Posttraumatic Stress Symptom Trajectories Among Children After Disaster Exposure: A Review.

ABSTRACT: Natural disasters, such as hurricanes and floods, are increasing in frequency and scope. Youth exposed to disasters are at risk for developing posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). However, not all youth who report initially elevated PTSS report persistent PTSS that last beyond the first three to six months postdisaster. Thus, it is crucial to understand how and why youth differ in their patterns of PTSS. This study reviewed the literature on children's postdisaster PTSS, evaluating the typical number and types of patterns for children's PTSS trajectories, as well as risk and protective factors predicting trajectory membership. This review identified eight empirical studies on youth PTSS trajectories following natural disasters; these studies included 8,306 children aged 3 to 18 years. All

SUBMITTER: Lai BS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5953201 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature