Parenting behaviors and posttraumatic symptoms in relation to children's symptomatology following a traumatic event.

Child- and caregiver-report about parenting behaviors, and caregiver-report of their own symptoms were examined in relation to children's symptomatology following a potentially traumatic event (PTE) among 91 youth. Child-report of hostile and coercive parenting was a salient predictor of child posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), internalizing symptoms, and personal adjustment. Caregivers' own trauma symptoms predicted caregiver-report of child PTSD, internalizing and externalizing symptoms, but not child-reported child symptoms. Implications for assessment and intervention following exposure to a PTE are emphasized.