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Abstract
Exposure to the physical abuse of a parent can be a traumatic event for a child, leaving the child fearful, helpless, and horrified. Research results have documented that children exposed to domestic violence are at increased risk for developing trauma symptoms characteristic of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This study examined how childhood developmental factors, specifically emotion regulation and inhibition, predict PTSD symptomatology in school-age children exposed to domestic violence. Based on Horowitz's (1986) Stress Response Theory of PTSD, this study was formulated on the premise that effective coping of trauma material requires a balance of mental processes. Child participants between the ages of 8 and 12 and their mothers were asked to complete a battery of assessment measures that included the following areas: posttraumatic stress symptoms, avoidance, emotion regulation, and inhibition.
The current study extends the research literature regarding PTSD symptoms in children and the influence of developmental factors. Based on results from the current study, emotion regulation seems to function as a protective factor in children, and was predictive of lower levels of avoidance symptoms Children reported to have high emotion regulation skills varied on PTSD avoidance symptoms as a function of inhibitory control. Specifically, inhibitory control was a significant predictor of symptoms for children with high emotion regulation skills Inhibition was predictive of higher rates of PTSD symptoms (child reported) when using a child-report measure of thought suppression (WBSI). Maternal report of inhibitory control and maternal report of PTSD Total symptoms were negatively correlated, thus, as inhibitory control increases, PTSD avoidance symptoms decrease Finally, avoidance symptoms were found to be an important mediator of inhibition and the development of PTSD arousal and reexperiencing symptoms in children. Post Hoc analyses also revealed emotion regulation as a mediator of maternal report of inhibitory control skills on PTSD Total symptoms.
