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This study examined the relationship between polyvictimization, psychological distress, and trauma symptoms in college men and women. Childhood victimization was common among participants. Regression analyses revealed that polyvictimization (i.e., high cumulative levels of victimization) is a better predictor of psychological distress and trauma symptoms than is any individual category of victimization (i.e., sexual, physical, peer/sibling, child maltreatment, witnessing/indirect, or property crime). Gender did not moderate the relation between victimization and distress and trauma symptoms. Implications for counselors are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In Western countries, the prevalence of childhood trauma (CT) ranges from 15 to 25%. CT might be indirectly associated with lower parental socioeconomic status and educational attainments. The aims of this cross-sectional study were fourfold: to assess prevalence of CT in a large sample of Iranian children; to compare the Iranian prevalence rates with those of Western countries; to explore gender-specific patterns; and to explore possible socioeconomic predictors. Methods: The sample comprised 608 children (mean age 11.49 years, 51.5% females). All completed the Farsi version of the Trauma Symptoms Checklist for Children. Additionally, parents reported on their current employment status and highest educational level. Results: Trauma symptoms were reported by 20 of 295 boys and 23 of 313 girls. The overall prevalence was 7.1%. Child-reported trauma symptoms were not associated with parents' socioeconomic status or highest educational level. Compared to prevalence findings from U.S. national surveys (ranging from 15-25% of children and adolescents), the prevalence among 11- and 12-year-olds in the present study was considerably lower. Conclusions: The overall prevalence of reported trauma symptoms among a large sample of Iranian children was unrelated to parents' socioeconomic status, and was lower than that reported in U.S. surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are a multitude of behaviors that child sexual abusers use to 'groom' children into becoming vulnerable to abuse. In this study of 277 adult survivors of child sexual abuse, participants advised the many ways they were groomed into being abused by up to three perpetrators. The effects of three categories of grooming (Verbal Coercion, Grooming that used Drugs/Alcohol, and Threatening/Violent Grooming) were examined for their effects on trauma symptom severity. Using Linear Regressions, each grooming category had a significant predictive effect on trauma symptom severity. Multiple Linear Regressions revealed that for most trauma symptoms, Threatening/Violent Grooming was a significant predictor of trauma symptom severity, even when other more well-known variables were controlled for (including age at onset of abuse, relationship to perpetrator, and severity of abuse), with a notable exception of verbal coercion as a significant predictor of sexual problems in adulthood (i.e. not satisfied, low drive, overactivity, confusion, bad thoughts or feelings). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a robust predictor of trauma symptoms. Past research has identified many correlates of trauma symptoms following disclosure of CSA. Theory suggests that loss of social contact may be another important contributor to adolescents' trauma symptoms following CSA. A clinical sample of 166 adolescents (95% female) between 11 and 19 years (M = 13.80, SD = 1.87) reported on perceived loss of social contact, the extent to which the CSA was coercive, appraisals of self-blame for the abuse, supportiveness of a primary non-abusing caregiver, and trauma symptoms. The adolescent's relationship to the abuser, abuse severity and duration were coded from forensic interviews. Results indicated that greater perceived loss of social contact was associated with higher levels of trauma symptoms, even after controlling for other correlates of trauma symptoms and demographic variables. These findings suggest that perceived loss of social contact may be an important variable to consider in assessing and intervening with adolescents who have been sexually abused. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children exposed political violence deploy resources to maintain functioning, hope and life satisfaction. We sought to explore whether or not children promote hope and life satisfaction trough agency, psychological difficulties, potentially traumatic experiences and symptoms in Palestine. 965 children (494 males and 471 females) in multiple geographical contexts, and areas were involved. We administered the War Child Agency Assessment Scale , Child Hope Scale , Multilevel Students'Life Satisfaction Scale-Bref , the Strength and difficulties scale , the Child Revised Impact of events Scale , and Trauma Checklist , and performed regression analysis; hope and life satisfaction were dependent and agency, strength and difficulties, trauma symptoms and traumatic events independent variables. Specific forms of agency predicted life satisfaction (β = 0.219; ** p <.01, social agency; β = 0.11; ** p <.01, with agency in education) and hope (β = 0.07; ** p <. 05, agency on free movement), while mental difficulties (conduct problems, β = −0.09; ** p <.01; hyperactivity, β = −0.07; ** p <.05; β = −0.15; ** p <.01 with life satisfaction) (conduct problems, β = −0.06; ** p <.05, and difficulties in pro-social behaviour, β = −0.21; ** p <.01 with hope), traumatic events (β = −0.16; ** p <.01, with life satisfaction; β = −0.15; ** p <.01, with hope) and trauma symptoms (β = −0.09; ** p <.05, with hope) were negatively associated with the dependents variables. We found a positive role of social, educational, and freedom of movement agentic behaviours in fostering hope and life satisfaction. • Children's hope and life satisfaction are crucial constructs to be studied in contexts characterized by war and political violence. • Agency is a multifaceted construct that can help children in coping with adversities • Behavioural, personality and emotional difficulties can undermine hope and satisfaction with life in war-affected children • Younger Palestinian children were more satisfied, while girls were more hopeful than males. • Psychosocial interventions must be directed at fostering pro-social and agentic behaviours in war affected-children [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In Western countries, the prevalence of childhood trauma (CT) ranges from 15 to 25%. CT might be indirectly associated with lower parental socioeconomic status and educational attainments. The aims of this cross-sectional study were fourfold: to assess prevalence of CT in a large sample of Iranian children; to compare the Iranian prevalence rates with those of Western countries; to explore gender-specific patterns; and to explore possible socioeconomic predictors. Method: The sample comprised 608 children (mean age 11.49 years, 51.5% females). All completed the Farsi version of the Trauma Symptoms Checklist for Children. Additionally, parents reported on their current employment status and highest educational level. Results: Trauma symptoms were reported by 20 of 295 boys and 23 of 313 girls. The overall prevalence was 7.1%. Child-reported trauma symptoms were not associated with parents’ socioeconomic status or highest educational level. Compared to prevalence findings from U.S. national surveys (ranging from 15-25% of children and adolescents), the prevalence among 11- and 12-year-olds in the present study was considerably lower. Conclusions: The overall prevalence of reported trauma symptoms among a large sample of Iranian children was unrelated to parents’ socioeconomic status, and was lower than that reported in U.S. surveys.

Background: Young children may be adversely impacted by separation from and loss of caregivers and other loved ones. Such experiences often co-occur with interpersonal violence, unpredictability and other traumas. Whether separation/loss has unique effects independent of those other adversities is not known. Objective: This study aimed to establish whether separation/loss is associated with trauma-related symptoms, psychiatric disorders, and functional impairment in 18- to 48-month-old children independent of other adversities. Methods: Data from a cross-sectional community and clinical cohort were analyzed. Recruitment occurred in pediatric primary care, mental health, and developmental services sites. Children (33% female) were heterogeneous in ethnic background (55% minority) and family socioeconomic status (40% living in poverty). Results: Separation/loss was common (30.9% single type, 15.0% multiple types) and frequent amongst violence-exposed children (84.4% of violence-exposed children had experienced separation/loss from a loved one). However, violence exposure was uncommon amongst children with separation/loss experiences (only 23.9% were violence-exposed). Separation/loss was significantly associated with symptoms of posttraumatic stress and reactive attachment, as well as impairment and psychiatric disorders in models that controlled for sociodemographic and contextual risks, including other traumas. Psychiatric disorders were approximately 2.5 times more likely in children who had experienced multiple separations/losses, after accounting for interpersonal violence which was also significant. Conclusion: Professionals working with young children, policy-makers and caregivers should be aware that an accumulation of caregiver separations/losses, irrespective of violence and other traumatic exposure, may have detrimental effects on young children especially in the context of prior separations/losses or disruptions in their lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The trauma symptoms of child sexual abuse (CSA) survivors don't end with the abuse, or even with the advent of adulthood. Instead, these symptoms can persist into all the realms of a survivor's life, including education, which sets the foundation for career advancement. This retrospective study of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse (n = 260) examined the relationships between trauma symptoms, dissociation, dissociative amnesia, anxiety, depression, sleep problems and higher education attainment. The purpose of this study was to determine if these factors are associated with higher education completion for childhood sexual abuse (CSA) survivors. Linear regressions and ANOVAs suggest that many of these variables are significantly associated with survivors' educational trajectory, and multiple linear regressions show that trauma symptoms (as measured by the Trauma Symptom Checklist-40), caregivers' education levels, and age at onset of abuse are significant predictors of decreased education levels. This information can provide insight into additional risk and protective factors for CSA survivors in order to enhance acute and long-term management of trauma symptoms to increase levels ofattainment of higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many forms of victimization, including bullying and property crime, are increasingly moving online, but most studies of poly-victimization still primarily focus on in-person crime and violence. Few studies have examined the importance of incorporating technology-based victimizations for assessing the true burden of violence. The purpose of this study is to explore whether digital poly-victimization contributes to post-traumatic stress and anxiety/dysphoria symptoms after controlling for in-person poly-victimization. Given that technology use and technology-based victimization are changing rapidly, a mixed methods approach was adopted. In the first two phases, focus groups and cognitive interviews (89 total participants) were used to identify the range of digital victimization and develop the Digital Poly-Victimization Scale. In the third phase, the new measure