A meta-analysis of risk factors that predict psychopathology following accidental trauma.
OBJECTIVE
This meta-analysis aimed to explore the risk factors that place a child at risk of psychopathology following accidental trauma.


METHODS
The predictive power of 8 factors was examined via transforming and combining the effect sizes to yield a weighted average effect size for each factor.


RESULTS
The results indicated that the majority of effect sizes, although significant, were inconsistent across the studies, yielding little conclusive evidence. However, pretrauma psychopathology and threat to life were strong and consistent predictors.


CONCLUSIONS
Information gathered from such meta-analyses could be used in the identification of at-risk children and the development of screening tools. However, further widespread and comprehensive reviews of the potential risk factors and their relationships to psychopathology need to be investigated.
Cox
Catherine M
CM
School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. c.cox@psy.uq.edu.au
Kenardy
Justin A
JA
Hendrikz
Joan K
JK
D000059:Accidents / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D015987:Effect Modifier, Epidemiologic; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D002666:Psychology, Child; D011599:Psychopathology; D012107:Research Design; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications*