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Preschool Israeli Children Exposed to Rocket Attacks: Assessment, Risk, and Resilience
Leo Wolmer1,2, Daniel Hamiel1,2,3, Tali Versano-Eisman1
1Donald J. Cohen & Irving B. Harris Resilience Center, Israel.
Insights
Preschool children exposed to daily rocket attacks showed increased symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Stressful life events significantly impacted children
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Trauma Studies
- Societal Impact of Conflict
Background:
- Preschool children are highly susceptible to adversity.
- Daily exposure to rocket attacks poses significant risks to young children's mental health.
- Understanding the impact of war on vulnerable populations is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the effects of prolonged rocket attack exposure on preschool children.
- To assess symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and general adaptation.
- To identify risk and resilience factors associated with traumatic exposure in young children.
Main Methods:
- Study involved 122 preschool children (ages 3-6) from 10 kindergartens on Israel's southern border.
- Mothers reported on children's PTSD symptoms (DSM-IV and DSM-5 criteria), traumatic exposure, and stressful life events.
- Assessments were conducted 3 months after a 4-week period of daily rocket attacks.
Main Results:
- PTSD prevalence was 4% using DSM-IV criteria and 14% using DSM-5 criteria.
- Increased stressful life events correlated with greater functional impairment in children.
- Higher exposure to trauma was linked to more severe symptoms and maternal concerns regarding child functioning.
Conclusions:
- The study highlights the significant psychological impact of war on preschool children.
- DSM-5 criteria identified a higher prevalence of PTSD in children exposed to conflict.
- Stressful life events and traumatic exposure are key predictors of PTSD and adaptation challenges in young children.
Abstract:
Preschool children are among the most vulnerable populations to adversity. This study described the effects of 4 weeks of daily exposure to rocket attacks on children living on Israel's southern border. Participants enrolled in this study were 122 preschool children (50% boys) between the ages 3 and 6 years from 10 kindergartens. We assessed mothers' report of children's symptoms according to the DSM-IV and alternative criteria resembling the DSM-5 criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), general adaptation, traumatic exposure, and stressful life events 3 months after the war. The prevalence of PTSD was lower when the diagnosis was derived from the DSM-IV (4%) than from the DSM-5 criteria (14%). Mothers of children with 4 or more stressful life events reported more functional impairment in social, occupational, and other important areas of functioning compared to children with 0 or 1 stressful life event. Children with more severe exposure showed more severe symptoms and mothers had more concerns about the child's functioning (η(p)(2) = .09-.25). Stressful life events and exposure to traumatic experiences accounted for 32% of the variance in PTSD and 19% of the variance in the adaptation scale. Results were explored in terms of risk and resilience factors.
