Agreement of parent and child reports of trauma exposure and symptoms in the early aftermath of a traumatic event.

Abstract

Exposure to violence and potentially traumatic events (PTE) is a common experience among children and youth. The assessment of necessary intervention relies upon parental acknowledgement of exposure and recognition of their child’s distress. Early interventions and treatment are most effective when parents are aware of the nature of the traumatic exposure, understand their child’s symptomatic response, and are intimately involved in the treatment process. The present study investigated concordance between parents and exposed children on child trauma history, the subjective report of the impact of the traumas experienced, and presence of PTSD symptoms. Agreement between parent and child report of traumas experienced was non-significant for serious accidents, separation from significant others, and physical assaults. Non-significant agreement was also found for avoidance and hyperarousal symptoms of PTSD. Correlations were not significant between parent and child report of the impact of traumas both at the time of the incident and at the time of the interview. Recommendations are suggested for helping parents improve their capacity to understand the potential impact of exposure on the child’s psychological functioning.

Psychotic-like experiences and associated socio-demographic factors among adolescents in China

“…To assess adolescents' histories of trauma, the Trauma History Questionnaire (THQ) child version (Stover et al, 2010) was used. The scale contains 15 items.…”

PTSD, cyberbullying and peer violence: prevalence and correlates among adolescent emergency department patients

“…Large scale adult studies suggest that only half of adults with PTSD seek psychiatric treatment, with rates falling as low as one-third in minority adults 22 . This lack of treatment is further compounded among children and adolescents, since parents may fail to recognize PTSD symptoms 23,24 .…”

Mother and Child Reports of Hurricane Related Stressors: Data from a Sample of Families Exposed to Hurricane Katrina

“…In addition, low levels of association between parent and child reports of traumatic events have been documented outside of the disaster literature. For example, discrepant reports between parents and children have been found after exposure to events such as accidents, attacks, and abuse (Stover, Hahn, Im, & Berkowitz, 2010). In addition, Tingskull and colleagues (In press) examined a cohort from birth until 12 years of age in Sweden.…”

“…For example, parent recognition of problems is often the primary step needed in order for children to obtain help (Stover et al, 2010; Tingskull et al, In press). Parents who view stressors differently from their children may be less likely to identify resources to help children cope with distress symptoms.…”