Citation

Wilson AC, Lengua LJ, Meltzoff AN, Smith KA. J. Clin. Child Adolesc. Psychol. 2010; 39(4): 445-459.

Affiliation

Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15374416.2010.486317

PMID

20589557

PMCID

PMC2897067

Abstract

Parenting is related to children's adjustment, but little research has examined the role of parenting in children's responses to disasters. This study describes parenting responses specific to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and examines pre-9/11 parenting, child temperament, and 9/11-specific parenting as predictors of children's posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms among children geographically distant from the attack locations. A community sample of children and parents (n = 137, ages 9-13 years) participating in an ongoing study were interviewed 1 month following 9/11. Parents reported engaging in a number of parenting responses following 9/11. Pre-9/11 acceptance and 9/11-specific, self-focused parental responses predicted PTS symptoms. Pre-9/11 parenting and temperament interacted to predict PTS symptoms, suggesting that parenting and temperament are important prospective predictors of children's responses to indirect exposure to disasters.

Language: en