Interview and recollection-based research with child disaster survivors: Participation-related changes in emotion and perceptions of participation.

Abstract

Research suggests that some types of trauma research can be conducted safely with children ages 10 and older. The aim of this project was to learn more about potential risks or benefits of conducting research with younger children and with child disaster survivors, specifically about research that includes children providing trauma recollections. Fifty 8- to 12-year-old children who experienced a devastating tornado participated in an in-person interview that included both individual and joint (mother-child) recollections of their tornado experiences 1 year after exposure. These 50 children also rated 3 emotions at 3 time points and rated their perceptions (e.g., benefit and regret) of research post-participation. Children (N = 28) also participated in phone surveys 3 months later to assess persistent participation-related emotions and perceptions. Child reported that emotions worsened from pre- to during participation; however, reports of emotions returned to preparticipation levels post-participation and remained so at the 3-month follow-up. Sixty-four percent of children reported at least some participation benefit and no participation regret immediately postparticipation, as did 89.3% at the 3-month follow-up. Four percent of children reported some participation regret (no benefit) postparticipation, and 0% 3 months later. No children requested to stop participating, and none required postresearch connection with crisis services. Posttraumatic stress symptom severity, tornado exposure, and age were largely unrelated to child-reported emotions and perceptions of research. Results indicate that carefully planned and executed disaster-related research that includes children providing recollections can be conducted with preadolescents with little risk and some benefit.