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Is maternal PTSD associated with greater exposure of very young children to violent media?
Author(s) -
Schechter Daniel S.,
Gross Anna,
Willheim Erica,
McCaw Jaime,
Turner J. Blake,
Myers Michael M.,
Zeanah Charles H.,
Gleason Mary Margaret
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.20472
Subject(s) - psychopathology , psychology , injury prevention , poison control , suicide prevention , occupational safety and health , human factors and ergonomics , posttraumatic stress , clinical psychology , psychiatry , medicine , medical emergency , pathology
This study examined media viewing by mothers with violence‐related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related media exposure of their preschool‐age children. Mothers ( N = 67) recruited from community pediatric clinics participated in a protocol involving a media‐preference survey. Severity of maternal PTSD and dissociation were significantly associated with child exposure to violent media. Family poverty and maternal viewing behavior were also associated. Maternal viewing behavior mediated the effects specifically of maternal PTSD severity on child exposure. Clinicians should assess maternal and child media viewing practices in families with histories of violent trauma exposure and related psychopathology.