Epidemiology of Trauma and Trauma-Related Disorders in Children and Adolescents

While most research concerning trauma has been conducted in adults, many children and adolescents are confronted with one or more potentially traumatic events while growing up and are at risk of developing a trauma-related disorder such as acute stress disorder (ASD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or complex PTSD. This chapter provides an overview of estimates and relevant predictors of trauma exposure and trauma-related disorders among children and adolescents. Age, gender, externalising behaviour and stressors in the home environment appear to predict trauma exposure. While empirical findings for ASD and complex PTSD among children and adolescents are fairly scarce, the main predictors of PTSD appear to involve the nature of the trauma (with interpersonal trauma being related to higher rates of PTSD), acute stress levels, cognitive factors and family or broader social support factors. Low- and middle-income countries and young children are underrepresented in research into exposure and trauma-related disorders.