas on child mental health is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the prevalence of disaster exposure in U.S. children.
- To investigate the association between disaster exposure, victimization, and mental health outcomes.
- To explore age-specific effects of trauma.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a representative sample of 2,030 U.S. children aged 2-17.
- Assessment of lifetime and past-year disaster exposure.
- Examination of associations between disaster exposure, victimization, and mental health indicators (depression, aggression).
Main Results:
- 13.9% of children reported lifetime disaster exposure; 4.1% in the past year.
- Disaster exposure correlated with increased victimization.
- Victimization linked to depression (ages 2-9) and depression/aggression (ages 10-17) in disaster survivors.
- Children experiencing only victimization or both disaster and victimization showed poorer mental health.
Conclusions:
- Disaster exposure is a significant risk factor for childhood adversity and mental health problems.
- The cumulative effect of disaster and victimization poses a substantial threat to children's well-being.
- Further research is needed to address the complex interplay of multiple traumatic experiences in children.
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