The Elm

Professors Collins, Bellin, RA Scholars Rebecca Watkins and Sara DiFiori, SSWR Conference

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Professors Collins, Bellin, RA Scholars Rebecca Watkins and Sara DiFiori, and colleagues submit poster at SSWR Conference

Poster Title: The Impact of Caregiver Depression, Exposure to Violence/Victimization, and a Trauma Informed Prevention Intervention on Child Dissociation in Urban African American Families Surviving Poverty

Abstract: Dissociation in children following exposure to violence/victimization is a serious public health concern associated with adverse developmental outcomes. Child dissociation is estimated to impact 19 to 73% of children with clinical estimates between 24 and 44%. Measurement of severity and frequency may be influenced by reporter and child self-reported data are scarce as are interventions to mitigate children’s dissociative symptoms. Furthermore, risk factors for child dissociation are not well delineated. We posed the following question to address these gaps in trauma science literature using data collected from families at risk for child maltreatment and/or neglect living in an East Coast metropolitan city: (1) What level of dissociation do children experience? (2) What is the relationship between child dissociation, exposure to violence/victimization and caregiver depression? and (3) Does a trauma-responsive prevention intervention reduce children’s dissociation?

https://secure.sswr.org/2023-conference-home/