Parental care protects traumatized Sri Lankan children from internalizing behavior problems.
Vathsalan Sriskandarajah1, Frank Neuner2, Claudia Catani3
1Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, PO Box 100131, , D-33501, Bielefeld, Germany. vathsalan.sriskandarajah@uni-bielefeld.de.
BMC Psychiatry
|August 26, 2015
Summary
Parental care is a key protective factor for children
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Trauma Studies
- Environmental Psychology
Background:
- Limited research exists on protective factors in children's environments post-mass trauma.
- War-torn regions often show high rates of psychiatric disorders in children and adults.
- This study examines protective factors in post-conflict Sri Lanka.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate environmental protective factors for children's mental health in a post-mass trauma context.
- To identify factors mitigating the impact of war and violence on child mental health.
- To explore the role of parenting in children's psychological well-being after trauma.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 359 schoolchildren aged 7-11 in Northern Sri Lanka.
- Standardized interviews assessed trauma exposure, mental health symptoms, and perceived parenting.
- Local senior counselors conducted all interviews.
Main Results:
- Exposure to mass trauma and family violence were significant risk factors for child mental health.
- Parental care was associated with fewer child behavior problems.
- Parental care moderated the link between mass trauma exposure and internalizing behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Family characteristics significantly influence children's mental health, even amid severe mass trauma.
- Findings support the development of targeted psychosocial interventions for children in war-affected areas.
- Parental support is crucial for mitigating trauma's impact on child mental health.
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