Developmental Differences in Children's and Adolescents' Post-Disaster Reactions
Articles > Article · 2010
Authors: Aysun DOĞAN
Issues in Mental Health Nursing, International, Scopus, 2010, vol 31, pp 470-476
DOI: 10.3109/01612840903582528
Summary
Disaster literature suggests that children's and adolescents' post-disaster reactions vary according to their developmental levels. Preschool children show less psychological problems as compared to older children and adolescents, but they have a higher incidence of trauma-specific fears and behavioral problems (e.g., dependency, clinging). School-age children's disaster responses include sleep and eating disturbances, behavioral problems, and poor school performance. Adolescents tend to exhibit symptoms such as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, belligerence, and pessimistic views about the future (Korol, Green, & Gleser, 1999 ).