Disasters, Victimization, and Children's Mental Health

Authors: Becker-Blease, Kathryn A.¹; Turner, Heather A.²; Finkelhor, David²

Source: Child Development, Volume 81, Number 4, July/August 2010 , pp. 1040-1052(13)

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Abstract:

In a representative sample of 2,030 U.S. children aged 2-17, 13.9% report lifetime exposure to disaster, and 4.1% report experiencing a disaster in the past year. Disaster exposure was associated with some forms of victimization and adversity. Victimization was associated with depression among 2- to 9-year-old disaster survivors, and with depression and aggression among 10- to 17-year-old disaster survivors. Children exposed to either victimization only or both disaster and victimization had worse mental health compared to those who experienced neither. More research into the prevalence and effects of disasters and other stressful events among children is needed to better understand the interactive risks for and effects of multiple forms of trauma.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01453.x

Affiliations: 1: Oregon State University 2: University of New Hampshire

Publication date: 2010-07-01