Is maternal PTSD associated with greater exposure of very young children to violent media?
This study examined media viewing by mothers with violence-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related media exposure of their preschool-age children. Mothers (N = 67) recruited from community pediatric clinics participated in a protocol involving a media-preference survey. Severity of maternal PTSD and dissociation were significantly associated with child exposure to violent media. Family poverty and maternal viewing behavior were also associated. Maternal viewing behavior mediated the effects specifically of maternal PTSD severity on child exposure. Clinicians should assess maternal and child media viewing practices in families with histories of violent trauma exposure and related psychopathology.
Schechter
Daniel S
DS
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Service, University of Geneva Hospitals, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. daniel.schechter@hcuge.ch
Gross
Anna
A
Willheim
Erica
E
McCaw
Jaime
J
Turner
J Blake
JB
Myers
Michael M
MM
Zeanah
Charles H
CH
Gleason
Mary Margaret
MM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D001143:Arousal; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D009040:Motion Pictures; D016487:Parenting / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011203:Poverty / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D011594:Psychometrics; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D013690:Television; D018910:Video Games; D014754:Violence / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult