Identifier
etd-07082009-124916
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Psychology
Document Type
Dissertation
Abstract
While many children emotionally recover following a disaster (Salzer & Bickman, 1999), possibly one-third of children will experience significant psychological distress or post-traumatic stress symptoms which cause interference with their daily school and home functioning (Vernberg, La Greca, Silverman, & Prinstein, 1996). Research supports the role that exposure, loss, and disruption play in increasing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) severity in children following disasters (La Greca, Silverman, Vernberg, Prinstein, 1996; Verberg et al., 1996). However, there are no assessments or questionnaires that have investigated what type of events during and following a hurricane are most predictive of post-traumatic stress reactions. Using logistic regression analyses, the current study examines children’s hurricane experiences and post-hurricane events in order to develop as assessment tool with psychometric properties that predicts post-traumatic stress symptomatology in children. The 20 items retained for the Hurricane Experiences and Life Disruption (HELD) Questionnaire were found to be significantly predictive of PTSD symptomatology.
Date
2009
Document Availability at the Time of Submission
Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.
Recommended Citation
Pellegrin, Angie Lynn, "The role of hurricane exposure and life disruption as predictors of child post-traumatic stress symptomatology following hurricane Katrina" (2009). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 1567.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/1567
Committee Chair
Drew Gouvier
DOI
10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.1567