NCJ Number
145977
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 17 Issue: 6 Dated: (November-December 1993) Pages: 795-803
Date Published
1993
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The effect of chronic violence on young children in a particularly violent region of South Africa was investigated.
Abstract
Teachers from five nursery schools in rural areas of Natal completed the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Questionnaire for Children on behalf of 148 randomly selected children (73 girls, 75 boys) under their care. Also, the children drew pictures to represent experiences in their lives. The survey showed that a significant proportion of the children suffered from PTSD, and the drawings indicated severe emotional disturbance. Boys and girls were equally likely to suffer from PTSD. Greater frequency and intensity of violent incidents were associated with a greater likelihood of PTSD. However, the drawings were not good predictors of PTSD. Children's ability to express their emotional trauma in drawings was positively related to a lessening of suffering from PTSD. Thus, externalization of trauma through art may be a useful psychotherapeutic tool. 7 tables, 1 figure, and 10 references