title: Disasters and Depressive Symptoms in Children: A Review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Disasters are destructive, potentially traumatic events that affect millions of youth each year.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this paper was to review the literature on depressive symptoms among youth after disasters. Specifically, we examined the prevalence of depression, risk factors associated with depressive symptoms, and theories utilized in this research area.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched MEDLINE, PsycInfo, and PubMed electronic databases for English language articles published up to May 1, 2013. Reference lists from included studies were reviewed to capture additional studies. Only quantitative, peer reviewed studies, conducted with youth under the age of 18 years, that examined postdisaster depressive symptoms were included. Seventy-two studies met inclusion criteria. Prevalence of depressive symptoms, disaster type, correlates of depressive symptoms, and theories of depressive symptoms were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 27 studies (38%) reported on prevalence rates among youth in their sample. Prevalence rates of depression among youth postdisaster ranged from 2% to 69%. Potential risk factors were identified (e.g., female gender, exposure stressors, posttraumatic stress symptoms). Theories were examined in less than one-third of studies (k= 21).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the variability in prevalence rates, difficulty identifying a single profile of youth at risk for developing depressive symptoms, and lack of a unifying theory emerging from the studies, recommendations for future research are discussed. Use of established batteries of assessments could enable comparisons across studies. Merging existing theories from children's postdisaster and depression literatures could aid in the identification of risk factors and causal pathways.
authors: School of Public Health, Georgia State University.
authors: Betty S
authors: BS
authors: Lai
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical Branch.
authors: Beth A
authors: BA
authors: Auslander
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Rush University Medical Center.
authors: Stephanie L
authors: SL
authors: Fitzpatrick
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Miami.
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Podkowirow
keywords: children; depression; disaster; review; theory