title: Children's Cognitive Functioning in Disasters and Terrorism.
abstract: A growing literature has begun to address the cognitions that influence children's disaster reactions as well as the effects of disasters on children's cognitions. These cognitions must be viewed in the context of developmental and cultural considerations as well as disaster-related factors such as exposure and secondary stressors. This review examines the extant literature on children's cognitions related to disasters and terrorism including threat appraisal, beliefs, attention and concentration, memory, academic achievement, and executive functioning. The review highlights areas where research is lacking such as the effect of disasters on children's attention, concentration, content of disaster memories, and executive functioning. It also notes findings that may advance post-disaster screening and intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine and Terrorism and Disaster Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 920 Stanton L. Young Boulevard, P.O. Box 26901, WP-3217, Oklahoma City, OK, 73126-0901, USA. Betty-Pfefferbaum@ouhsc.edu.
authors.forename: Betty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pfefferbaum
authors.affiliation: Courtroom Sciences, Inc., 4950 North O'Connor Road, Suite 100, Irving, TX, 75062, USA.
authors.forename: Mary A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Noffsinger
authors.affiliation: Terrorism and Disaster Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, P.O. Box 26901, WP-3217, Oklahoma City, OK, 73126-0901, USA.
authors.forename: Anne K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.affiliation: Kansas University School of Medicine, 1010 N. Kansas Street, Wichita, KS, 67214, USA.
authors.forename: Vandana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Varma
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004190:Disasters; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D000067073:Psychological Trauma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D023481:Terrorism / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Children; Cognitive functioning; Disaster; Terrorism; Trauma