Posttraumatic stress reactions of children whose parents suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder

Abstract

The aim of this research is to analyze expression of Posttraumatic stress reaction symptoms and levels of traumatization of children whose parents suffered from PTSD.

Analyzed was a group of 100 primary school age children (10-15 years old) from two randomly selected schools. Selected were children that come from complete families whose parents accepted psychometric examination related to trauma. The examined group was then divided into two groups, a group (N=50) whose parents suffered form PTSD and a group of children (N=50) whose parents did not suffer from PTSD. Estimation of PTSD symptoms and traumatization of parents has been done using Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, while traumatization levels and posttraumatic stress symptoms at children were estimated using Impact of Events Scale. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistic.

Children whose parents suffered from PTSD showed significantly higher levels of stress (p<0.001) comparing to children whose parents did not suffer from PTSD. Girls showed higher level of stress than boys (p<0.01). Children whose parents suffered from PTSD showed more frequent posttraumatic stress reactions (p<0.01). Concerning the mean score of group of symptoms between examined groups registered was a significant difference in intrusion symptoms (p<0.01) and avoidance symptoms (p<0.001).

According to obtained results children whose parents suffered from PTSD show evidently more posttraumatic stress reactions and clearly much higher level of stress comparing to children whose parents did not suffer from PTSD.