The role of maladaptive appraisals in child acute stress reactions.
OBJECTIVE
To test the prediction of cognitive models of trauma that negative, catastrophic appraisals central to the development of psychopathological stress reactions.


METHODS
A cross-sectional, concurrent design was used.


METHODS
Sixty-six children (aged 7-13 years), who were hospitalized after traumatic injury were assessed within 4 weeks of their trauma for acute stress disorder, depression, and administered the Child Post-traumatic Cognitions Inventory (cPTCI). Parental acute stress was also assessed.


RESULTS
Children's negative appraisals of their ongoing vulnerability accounted for 44% of the variance of acute stress reactions in children. Injury severity, depression, age, and parental acute stress levels did not account for significant additional variance.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings provide support for cognitive models of trauma adaptation and highlight the importance of assessing children's appraisals of their traumatic experience in order to develop effective interventions.
Salmon
Karen
K
School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Australia. K.Salmon@unsw.edu.au
Sinclair
Emma
E
Bryant
Richard A
RA
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D002666:Psychology, Child / Q000379:methods*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D040701:Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires