Journal Article

Complex Trauma and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents Placed in Foster Care

Ake, George S., Gerrity, Ellen T., Layne, Christopher M., Steinberg, Alan M., Fairbank, John A., Briggs, Ernestine C., Ko, Susan J., Pynoos, Robert S., Greeson, Johanna K. P., Kisiel, Cassandra L., Howard, Michael L.

2011

Overview

Many children in the child welfare system (CWS) have histories of recurrent interpersonal trauma perpetrated by caregivers early in life often referred to as complex trauma. Children in the CWS also experience a diverse range of reactions across multiple areas of functioning that are associated with such exposure. Nevertheless, few CWSs routinely screen for trauma exposure and associated symptoms beyond an initial assessment of the precipitating event. This study examines trauma histories, including complex trauma exposure (physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, domestic violence), posttraumatic stress, and behavioral and emotional problems of 2,251 youth (age 0 to 21; M = 9.5, SD = 4.3) in foster care who were referred to a National Child Traumatic Stress Network site for treatment. High prevalence rates of complex trauma exposure were observed: 70.4% of the sample reported at least two of the traumas that constitute complex trauma; 11.7% of the sample reported all 5 types. Compared to youth with other types of trauma, those with complex trauma histories had significantly higher rates of internalizing problems, posttraumatic stress, and clinical diagnoses, and differed on some demographic variables. Implications for child welfare practice and future research are discussed.

• Publisher: Child Welfare League of America,Child Welfare League of America, Inc
• Subject: Adolescent / Adolescents / Affective Symptoms - diagnosis / Affective Symptoms - epidemiology / Antisocial Behavior / At Risk Persons / Behavior / Behavior problems / Caregivers / Case Records / Child / Child Abuse / Child Abuse - diagnosis / Child Abuse - psychology / Child Abuse - statistics & numerical data / Child Behavior Disorders - diagnosis / Child Behavior Disorders - epidemiology / Child care / Child Care Services / Child custody / Child fostering / Child Neglect / Child placement / Child Welfare / Child Welfare - statistics & numerical data / Children / Children & youth / Childrens health / Clinical Diagnosis / Complexity / Databases, Factual / Demographic change / Domestic violence / Emotional abuse / Emotional Problems / Emotional Response / Ethnic groups / Family Violence / Female / Foster Care / Foster Children / Foster Home Care - psychology / Foster Home Care - statistics & numerical data / Health behavior / Health services / Humans / Incidence / Job placement / Male / Medical treatment / Mental Health / Mental Health - statistics & numerical data / Mental Health Programs / Mental stress / Minority & ethnic groups / Networks / Placement / Posttraumatic Stress Disorder / Psychic trauma / Psychological aspects / Race / Residential treatment / Sex crimes / Sexual abuse / Social networks / Social service / Stress / Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis / Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology / Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - etiology / Toy industry / Trauma / Traumatic stress / Treatment / Treatment programs / United States - epidemiology / Victims of Crime / Violence / Welfare Services / Young Children / Youth