Trauma, PTSD, and Traumatic Grief among Palestinian Children
Date
2015-09-25
Authors
AA, Thabet
Abu Tawahina, Ahmad
Punamäki, Raija-Leena
Vostanis, Panos
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to find the relationship between war traumatic experiences due to war on
Gaza, PTSD, and traumatic grief in Palestinian children.
Methods: The sample included randomly selected 374 children aged 6-16 years. Children completed
measures of experience of traumatic events (Gaza Traumatic Checklist), Child Post Traumatic Stress Reaction
Index, and Traumatic Grief inventory.
Results: Palestinians children experiences variety of traumatic events. No sex differences in reporting
trauma. Mean traumatic events reported by children was 12.80 traumatic events. The study showed that 9.3%
of the participants lost someone during the war. Mean traumatic grief in boys was 19.96 and 18.29 in girls.
For PTSD, 1.3% of children showed no PTSD, 7.2% reported mild PTSD reactions, 29.9% showed moderate
PTSD reactions, and 61.5% showed severe to very severe PTSD reactions. Trauma exposure was significantly
associated with PTSD. No sex differences in PTSD.
Conclusions: This study revealed that children living in area of conflict and war are at risk of developing
mental health problems. Study showed that children with traumatic grief need psychosocial support from families
and community to enable them of passing through their grief. Moreover, parents have to be involved in all
activities given to their children and to be part of such activities to enable them better communication with their
children and being able of detecting children with pathological grief and enable them of helping children in
overcoming the effect of grief and trauma.
Description
Keywords
PTSD , Trauma , Traumatic , Grief , War on Gaza
Citation
Thabet AA, Tawahina AA, Punamäki RL and Vostanis P. Trauma, PTSD, and Traumatic Grief among Palestinian Children. SM J Community Med. 2015;1(3):1011.