Lifetime incidences of traumatic events and mental health among children affected by HIV/AIDS in rural China.
Cross-sectional data were gathered from 1,625 children (M age = 12.85, SD = 2.21) which included 755 AIDS orphans, 466 vulnerable children, and 404 comparison children. Participants completed self-report measures of exposure to traumatic events, and psychosocial adjustment including behavior problems, depression, self-esteem, and future orientation. AIDS orphans and vulnerable children reported experiencing a higher total occurrence, density, duration, initial impact and lasting impact of traumatic events compared to comparison children. Scores reflecting adjustment were lower among orphans and vulnerable children than among comparison children. Both orphan status and traumatic events contributed unique variance in the expected direction to the prediction of psychosocial adjustment. The data in the current study suggested that children affected by HIV/AIDS in China are exposed to more trauma and suffer more adjustment problems than children who do not experience HIV/AIDS in their families.
Li
Xiaoming
X
Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics Prevention Research Center, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. xiaoli@med.wayne.edu
Barnett
Douglas
D
Fang
Xiaoyi
X
Lin
Xiuyun
X
Zhao
Guoxiang
G
Zhao
Junfeng
J
Hong
Yan
Y
Zhang
Liying
L
Naar-King
Sylvie
S
Stanton
Bonita
B
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D054540:Child, Orphaned / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012649:Self Concept; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012931:Social Environment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology