By Na Shai Alexander
It is no secret that many African-American children live in impoverished environments where violence and abuse are common. According to the U.S. Department of Health, despite making up only 12 percent of the general population, over 20 percent of African-Americans lives in poverty. Living in poverty substantially increases the risk of exposure to abuse and violence, which may lead to the development of serious psychological problems such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which the Department speculates affects nearly a third of African-American adolescents and teens.
PTSD has been classified as a severe anxiety disorder, which affects those who have experienced trauma, such as in the case of natural disasters, war, an accident, or another form of violence. Those who suffer from the disorder re-experience the original source of the trauma through recurring and obsessive thoughts or perceptions, such as dreams. While the disorder is commonly associated with the trauma of warfare; psychologists are now becoming interested in the role that stress plays in childhood and adolescent development.
Researchers have long debated what level of trauma or stress leads to the symptoms of PTSD, but it is now widely recognized that both adolescents and younger children are capable of experiencing enough stress to exhibit symptoms of the disorder.
According to Hilit Kletter of the Early Life Stress Program at Stanford University, children can and do experience trauma, and consequently, PTSD. “There are many different types of trauma, including abuse or being a witness or victim of violence,” said Kletter. “Our program focuses primarily on interpersonal violence, as it places kids at a much higher risk for developing PTSD.”
Interpersonal violence includes domestic violence such as abuse that may occur within the home as well as the gang violence and shootings that have become a grim reality for far too many African-American children. This kind of violence is often enduring, as are the responses to such trauma. Children can “re-experience” trauma for months or even years after an event has taken place, revealing the need to successfully be able to identify the signs of PTSD in children and young adults.
In the general population, the prevalence of PTSD is between 7 and 14 percent. “The rates are much higher in children exposed to this type of trauma,” Kletter explains, stating that the prevalence range jumps from 7 percent to between 33 and 90 percent in children who have experienced a traumatic event.
Researchers from the Early Life Stress Program conclude that there are often misconceptions that children cannot be impacted as much as adults by traumatic events. However, recent research has revealed that children may be even more susceptible to developing anxiety disorders such as PTSD. This fact is particularly alarming, as children are also the least likely to be diagnosed with the disorder. In particular, African-American children–who are more likely to be victims of serious crimes than Caucasians and Non-White Hispanics – are least likely to be treated by a mental health care professional.
“The truth is, even infants can have symptoms of PTSD,” said Kletter. “PTSD is very much a developmental disorder, meaning that if left untreated, childhood trauma symptoms may become chronic and persist into adolescence and adulthood.”
While psychologists typically look at the symptoms of PTSD as they appear in adults, children with the disorder also have unique symptoms and needs, as well. “The developmental level of the individual is very important,” said Kletter. In other words, while some of the symptoms of PTSD are the same in both adults and children, the symptoms vary based on the age of the child as well. Younger children may reenact the event through play, stories, or drawings. Nightmares and separation anxiety are often common in young children who cannot quite express their fears and anxieties through words.
Older children may have trouble focusing in school, may become easily distracted, and exhibit aggressive behavior. This may lead to later difficulties in holding a job or maintaining close personal relationships or trusting other people. Physical conditions can also result, such as hypertension or asthma. If left untreated, PTSD can be very debilitating and may even lead to comorbidity, resulting in the development of another disorder such as obsessive-compulsive disorder.
The Stanford Early Life Stress Program is one of several research labs throughout the country that recognizes the disparities in treatment and diagnosis that children face. Currently, the lab continues to study the effects of trauma on children, hoping to shed light on the fact that children do suffer from traumatic experiences that can cause psychological harm.
“I think that while there is beginning to be greater media coverage and public awareness, we are still lacking in this respect,” remarked Kletter. “Many people I encounter tend to associate PTSD with Vietnam vets or soldiers and there needs to be greater awareness that it is very prevalent in child populations as well.”
Children at the Early Life Stress Program are treated through a variety of different types of psychosocial therapies geared towards relieving feelings of fear and anxiety, including family based and cognitive therapies.
With more education about the disorder, its symptoms, and the effects that trauma have on children, perhaps more people will recognize the need to protect all children from violence. Researchers hope to encourage parents, teachers, and other caregivers to seek the appropriate help for children impacted by trauma.
Na Shai Alexander is currently a fourth year student at the University of Virginia studying Psychology, English, and African-American Studies.
Sources: U.S. Department of Health, U.S. Department of Veteran Affair, Stanford University Early Life Stress Program
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