was included in a community survey (n = 478, 57.5% female; 62.6% earning under $50,000 per year) in a rural Southern region, along with measures of in-person poly-victimization, posttraumatic stress and anxiety/dysphoria symptoms, and other outcomes and personal characteristics. A comprehensive measure of digital poly-victimization indicated that almost 3 in 4 participants (72.3%) had experienced at least one form of digital victimization. The results indicated that digital poly-victimization contributed unique variance to post-traumatic stress and anxiety/dysphoria symptoms (p < .001), health-related quality of life (p < .01), and subjective and family well-being (both p < .001), even after controlling for demographics and in-person poly-victimization. Digital victimization often presents fewer risks to perpetrators and can be expected to represent an increasing share of the societal burden of violence. Future research on poly-victimization should pay more attention to the role of digital victimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Victimization has been associated with increased depression, anxiety, anger, and delinquency; yet, research on adolescent victimization has largely relied on variable-centered approaches to examine associations with singular outcomes. With secondary data from the Developmental Victimization Survey, we utilized latent profile analysis to identify subgroups of youth, ages 12-17, based on clusters of internalizing and externalizing behaviors. We also examined how the behavioral outcome clusters were associated with different forms of victimization. Four behavioral subscales were included within the latent profile analysis and a four-class model had the best fit. Youth in Class 3 (high depression, anxiety, anger, and delinquency) were significantly more likely to have experienced peer/sibling victimization and to have experienced indirect victimization than youth in Class 2 (high depression, anxiety, and anger). The study findings indicate that certain types of victimization have greater consequences on mental health and that the unique clustering of symptoms is at least partially accounted for by the types of victimization experienced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first controlled study of an expressive arts group intervention with unaccompanied minor asylum seeking children. The aim of the study was to examine whether such an intervention may alleviate symptoms of trauma and enhance life satisfaction and hope. One hundred forty five unaccompanied minor refugee boys with their stated age between 15 and 18 were allocated into a 10 session 5 weeks manualized expressive arts intervention ( EXIT) or a life as usual ( LAU) control group. The participants were assessed at onset and 4 times over a period of 25 months with a battery of instruments measuring post-traumatic stress symptoms ( PTSS), general psychological distress ( HSCL-25A), current life satisfaction ( CLS) and expected life satisfaction ( ELS). The instruments were presented in the participants' native languages, using touch-screen laptops and the computer program Multilingual Computer Assisted Interview (Multi CASI). There were significant time by group interactions in favor of the EXIT group for PTSS and CLS. At the end of the follow up the EXIT group had higher life satisfaction and hope for the future than the LAU group. A manualized EXIT group intervention can have a beneficial effect on helping minor refugee boys to cope with symptoms of trauma, strengthen their life satisfaction and develop hope for the future. Our findings support previous studies showing that the arts may help people in reconstructing meaning and connection with others by focusing on resources and creativity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first aim of this study was to compare self-reported trauma symptoms among three groups of high-risk professionals: firefighters, policeman and soldiers, who had served in international operations. The second aim was to examine associations between different types of traumatic experience and trauma symptoms in each group, as well as to examine perceived coping resources. The third aim of the study was to explore the perception of trauma risk for these three groups from the perspective of the professionals and the general public. Participating in this study were 50 soldiers from ages of 24 to 49; 65 firefighters from ages of 19 to 58; and 85 policemen from ages of 20 to 59. All respondents were male. Perceptions from the general public were provided by 663 respondents, from ages 18 to 78, of which 138 were female and 525 male. Trauma symptoms were measured by the Trauma Symptom Inventory (Briere, 1995). Firefighters reported higher ratings of depression and dissociation compared to soldiers and policeman. Firefighters who had experienced the death of a colleague or threat to one's life, and those policemen who had experienced the death of a stranger reported higher trauma symptoms. Family support, colleagues and the desire to help others were the main factors which firefighters and policemen perceived as helpful in their professions. Both professionals and the general public perceived the soldier profession as the psychologically most traumatic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child abuse and neglect could have some deleterious impacts on both intellectual and academic performance of school students. The aim of this study was to examine relationships among child maltreatment, trauma symptoms, cognitive functioning, and academic achievement. Data were collected from child guidance centers, where maltreated children were substantiated, assessed, evaluated, protected, and treated clinically. The selection criteria for subjects included Japanese children (1) who had a history of maltreatment; (2) whose IQs were measured using the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children second edition (KABC-II); and (3) whose traumatic stress was evaluated using the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children alternate version (TSCC-A). Covariance structure analysis showed the model that explains the relations of trauma symptom (measured by TSCC-A) on academic achievement (measured by KABC-II) as being intervened by cognitive functioning (measured by KABC-II). