Frequency of Life Traumatic Events and their Psychological Impacts in 7-15 Years Old Urban Students of Kermanshah City in 2006

Introduction: Unfortunately, the prevalence of traumatic events among children is quite high. These events will result in different kinds of affective, cognitive and behavioral problems. This study examines the frequency of life traumatic events and their psychological impacts in the urban students of Kermanshah in 2006.

Materials and Methods: Using cluster random sampling, 475 primary and secondary students from 17 different schools were selected. The students were aged 7- 15. Every child was interviewed using a Life Incidence Traumatic Events scale (LITEs), Child Report Of Post traumatic Symptoms (CROPS) and Parents Report Of Post traumatic Symptoms (PROPS). The data were then analyzed using descriptive and inferential (chi squire) statistics.

Results: Our results demonstrated that 57.5% (274 cases) of the participants - girls 33.8% (161) and boys 23.7% (113) experienced at least one traumatic event in their life. Physical abuse and having a sick person in the family was the most common events coming out at boys 34.1% (162) and 30.3% (144), respectively. The corresponding values in girls were 32.4% (154) and 32.8% (156). Being kidnapped was reported for at least ( 2%). Sexual abuse came in last with at lease 7 boys (1.4%) and 11 girls (2.3%). Only 8% of the participants had experienced no traumatic life events .PROPS results has shown 40% of girls and 31% of boys scores were greater than the cut of point. The corresponding values for CROPS were 44.5%% and 18% for girls and boys, respectively.

Discussion: More than half of the participants had experienced at least one traumatic event in their life and most of them needed psychological intervention. The scale of the events and their serious negative impacts on the sample call for a professional intervention as well as psychoeducation for the families.