TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1998//
TI  - Children's predisaster functioning as a predictor of posttraumatic stress following Hurricane Andrew
JO  - Journal of consulting and clinical psychology
A1  - La Greca, A. M.
A1  - Silverman, Wendy K.
A1  - Wasserstein, S. B.
SP  - 883
EP  - 892
VL  - 66
IS  - 6
N2  - This study examined (a) children's predisaster behavioral and academic functioning as a predictor of posttraumatic stress (PTS) following Hurricane Andrew and (b) whether children who were exposed to the disaster would display a worsening of prior functioning. Fifteen months before the disaster, 92 4th through 6th graders provided self-reports of anxiety; peers and teachers rated behavior problems (anxiety, inattention, and conduct) and academic skills. Measures were repeated 3 months postdisaster; children also reported PTS symptoms and hurricane-related experiences (i.e., exposure). PTS symptoms were again assessed 7 months postdisaster. At 3 months postdisaster, children's exposure to the disaster, as well as predisaster ratings of anxiety, inattention, and academic skills, predicted PTS symptoms. By 7 months, only exposure, African American ethnicity, and predisaster anxiety predicted PTS. Prior anxiety levels also worsened as a result of exposure to the disaster. The findings have implications for identifying and treating children at risk for stress reactions following a catastrophic disaster.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0022-006X
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -