Life stress versus traumatic stress: The impact of life events on psychological functioning in children with and without serious illness

Psychological Trauma : Theory, Research, Practice and Policy
Victoria W WillardSean Phipps

Abstract

To determine the differential impact of potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and other stressful life events on psychological functioning in 2 groups of children: those with cancer and those without history of serious illness. Children with cancer age 8-17 (n = 254) and age-, sex-, and race/ethnicity-matched controls (n = 142) completed self-report measures of stressful life events and psychological functioning. Stressful life events included those that may meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 2000) A1 criteria (PTEs; 9 events) and others that would likely not (other events; 21 events). Children with cancer endorsed significantly more PTEs than control children. There were no differences between groups in number of other events experienced. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that number of other events accounted for significant variance in psychological functioning, above and beyond group status, demographic factors (age and socioeconomic status), and number of PTEs. The number of cumulative other events experienced is a significant predictor of psychological functioning in both youth with serious illness and controls. In contrast, cumulative PTEs a...Continue Reading

Citations

Oct 2, 2015·Journal of Pediatric Psychology·Rachel TillerySean Phipps
Aug 31, 2019·International Journal of Hematologic Oncology·Hilary A MarusakChristine A Rabinak
Oct 23, 2019·Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience·Maria MavrikakiElena Chartoff

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