Faculty Collaboration Database

Assessment of trauma symptoms among adolescent assault victims. J Adolesc Health 2005 Jan;36(1):70.e7-13

Date

01/22/2005

Pubmed ID

15661600

DOI

10.1016/j.jadohealth.2004.03.004

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-12344255748 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   14 Citations

Abstract

PURPOSE: To identify and evaluate the effectiveness of an assessment tool that could be used to assess the psychological needs of youth injured by community violence.

METHODS: The Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC) was administered to 120 adolescents participating in Project Ujima, a hospital-based program providing Emergency Department support and home-based psychosocial follow-up to victims of violent crime (mean age = 14.8 years; 72% male; 70% African-American, 19% white, 8% Latino). Participants' TSCC scores were compared with normative data using one-sample, two-tailed, Student's t-tests. Comparisons of TSCC scale scores were also made based on participant age, gender, ethnicity, and injury type using one-way multivariate analysis of variance.

RESULTS: Seventeen percent of the participants scored in the clinical range on the Underreporting Scale of the TSCC, reflecting a tendency to deny common thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Elevations on all clinical scales were modest. Males showed elevations on Underreporting and decreased trauma symptoms, in comparison to normative data and to females in the sample.

CONCLUSIONS: The reported low levels of symptomatology among this sample of youth may be due, in part, to a defensive response style.

Author List

McCart MR, Davies WH, Harris R, Wincek J, Calhoun AD, Melzer-Lange MD

Author

Marlene D. Melzer-Lange MD Adjunct Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior
Affective Symptoms
Crime Victims
Emergency Service, Hospital
Female
Humans
Male
Mass Screening
Needs Assessment
Psychometrics
Sex Factors
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Surveys and Questionnaires
Wounds and Injuries