Citation

Briggs-Gowan MJ, Carter AS, Ford JD. J. Pediatr. Psychol. 2012; 37(1): 11-22.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut Health Center, and Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/jpepsy/jsr063

PMID

21903730

PMCID

PMC3263769

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively examine pathways from early childhood violence exposure and trauma-related symptoms to school-age emotional health. METHODS: A longitudinal, birth cohort (N = 437) was assessed with parent reports of lifetime violence exposure and trauma-related symptoms at 3 years of age and later, internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and social competence at school age. RESULTS: Early family and neighborhood violence correlated significantly with early trauma-related symptoms and also significantly predicted school-age internalizing and externalizing symptoms and poorer competence, independent of sociodemographic risk and past-year violence exposure. Longitudinal pathways were significantly mediated by arousal and avoidance symptoms at 3 years of age, which increased risk for clinically significant emotional problems and lower competence at school age (adjusted odds ratios = 3.1-6.1, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Trauma-related symptoms may mediate developmental pathways from early violence exposure to later emotional health. Interventions that prevent or reduce early trauma-related symptoms may ameliorate the long-term deleterious impact of violence exposure.

Language: en