Posttraumatic cognitions in young children
Final Report Abstract
According to cognitive models, children exposed to traumatic or stressful experiences could develop dysfunctional posttraumatic or stressor-related cognitions that lead to further psychopathology. To date, investigations of posttraumatic cognitions have been mainly restricted to children above age 6. However, such cognitions could be important factors for trauma recovery in younger children as well. The initial aim to investigate posttraumatic cognitions in children between 3 and 6 years of age in the context of a pediatric injury was extended to the context of child maltreatment as well as related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project included secondary analysis of observational and self-report data from three datasets on child dysfunctional posttraumatic cognitions, a meta-analysis on the prevalence of young children’s posttraumatic stress disorder, and longitudinal data from the COVID-19 Unmasked study. The main results of the project are from the COVID-19 Unmasked Study - a prospective longitudinal study investigating child mental health during the pandemic in Australia as part of a global collaboration with nine other countries. The study was conducted in close collaboration with the Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Australia. Both, qualitative and quantitative, methods were used to investigate the study aims related to child posttraumatic cognitions. Caregiver report was collected for N = 998 children (1-6 years) in Australia using an online survey. Drawing on the current qualitative findings as well as empirical and theoretical literature, a theoretical model to describe cognitive processing of stressful events in preschool children was proposed. The model includes child cognitions (misconceptions, worries, fears and perceived vulnerability) and behaviours (increased cautiousness and avoidance, arousal and attachment-seeking behaviour). Furthermore, a quantitative measure to assess Preschooler Stressor-related Thoughts and Worries (PSTW) was developed. The instrument showed acceptable internal consistency and test-retest-reliability. Construct validity was supported by positive associations between the PSTW score and preschooler emotional and behavioural problems. Further analyses are planned to examine the longitudinal development of child dysfunctional cognitions using this measure as well as the association with child mental health and caregiver variables. The results have important implications for the treatment of traumatised preschoolers as they suggest that cognitive processes are important even at this early age. The developed theoretical model can inform future research on cognitive processing of preschool children. Furthermore, current findings suggest that the PSTW is a promising measure of preschooler dysfunctional cognitions related to the COVID-19 pandemic that may have relevance for other similarly disruptive or traumatic events.
Publications
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(2020). Report 1: Early Findings and Recommendations from COVID-19 Unmasked Young Child Survey 1. Brisbane. Queensland Centre for Perinatal & Infant Mental Health, Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service
De Young, Paterson, March, Hoehn, Alisic, Cobham, Donovan, Middeldorp, Gash & Vasileva
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(2020). Research review: A meta‐analysis of the international prevalence and comorbidity of mental disorders in children between 1 and 7 years. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 62, 372-381
Vasileva, M., Graf, R. K., Reinelt, T., Petermann, U., & Petermann, F.
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(2021). Children’s daily life after potentially traumatic injury: A naturalistic observation study. Traumatology
Vasileva, M., Schilpzand, E. J., Mangelsdorf, S. N., Conroy, R., Barrett, A., Jowett, H., Bressan, S., Babl, F. E., Anderson, V., Mehl, M. R., & Alisic, E.
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(2021). COVID-19 unmasked: Preschool children’s negative thoughts and worries during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 12:1
Vasileva, M, Alisic, E. & De Young, A.
