The role of family processes in childhood traumatic stress reactions for youths living in urban poverty.

Abstract

This article reports findings from a cross-sectional study exploring relationships between trauma exposure, childhood traumatic stress, and family functioning. Data were collected from a sample of 100 mostly African American, 6- to 9-year-old children and their caregivers who were living in low-income, urban neighborhoods and analyzed using hierarchical multiple regressions. The children experienced high levels of exposure and traumatic stress symptoms. Trauma exposure was correlated with reexperiencing, avoidance, and arousal and also with externalizing behavior problems. Reexperiencing and avoidance symptoms were related to lower ratings of the value of family routines reported by caregivers. Higher ratings of family structure, including both organization and support, were related to fewer internalizing and externalizing behavior problems.