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The Study of Developmental Risk Factors for Early Fire Involvement.

Authors :
Ellithy A
Hawke LD
Ward A
Henderson J
Source :
Child psychiatry and human development [Child Psychiatry Hum Dev] 2022 Apr; Vol. 53 (2), pp. 307-316. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Feb 03.
Publication Year :
2022

Abstract

Child fireplay may be regarded as developmentally appropriate, yet can negatively impact those who engage in it and those around them. This study discusses the mental health, fire-specific, and psychosocial risk factors of children who set fires. Fifty-seven caregivers reported on their children's demographics, firesetting behaviors, mental health symptoms, and family history. Children were aged 2-6 years and the majority were male. Most children used lighters and matches on paper and small objects. The majority of the children were motivated by curiosity. Children who set more fires had more externalizing symptoms, and were more likely to have accomplices, to have been exposed to firesetting media, and to have been disciplined or punished for their firesetting behaviors. The study identifies important psychosocial risk factors among young children who set fires. Given the long-term implications of firesetting, understanding firesetting in children will set the foundation of intervention and prevention models.<br /> (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC part of Springer Nature.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1573-3327
Volume :
53
Issue :
2
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Child psychiatry and human development
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
33534033
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-021-01122-9