Psychosocial Implications of Disaster or Terrorism on Children: A Guide for the Pediatrician

Abstract

ABSTRACT. During and after disasters, pediatricians can assist parents and community leaders not only by accommodating the unique needs of children but also by being cognizant of the psychological responses of children to reduce the possibility of long-term psychological morbidity. The effects of disaster on children are mediated by many factors including personal experience, parental reaction, developmental competency, gender, and the stage of disaster response. Pediatricians can be effective advocates for the child and family and at the community level and can affect national policy in support of families. In this report, specific children's responses are delineated, risk factors for adverse reactions are discussed, and advice is given for pediatricians to ameliorate the effects of disaster on children. Pediatrics 2005; 116:787-795; terrorism, disaster preparedness, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety.

Children and young people's wellbeing post-disaster: Safety and stability are critical

“…The authors speculate that "Children may be more resilient than once thought, and this particular type of trauma may not pose a major threat to a child's psychological well-being, as long as their life circumstances are minimally disrupted" (p32), thus emphasising the importance of a safe and stable home environment. This is consistent with a growing discourse about children's resilience post-disaster, recognition of their competence and the benefits of being actively engaged in overcoming adversity, engaging in their community from a safe psychological space rather than being seen and treated as passive victims [1,5,8,[25][26][27][28]. As noted by Payne [27], "Instead of looking only at factors in the situation that might present a risk, we can also look for factors that will offer security" (p11).…”

Trauma Reactions, Suffering, and Healing among Riot-Affected Internally Displaced Children of Gujarat, India: A Qualitative Inquiry

“…Presence of trauma-specific fear as another trauma reaction has also been noted among children (Terr 1991). In addition, depression and anxiety have been observed as mental health consequences of children's exposure to traumatic and violent events (Fremont 2004;Hagan et al 2005). Osofsky (1995) and Terr (1990) have also indicated the possibility of obstructive impact on the psychological development of children exposed to disasters.…”

Enhancing Public Health Emergency Preparedness for Special Needs Populations: A Toolkit for State and Local Planning and Response

“…Their response often varies by developmental age; therefore, strategies that are appropriate for them differ by age group as well (see Table 6.1). This experience may be more prolonged for some or result in greater impairment, ultimately requiring formal psychological intervention [46]. Other strategies to help children cope with the stress of an event include the following:…”