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Until now, the relations between the working alliance and trauma-related symptoms have received little or no study in residential-care settings. However, considering the high prevalence of past experiences of interpersonal trauma among young people in residential centers, it is essential to examine this issue more closely. Objective: This study aimed to determine to what extent the strength of the working alliance, as reported by adolescent girls in residential centers and their counselors, is associated with the trauma-related symptoms that these girls reported subsequently, in emerging adulthood. Methods: The sample consisted of 130 adolescent girls placed in residential center. Trauma-related symptoms were measured at intake and approximately 4 years later, when all the girls were out of the center. Working alliance was measured 3 months after the start of the placement. Hierarchical multiple regressions were performed to determine the strength of the relationships between the working alliance during treatment and trauma-related symptoms in emerging adulthood. Results: Findings showed that even after controlling for intake symptoms, the strength of the working alliance reported by the girls has modest, yet significant, negative associations with several trauma-related symptoms in emerging adulthood. The stronger the alliance the girls reported, the less they reported symptoms of depression, post-traumatic stress and externalization. Conclusions: Results suggest that a strong working alliance with adolescent girls may contribute to their recovery as it was associated with less trauma-related symptoms. Further research is needed to investigate the mechanisms and underlying factors explaining this relationship at short, medium and long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of exposure to traumatic events for the development of dental anxiety has not been investigated. The aim of the present study was to test the hypotheses that individuals who reported having been exposed to a traumatic event [that is, fulfilling Criterion A of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition ( DSM-5), for post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD)] as the cause of their dental anxiety would report significantly higher levels of dental anxiety, typical trauma-related ( PTSD) symptoms, and greater disturbance of memories involving these events than those who reported being exposed to non-traumatic events. Patients of a specialized dental fear clinic ( n = 90) were divided into those who reported a traumatic event that initiated their dental trait anxiety and those who did not. The two groups did not differ in their severity of dental anxiety and number of PTSD symptoms, but the memories of those who had been exposed to traumatic events were significantly more vivid than the memories of those in the reference group. Length of time since the event took place did not play a role. Hence, traumatic events are remembered more vividly, but do not seem to initiate more severe forms of dental anxiety than other events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compares children and youth who have experienced lifetime war-related parental absence or deployment with those having no such history on a variety of victimization types, non-victimization adversity, trauma symptoms, and delinquency; and assesses whether cumulative adversity and victimization help to explain elevated emotional and behavioral problems among children of parents who have experienced war-related absence or deployment. The National Surveys of Children’s Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV) are comprised of three cross-sectional telephone surveys conducted in 2008, 2011, and 2014. Data were collected on the experiences of children aged one month to seventeen years. In each survey, interviews were conducted with youth 10–17 years old and with caregivers of children 0–9 years old. The analyses use pooled data from all three U.S. nationally-representative samples (total sample size of 13,052). Lifetime parental war-related absence or deployment was a marker for elevated childhood exposure to a wide array of victimization and adversity types. Cumulative past year exposure to multiple forms of victimization and adversity fully explained elevated trauma symptoms and delinquency in this population of children. Given the breadth of victimization and adversity risk, children with histories of parental war-related absence or deployment, as well as their families, represent important target groups for broad-based prevention and interventions to reduce exposure and ameliorate consequences when it does occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this pilot study was to determine if functional brain differences are present among individuals with high and low cooccurring trauma and depression symptoms. This pilot study examined how the P300 latency component of event-related potentials (ERPs), measured using electroencephalography (EEG) while participants performed a go/no-go task, might be associated with cooccurring self-report of trauma and depression symptoms in a sample of college students (N = 38). Alpha-corrected independent sample t tests revealed statistically significant differences in ERP P300 peak latencies between those in the high cooccurring trauma and depression symptoms group (n = 12) and those in the low group (n = 26) for all 3 midline electrode sites (Fz, Cz, and Pz). This pilot study provides preliminary evidence of differential brain functioning in individuals experiencing cooccurring trauma and depression symptoms. Accordingly, these findings support future