Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri- St. Louis, United States.
Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri- St. Louis, United States.
Child Abuse Negl. 2018 Mar;77:188-197. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.01.009.
Complex trauma exposure has been operationalized as multiple or chronic interpersonal traumas that begin early in life and is thought to result in widespread self-regulation difficulties across several domains of functioning. Prior research has demonstrated that there are gender differences in trauma exposure as well as trauma-related symptoms; however, gender discrepancies have not previously been examined in the context of child survivors of complex trauma. The aim of the present study was to determine whether there are gender differences in both caregiver and child-reported trauma exposure and symptoms among 167 children who have experienced complex trauma (3-18 years, M = 9.90, SD = 3.92; 61.67% female). Male children were somewhat more likely to have been exposed to domestic violence, while female children were more likely to have experienced sexual abuse as well as more likely to have been abused by a caregiver. Gender differences were observed for several of the caregiver-reported symptom domains, with female children exhibiting higher levels of depression, dissociation, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) hyperarousal symptoms, and total PTSD symptoms. Female children also self-reported higher levels of sexual concerns, and marginally more re-experiencing and total PTSD symptoms. Secondary analyses utilizing only children who experienced sexual abuse revealed that gender differences largely remained, again with females manifesting higher levels of symptoms. Thus, following complex trauma, female children may be at higher risk for trauma-related difficulties, which has implications for research and clinical interventions.
复杂创伤暴露被定义为生命早期发生的多次或慢性人际创伤，据认为会导致多个功能领域的广泛自我调节困难。先前的研究表明，创伤暴露和与创伤相关的症状存在性别差异；然而，之前尚未在复杂创伤后儿童幸存者的背景下检查过性别差异。本研究的目的是确定在经历复杂创伤的 167 名儿童中（3-18 岁，M=9.90，SD=3.92；61.67%为女性），照料者报告和儿童报告的创伤暴露和症状是否存在性别差异。男性儿童更有可能遭受家庭暴力，而女性儿童更有可能遭受性虐待，并且更有可能受到照料者的虐待。在几个照料者报告的症状领域观察到性别差异，女性儿童表现出更高水平的抑郁、分离、创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）警觉症状和总 PTSD 症状。女性儿童还自我报告了更高水平的性问题，以及更明显的再体验和总 PTSD 症状。仅利用经历过性虐待的儿童进行的二次分析表明，性别差异基本仍然存在，女性的症状水平仍然更高。因此，在经历复杂创伤后，女性儿童可能面临更高的创伤相关困难风险，这对研究和临床干预具有影响。
