%0 Journal Article %T Short and long-term parental posttraumatic stress after a child's accident: prevalence and associated factors %J Child psychiatry and human development %D 2019 %A van Meijel, Els P. M. %A Gigengack, Maj R. %A Verlinden, Eva %A van der Steeg, Alida F. W. %A Goslings, J. Carel %A Bloemers, Frank W. %A Luitse, Jan S. K. %A Boer, Frits %A Grootenhuis, Martha A. %A Lindauer, Ramón J. L. %V ePub %N ePub %P ePub-ePub %X Studies on the long-term prevalence of parental posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) following child accidental injury are scarce, and findings on risk factors vary. In this follow-up study (T2, n = 69) we determined the prevalence of parental PTSS 2-4 years after accidental injury of their child, compared with 3 months after the accident (T1, n = 135). Additionally, we examined the association between parental and child factors and PTSS severity. Children were 8-18 years old at the time of the accident. Parent and child PTSS was assessed by self-report. Other data were retrieved from medical records and a telephone interview. Parental PTSS was 9.6% at T1 and 5.8% at T2. Acute parental stress as measured within 2 weeks of the child's accident was significantly associated with parental PTSS severity (T1 and T2), as was the child's hospitalization of more than 1 day at T1 and the child's permanent physical impairment at T2. To prevent adverse long-term psychological consequences we recommend identifying and monitoring parents at risk and offering them timely treatment.

Language: en

%G en %I Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group %@ 0009-398X %U http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10578-019-00924-2