research examining brain functioning in cooccurring symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Academic engagement can improve outcomes for children who have faced adversity. • Emotion regulation skills explained the effect trauma symptoms had on engagement. • Parent-child relations mitigated the effect trauma symptoms had emotion regulation. • Emotion regulation skills and parent–child relations could improve engagement. Students who have experienced adversity tend to demonstrate poorer academic outcomes than their non-maltreated peers. Academic engagement, a multidimensional, motivational construct, associated with a myriad of positive academic outcomes is an important academically-related mechanism that can be leveraged to improve the outcomes of this population. The present study aimed to better understanding of how engagement develops in the context of adversity by exploring the effects emotion regulation skills and parent–child relationships have on engagement development. Analyses were conducted on 795 participants in the NSCAW dataset. Path analysis was used to estimate mediation and moderated mediation models. Emotion regulation skills significantly mediated the effect experiencing trauma symptoms had on engagement. Parent-child relationship quality moderated the mediation effect emotion regulation skills had on the relationship between experiencing trauma symptoms and engagement. Emotion regulation skills and parent–child relationship quality are potential intervention targets to improve engagement for students who have experienced adversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This study investigates the relationship between involvement in bullying in childhood and adolescence and psychological difficulties in young adulthood. Materials and method. A total of 249college students completed the Retrospective Bullying Questionnaireand Trauma Symptom Checklist. Results. The results showed significantdifferences in psychological adjustment among respondents whowere exposed to bullying compared to respondents who were not exposedto bullying. Those exposed to bullying had significantly higherlevels of anxiety, depression, sleeping problems, and dissociative andtraumatic symptoms compared to those who were not exposed to bullying.Respondents who were exposed to bullying in all three examinedperiods (the period from the first to fourth grade, the period from the fifth to eighth grade and the high school period) had higher scores on the subscale of dissociative symptoms and sexual trauma symptoms compared to respondents who were exposed through one or twoperiods. Victims abused in all three periods have more symptoms ofanxiety and sleeping problems compared to the subjects exposed tobullying during one examination period. There were no differences inthe level of depressive symptoms and sexual problems regarding theduration of bullying. Also, there were no differences in psychologicaladjustment between respondents who were bullied during one specificperiod. Conclusion. Bullying experiences in childhood and adolescenceare connected with difficulties in psychological adjustment inyoung adulthood.

Through Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), the gold standard in children's trauma treatment, caregivers participate in sessions parallel to the child. However, much of the research examining the impact of this caregiver involvement has focused on biological or relative caregivers, despite the high prevalence of trauma and trauma symptoms among youth in foster care and high rates of parenting stress among foster/adoptive caregivers. The current study examined differences among relative and foster/adoptive caregivers' levels of parenting stress throughout the course of TF-CBT and how these differences were associated with child trauma symptoms throughout treatment. Participants were 130 caregiver-child dyads (84 = foster/adoptive; 46 = biological/relative) who completed TF-CBT in either an academic-based clinic or an associated mental health agency. Providing clinicians were trained in TF-CBT, participated in case consultation, and received ongoing clinical supervision. Children and caregivers completed baseline measures prior to beginning treatment and termination measures at the completion of treatment. Prior to treatment, foster/adoptive caregivers reported greater dysfunction in their parent-child interactions and relative caregivers reported greater personal stress. These differences were not seen at treatment termination, and significant reductions in child trauma symptoms and caregiver parenting stress were evidenced from pre to post treatment. Significant covariation between child trauma symptoms and relative caregiver parenting stress at termination was also found. There were different profiles of parenting stress for relative versus foster/adoptive caregivers, but treatment completion attenuated group differences in parenting stress over the course of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome often experience psychological distress resulting from the perceived hostility and disinterest of their clinicians. We conducted 26 in-depth interviews with patients to understand the origins of this trauma and how it could be addressed in practice. We found that the cumulative effects of numerous negative encounters lead patients to lose trust in their healthcare providers and the healthcare system, and to develop acute anxiety about returning to clinic to seek further care. We describe this as clinician-associated traumatization . Ultimately, our interviewees described the result of this traumatization as worse - but preventable - health outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

