Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2012

Subject: LCSH

Psychic trauma in children, Behavior disorders in children, School mental health services

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

The present study examined how exposure to traumatic events impacts children with severe emotional disturbance who are being served in a school-based system of care. Multilevel growth curve models were used to examine the relationships between a child’s history of traumatic events (physical abuse, sexual abuse, or domestic violence) and behavioral and emotional strengths, internalizing problem behaviors, or externalizing problem behaviors over 18 months. Results indicate that children receiving services (N = 134) exhibited increased emotional and behavioral strengths and decreased internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors from enrollment to 18 months follow-up. Children with a history of traumatic events improved more slowly than children without such a history on both strengths and internalizing problem behaviors, even after controlling for dosage of services received and other characteristics previously found to predict outcomes. Gender was also related to improvement in internalizing symptoms. Results highlight the continued need to assess the impact of exposure to traumatic events for children served in a system of care.

Comments

© Hammill Institute on Disabilities 2012. This is the author's accepted manuscript, posted with permission. The final, definitive version is available at http://online.sagepub.com/ .

http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1063426610380596

DOI

10.1177/1063426610380596

Publisher Citation

Whitson, M.L., Connell, C.M., Bernard, S.N., & Kaufman, J.S. (2012). An examination of exposure to traumatic events and symptoms and strengths for children served in a behavioral health system of care. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 20(3), 193-207. First published on November 23, 2010.

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