Yiming Liang1, Yueyue Zhou1, Josef I Ruzek2, Zhengkui Liu3. 1. CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 16 Lincui Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China. 2. Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. 3. CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 16 Lincui Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China. Electronic address: liuzk@psych.ac.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Exposure to childhood trauma can cause psychopathology and negative psychosocial outcomes across the lifespan. Rural-to-urban migrant children are commonly exposed to traumatic experiences (TEs). However, no study has comprehensively examined patterns of childhood trauma in Chinese culture. The current study aimed to examine patterns of childhood trauma exposure among Chinese rural-to-urban migrant children. METHODS: A large-scale (N = 15,890) cross-sectional survey of rural-to-urban migrant workers' children in grades 4 to 9 was conducted in Beijing. Childhood TEs, including accidents and injuries, interpersonal violence, and vicarious trauma, as well as demographics and internalizing and externalizing behaviors, were measured. RESULTS: Four patterns of childhood trauma were found: low trauma exposure (60.4%), vicarious trauma exposure (23.9%), domestic violence exposure (10.5%), and multiple trauma exposure (5.3%). Age, gender, parents' marital status, father's education level, family support and peer support differentiated the four TE patterns. Both internalizing and externalizing behaviors were more severe in patterns with more types of TEs. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide a better understanding of childhood trauma in Chinese culture and the relationship between TEs and mental health. Clinicians and policy makers should tailor prevention and treatment programs according to different patterns of victimization.
BACKGROUND: Exposure to childhood trauma can cause psychopathology and negative psychosocial outcomes across the lifespan. Rural-to-urban migrant children are commonly exposed to traumatic experiences (TEs). However, no study has comprehensively examined patterns of childhood trauma in Chinese culture. The current study aimed to examine patterns of childhood trauma exposure among Chinese rural-to-urban migrant children. METHODS: A large-scale (N = 15,890) cross-sectional survey of rural-to-urban migrant workers' children in grades 4 to 9 was conducted in Beijing. Childhood TEs, including accidents and injuries, interpersonal violence, and vicarious trauma, as well as demographics and internalizing and externalizing behaviors, were measured. RESULTS: Four patterns of childhood trauma were found: low trauma exposure (60.4%), vicarious trauma exposure (23.9%), domestic violence exposure (10.5%), and multiple trauma exposure (5.3%). Age, gender, parents' marital status, father's education level, family support and peer support differentiated the four TE patterns. Both internalizing and externalizing behaviors were more severe in patterns with more types of TEs. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide a better understanding of childhood trauma in Chinese culture and the relationship between TEs and mental health. Clinicians and policy makers should tailor prevention and treatment programs according to different patterns of victimization.
Authors: Lin Zhang; Xueyao Ma; Xianglian Yu; Meizhu Ye; Na Li; Shan Lu; Jiayi Wang Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-06-24 Impact factor: 3.390