This paper describes the creation and implementation of a trauma support group intervention which combined aspects of the Seeking Safety model with an art therapy technique in an effort to reduce trauma-related symptoms in a population of refugees. A preliminary assessment was carried out to evaluate the potential effectiveness of the combined approach with trauma-exposed refugees. Based on facilitator notes from 8 sessions of two women's refugee groups and one men's group, three themes were identified: mandala creation enhanced the Seeking Safety content, language barriers impacted the potential for implementation, and the trauma support group was a means of personal growth for participants. Reports from facilitators and participants also suggested a reduction in trauma-related symptoms and an increase in participant use of safe coping skills as a result of group participation. While additional research is needed, these exploratory results suggest that this combined approach holds promise for positively impacting trauma symptoms in trauma-exposed refugees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of the current study was to investigate sex differences in the relationship between the level of trauma symptoms appearing in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and intensity of pain in a sample of 300 Polish patients suffering from chronic pain, specifically rheumatoid arthritis and lower back pain. We also focused on participants' body image with body esteem as a mediator. To assess the intensity of pain among participants, we used the Numerical Rating Scale. The level of trauma symptoms was assessed with the PTSD Factorial Version Inventory. To measure body image among participants, we used the Body Esteem Scale. The results of our study suggest that trauma symptoms and body image dimensions were significant predictors of pain intensity among men suffering from chronic pain. Moreover, trauma symptoms and age were significant predictors of pain intensity among women suffering from chronic pain. Finally, we demonstrated that sex differentiates the reaction to chronic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improved understanding of the psychological impact on children following natural disasters is needed to assist with psychological recovery. The purpose of this exploratory study was to compare the disaster experiences and psychological symptoms of children, ages 8 to 17, following the Chilean earthquake and tsunami, and Hurricane Katrina. Over one-third of all students (N = 827) met the symptom cut-off for mental health referral. Two one-sided test (TOST) procedures revealed similar symptom levels among the Chilean and Hurricane Katrina samples and similar numbers of reported disaster experiences. Interestingly, the Chilean earthquake and tsunami sample reported more direct disaster related losses and the Hurricane Katrina sample reported more recovery related issues. The findings suggest that even with cultural and type of disaster experience differences, children’s responses to disasters are similar across cultures and that mental health services are needed to support recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children who have experienced early adversities are at risk for behavioral problems and trauma symptoms. Using a two-group, pre–post intervention design, the authors evaluated the effectiveness of an online parent training for Trust-Based Relational Intervention, a trauma-informed, attachment-based intervention, in reducing behavioral problems and trauma symptoms in at-risk adopted children. Children of parents in the treatment group (n = 48) demonstrated significant decreases in behavioral problems and trauma symptoms after intervention. Scores for children in a matched-sample control group did not change. Findings suggest this intervention can effectively reduce behavioral problems and trauma symptoms in children with histories of adversities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many clinicians and researchers have proposed considering child abuse and neglect from a traumatic stress perspective to better understand how they so profoundly impact child development. According to this perspective, child maltreatment (both child abuse and neglect) is viewed as a chronic interpersonal trauma which may severely interfere with normal developmental processes, often resulting in long-lasting behavioural, emotional and psychophysiological dysregulations. In this paper, we summarise theoretical and empirical literature addressing the traumatic nature of child neglect, with a specific focus on short-term consequences of neglect in childhood. We then give an overview of some key intervention elements stemming from trauma-informed approaches with traumatised children and their families.Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Messages Child neglect is viewed as a chronic interpersonal trauma which may severely interfere with normal developmental processes, often resulting in long-lasting behavioural, emotional and psychophysiological dysregulations., Key intervention guidelines stemming from trauma-informed approaches include: A detailed assessment of the child's trauma history and characteristics, Providing a safe environment for the child, Helping the child build feelings of emotional security, Improving parental sensitivity, Developing child emotional self-regulation, Offering emotional therapeutic support to the parent., [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Trauma Symptom Inventory (TSI; Briere, 1995), a measure of the psychological effects of trauma and other adverse events, was recently expanded and updated (TSI–2; Briere, 2011). This study evaluated 4 competing models of TSI–2 dimensionality and determined the predictive validity of the best fitting solution. Data were collected from 679 adults in the general population. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that a 4-factor solution best fit the data. All 4 factors of the final model were significant predictors of exposure to trauma or some other very upsetting event, especially posttraumatic stress. Additional research is indicated to further probe the characteristics of the TSI–2, including its dimensionality in other groups. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]