School children who witness violence, shootouts or hear gunshots may get traumatised and this may leave lasting negative effects on their health.
School children who witness violence, shootouts or hear gunshots may get traumatised and this may leave lasting negative effects on their health.
Studies in the past have linked community violence to psychological morbidity in young children. However, few have examined the association between violence and associated posttraumatic stress symptoms. To explore this, researchers from America looked at the influence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD) on daily cortisol response among 28 girls and 15 boys aged between 7 and 13 years. Some of the PSTD symptoms are difficulty with attention or sleep, intrusive thoughts and flashbacks.
Cortisol is a hormone regulated by the stress-response system. Cortisol levels are typically highest in the morning and fall gradually throughout the day. Stress-induced changes to cortisol production and regulation can lead to a weaker immune system, and increased fat storage in the abdominal region linked to cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
The mothers of the participants were asked to rate their child's exposure to community violence such as hearing gunshots, witnessing or experiencing shoving, hitting, punching, knife attacks, shootings and the resulting post-traumatic stress symptoms.
The researchers also collected saliva samples from the children four times a day over three days to measure cortisol production over the course of the day.
It was found that the higher children scored on the stress symptoms, the greater the disruption to their cortisol production pattern and the higher their cortisol levels over the course of the day, especially in the afternoon and evening.
The above findings indicate that adolescents exposed to community violence are vulnerable to post-traumatic stress and they could experience nightmares and intrusive thoughts about the trauma. This can lead to depression, anger, distrust, fear, and alienation, and a sense of betrayal.
Studies in the past have linked community violence to psychological morbidity in young children. However, few have examined the association between violence and associated posttraumatic stress symptoms. To explore this, researchers from America looked at the influence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD) on daily cortisol response among 28 girls and 15 boys aged between 7 and 13 years. Some of the PSTD symptoms are difficulty with attention or sleep, intrusive thoughts and flashbacks.
Cortisol is a hormone regulated by the stress-response system. Cortisol levels are typically highest in the morning and fall gradually throughout the day. Stress-induced changes to cortisol production and regulation can lead to a weaker immune system, and increased fat storage in the abdominal region linked to cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
The mothers of the participants were asked to rate their child's exposure to community violence such as hearing gunshots, witnessing or experiencing shoving, hitting, punching, knife attacks, shootings and the resulting post-traumatic stress symptoms.
The researchers also collected saliva samples from the children four times a day over three days to measure cortisol production over the course of the day.
It was found that the higher children scored on the stress symptoms, the greater the disruption to their cortisol production pattern and the higher their cortisol levels over the course of the day, especially in the afternoon and evening.
The above findings indicate that adolescents exposed to community violence are vulnerable to post-traumatic stress and they could experience nightmares and intrusive thoughts about the trauma. This can lead to depression, anger, distrust, fear, and alienation, and a sense of betrayal.
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