Disasters and Depressive Symptoms in Children: A Review

• 2014

  Sign in to bookmark this resource.

  Sign in
• Betty Lai; Beth Auslander; Stephanie Fitzpatrick; Valentina Podkowirow
PMID: 25067897DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs10566-014-9249-y

---

Access Resources

• Journal ArticleEN

About

This review examines how disasters affect children's mental health, focusing on depression. It describes that many children experience depressive symptoms after both natural and man-made disasters. The rates of depression vary widely, from 2% to 69%. Risk factors include being female, stress during the disaster, and posttraumatic stress symptoms. The article highlights the need for more research to understand these issues better and suggests using consistent methods across studies. It also emphasizes creating targeted interventions for affected children based on identified risk factors like age and gender differences in depressive responses post-disaster.

---

Tags

Hazards: CBRNE; Natural Disasters; Severe Weather; Trauma; Violence

Audiences: Behavioral Health Professionals; Physicians; Public Health Professionals

Emergency Management Stage: Recovery

Collection: Disaster Research Literature Review

Keywords: Child; Depression; Disasters; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Institutions: Georgia State University; University of Texas Medical Branch; Rush University Medical Center; University of Miami

---

More like this

Sleep Problems and Posttraumatic Stress: Children Exposed to a Natural Disaster 2020 · Boston College, University of Miami, Scottish Rite for Children, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, University of Houston, University of Texas Medical Branch Community Engagement in Disaster Preparedness and Recovery: A Tale of Two Cities - Los Angeles and New Orleans 2013 · University of California, Los Angeles, Healthy African American Families, RAND Corporation, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Children and Families in the Context of Disasters: Implications for Preparedness and Response 2008 · University of Oklahoma, University of Texas Southwestern

---

The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only. It does not substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

---