Reducing the Risk of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Children Following Natural Disasters

Autor/inn/en	Mohay, Heather; Forbes, Nicole
Titel	Reducing the Risk of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Children Following Natural Disasters
Quelle	In: Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 19 (2009) 2, S.179-195 (17 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1037-2911
DOI	10.1375/ajgc.19.2.179
Schlagwörter	Risk Management; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Natural Disasters; Children; Child Health; Age Differences; Gender Differences; Personality Traits; Injuries; Fear; Anxiety; Psychological Patterns; Mental Health; Coping; Stress Management; Safety; Family Influence; Resilience (Psychology) + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Risikomanagement; Natural disaster; Naturkatastrophe; Child; Kind; Kinder; Age; Difference; Age difference; Altersunterschied; Geschlechterkonflikt; Individual characteristics; Personality characteristic; Persönlichkeitsmerkmal; Furcht; Angst; Psychohygiene; Bewältigung; Stressmanagement; Stressbewältigung; Sicherheit
Abstract	A significant number of children suffer long-term psychological disturbance following exposure to a natural disaster. Evidence suggests that a dose-response relationship exists, so that children and adolescents who experience the most intense or extensive exposure to the risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are likely to develop the most serious and persistent symptoms. Risk factors include gender, age, personality, extent of exposure to the natural disaster, amount of damage to property and infrastructure, witnessing the death or injury of others or perceiving a threat to one's own life. Knowing these factors enables various strategies to be put in place to decrease the risk of psychological disturbance following traumatic events. Reestablishing a sense of safety, security and normality is important in the aftermath of a natural disaster, and promoting social connectedness, positive family functioning and effective coping mechanisms can make children more resilient in the face of catastrophic events. This paper examines the risk and protective factors associated with the development of PTSD, and considers how schools can use this knowledge to contribute to the recovery effort and reduce the prevalence of PTSD among pupils in the wake of a natural disaster. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01