TY - JOUR
T1 - Short and Long-Term Parental Posttraumatic Stress After a Child’s Accident
T2 - Prevalence and Associated Factors
AU - van Meijel, Els P.M.
AU - Gigengack, Maj R.
AU - Verlinden, Eva
AU - van der Steeg, Alida F.W.
AU - Goslings, J. Carel
AU - Bloemers, Frank W.
AU - Luitse, Jan S.K.
AU - Boer, Frits
AU - Grootenhuis, Martha A.
AU - Lindauer, Ramón J.L.
PY - 2020/4/1
Y1 - 2020/4/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Accident
KW - Children and adolescents
KW - Injury
KW - Parent
KW - Posttraumatic stress
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85073979602&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-019-00924-2
DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-019-00924-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 31494749
SN - 0009-398X
VL - 51
SP - 200
EP - 208
JO - Child psychiatry and human development
JF - Child psychiatry and human development
IS - 2
ER -