Preschool Israeli Children Exposed to Rocket Attacks: Assessment, Risk, and Resilience. Issue 5 (24th September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wolmer, Leo; Hamiel, Daniel; Versano‐Eisman, Tali; Slone, Michelle; Margalit, Nitzan; Laor, Nathaniel
• Is Part Of: Journal of traumatic stress. Volume 28:Issue 5(2015)
• Page Start: 441
• Page End: 447
• Publication Date: 2015-09-24
• Subjects: Post-traumatic stress disorder -- Periodicals; 616.8521
• DOI: 10.1002/jts.22040
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0894-9867

Abstract

Abstract: Preschool children are among the most vulnerable populations to adversity. This study described the effects of 4 weeks of daily exposure to rocket attacks on children living on Israel's southern border. Participants enrolled in this study were 122 preschool children (50% boys) between the ages 3 and 6 years from 10 kindergartens. We assessed mothers' report of children's symptoms according to the DSM‐IV and alternative criteria resembling the DSM‐5 criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), general adaptation, traumatic exposure, and stressful life events 3 months after the war. The prevalence of PTSD was lower when the diagnosis was derived from the DSM‐IV (4%) than from the DSM‐5 criteria (14%). Mothers of children with 4 or more stressful life events reported more functional impairment in social, occupational, and other important areas of functioning compared to children with 0 or 1 stressful life event. Children with more severe exposure showed more severe symptoms and mothers had more concerns about the child's functioning (η p 2 = .09–.25). Stressful life events and exposure to traumatic experiences accounted for 32% of the variance in PTSD and 19% of the variance in the adaptation scale. Results were explored in terms of risk and resilience factors.