Psychological Changes of Children Surviving Terrorist Shock in Indian Kashmir

Abstract

This study was undertaken with the objectives to assess psychological responses in children surviving terrorist attack and to observe relationships between various risk factors and subsequent psychological changes. Assessment of psychological changes was done on 131 children who were directly exposed to terrorist attack. Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist was used to assess victimized children for analysis purpose. Possible risk factors were assessed by questionnaire to the parents. What has emerged as the most interesting aspect of this research is that, whereas for adults, pretraumatic risk factors are extremely important predictors of chronic posttraumatic symptoms, for children, the most important consideration appears to be the death of the mother and number of stressors.