Violence at Home Can Trigger Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children
WebMD News Archive
The children were between the ages of 6 and 12. They were asked to tell
about something that scared them to the point they feared they or someone else
would get hurt. Mothers were also interviewed and both were given
questionnaires about other psychiatric symptoms.
The traumatic events reported were domestic violence (40%), violent crime
(16%), accidents (36%), and death or illness of a family member or close friend
(8%). The accidents included 61% automobile and 39% drowning. Eighty-seven
percent of the children reporting traumatic events were witnesses only, 10%
were targets, and 3% were both.
According to McCloskey, understanding the child's environment as well as a
specific cause of the post traumatic stress will help the child fully
- Children who are from violent homes or who are the target of violence may
exhibit symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Parents should try to be aware if their children are targets or witnesses
of violence, because often, the children will not tell their parents.
- Even young babies who witness violence can be affected, and will begin to
re-enact what they observed when they get older.