Trauma Exposure in Primary School Children: Who Is at Risk?

Abstract

In order to direct efforts to prevent children from being exposed to trauma and its psychosocial consequences, more knowledge is needed about which children are at risk. Therefore, we examined demographic risk factors for trauma exposure in a sample of Dutch primary school children in the general population (N = 1,770, mean age 10.24 years). Fourteen percent of the children reported exposure. Age was positively associated with exposure while sex, ethnicity, and region of residence did not emerge as significant risk factors. These results imply that prevention measures should be provided not only to groups of children who are traditionally considered vulnerable but broadly.

Keywords:

• predictors
• traumatic experience
• epidemiology
• prevention

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants from Professor H. A. Wijerstichting, Madurodamfonds, Fonds Slachtofferhulp, and Stichting Achmea Slachtoffer en Samenleving. The authors thank Wim Wolters for his help in conceiving this study, Ingrid Russel for her assistance in the informed consent procedure, and Daniëlle van Esch, Anna Muntingh, Janneke Onrust, Jemaine de Vries, and Liesbeth Vos for their help in the data collection.