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Disasters and Depressive Symptoms in Children: A Review

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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.

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Notes

  1. The following articles were included in this review but not otherwise cited: Bromet et al. (2000); Brown and Goodman (2005); Eksi and Braun (2009); Joseph et al. (1993); Kar et al. (2007); Korol et al. (1999); Lengua et al. (2005); Pina et al. (2008); Piyasil et al. (2007); Piyavhatkul et al. (2008); Sahin et al. (2007); Scheeringa and Zeanah (2008); Telles et al. (2009); Vila et al. (2001); Wang et al. (2011); and Ziaaddini et al. (2009).

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Acknowledgments

We thank Constance Ogokeh, Brooke Beaulieu, and Victoria Novinger for their administrative assistance with this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3984, Atlanta, GA, 30302-3984, USA

    Betty S. Lai

  2. Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA

    Beth A. Auslander

  3. Department of Preventive Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    Stephanie L. Fitzpatrick

  4. Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA

    Valentina Podkowirow

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  1. Betty S. Lai
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  2. Beth A. Auslander
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Correspondence to Betty S. Lai.

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Lai, B.S., Auslander, B.A., Fitzpatrick, S.L. et al. Disasters and Depressive Symptoms in Children: A Review. Child Youth Care Forum 43, 489–504 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-014-9249-y

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