Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Children of
Battered Women
created by
Graham-Bermann,
S. A., & Levendosky , A. A.
Published in (1998).
Journal
of Interpersonal Violence, 13 (1), 111-128.
Description of the Measure and Supporting Study
A measure of child post-traumatic stress symptoms was created based on DSM-IV criteria. This measure asks the mother to report on whether her child has been exposed to a potentially traumatic event, whether the child has been extremely upset by the experience and whether a number of symptoms of problems have persisted for more than three months following the traumatic event. The post-traumatic stress symptoms of 64 children ages 7 to 12 were assessed by their mothers, who had experienced emotional and physical abuse during the past year, are reported below. The first criterion of post-traumatic stress is whether the child has been exposed to, and intensely upset by a negative experience - here, the physical violence event(s) toward the mother. Each of the mothers felt that her child was extremely upset by the mild or severe violence between the mother and her partner that had occurred in the home during the prior year. Of the 64 children in the sample, 70% were eye-witnesses to the domestic violence events; the rest had overheard the violence when it had happened. Thirteen percent of the children exposed to the violence qualified for a complete PTSD diagnosis. However, 52% suffered from intrusive and unwanted remembering of the traumatic event(s), 19% displayed traumatic avoidance, and 42% experienced traumatic arousal symptoms. Children with PTSD symptoms had significantly more Internalizing behavioral problems, as expected; they also had more Externalizing problems than did children without trauma symptoms.
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Table 1
Number and Percentage of Child Witnesses to Domestic Violence who exhibit Trauma Stress Symptoms _____________________________________ |
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|
Symptom: |
Total N(64) |
% |
| _____________________________________ | ||
|
1. Intrusive memories of violence event(s) |
23 |
36 |
|
2. Dreams or nightmares specific to viol. event(s) |
6 |
9 |
|
3. Repeat acting out, perseverative play of event(s) |
9 |
14 |
|
4. Reaction to mention of or remembering viol. event(s) |
22 |
34 |
|
5. Avoiding thoughts or feelings related to viol. event(s) |
19 |
30 |
|
6. Avoiding activities or play related to violence event(s) |
17 |
27 |
|
7. Forgetting or repressing parts of violence event(s) |
8 |
13 |
|
8. Reduced interest in activities since violence event(s) |
4 |
6 |
|
9. Isolation or detachment from others since viol. event(s) |
11 |
17 |
|
10. Flat affect or reduced feelings since violence event(s) |
11 |
17 |
|
11. Not having long range, future plans since viol. event(s) |
9 |
14 |
|
12. Sleep disturbance, trouble either falling asleep or staying asleep since violence event(s) |
8 |
13 |
|
13. Irritable, more angry since violence event(s) |
31 |
48 |
|
14. Trouble concentrating, paying attention, either at home or in school since violence event(s) |
27 |
42 |
|
15. More alert, vigilant, or on guard since viol. event(s) |
16 |
25 |
|
16. Startles or jumps more easily since viol. event(s) |
16 |
25 |
|
17. Physical reaction, e.g., shaking or sweating, when reminded of violence event(s) |
7 |
11 |
| ____________________________________ | ||
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Table 2 Percentage of Children With and Without PTSD Criteria in each of Four Family Violence Categories and their Expected Differences |
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|
______________________________________ |
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|
Witnessed & Abused |
Witnessed Only |
Child Abuse Only |
Comparison Group |
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|
|
|
|
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|
n=19 |
n=45
|
n=22
|
n=34 |
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|
______________________________________ |
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|
PTSD: |
with |
w/o |
with |
w/o |
with |
w/o |
with |
w/o |
|
______________________________________ |
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|
Intrusion |
42% |
58 |
56 |
44 |
18 |
82 |
9 |
91*** |
|
Avoidance |
26% |
74 |
16 |
84 |
9 |
91 |
0 |
100* |
|
Arousal |
37% |
63 |
44 |
56 |
18 |
82 |
12 |
88** |
|
PTSD |
21% |
79 |
9 |
91 |
5 |
95 |
0 |
100* |
|
_________________________________________ |
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