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Protective Factors Based Model for Screening for Posttraumatic Distress in Adolescents

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Abstract

Background

There is growing application of school-based screening to identify post-traumatic distress in students following exposure to trauma. The consensus method is based on self-report questionnaires that assess posttraumatic symptoms, functional impairment, depression or anxiety.

Objective

The current research explored the possibility of using a model, based on the assessment of protective factors, as a screening method for identifying youth who may suffer from posttraumatic distress and need professional help in the aftermath of war.

Method

Participants were 482 Israeli high-school students who were exposed to ongoing missile attacks during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza in 2008. The data collected included symptom scales and three protective factor scales assessing perceived self-efficacy, cognitive-emotion regulation and flexibility in the use of various coping strategies.

Results

The results showed that all three protective factors were significant predictors of symptom severity. The protective-factor-based model utilized logistic regression and receiver operating characteristics analysis. The model correctly classified 84 % of adolescents presenting with probable post traumatic stress disorder, identifying them as distressed. Cross-validation was conducted to assess the stability and reliability of the model, which were found to be acceptable.

Conclusion

The protective factors based model could be important as a part of preliminary triage before referral for intervention and for identification of distressed adolescents. School based screening which focuses on assessing protective factors may facilitate cooperation by both adolescent students and the education system.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Herzog-Israel Center for the Treatment of Psychotrauma, P.O. Box, 3900, 91035, Jerusalem, Israel

    Ruth Pat-Horenczyk & Michal Achituv

  2. Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

    Ruth Pat-Horenczyk

  3. Department of Psychology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

    Avraham Max Kenan & Eytan Bachar

Authors
  1. Ruth Pat-Horenczyk
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  2. Avraham Max Kenan
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  3. Michal Achituv
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  4. Eytan Bachar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ruth Pat-Horenczyk.

Appendix: Exposure Questionnaire

Appendix: Exposure Questionnaire

Items asked about exposure to missile attacks:

  1. 1.

    Stayed in a shelter

  2. 2.

    Was hurt directly from a missile or a bomb

  3. 3.

    Someone close to you was hurt from a missile or a bomb

  4. 4.

    Experienced alarms for missile attacks

  5. 5.

    Was separated from parents due to missile attacks

  6. 6.

    Moved from home due to missile attacks

Items asked about the experience of past trauma:

  1. 1.

    Was exposed to terrorist attacks

  2. 2.

    Experienced sudden and unexpected death of a close person

  3. 3.

    Experienced loss of home

  4. 4.

    Witnessed domestic violence

  5. 5.

    Witnessed life threatening event

  6. 6.

    Was threatened by weapon or physical harm

  7. 7.

    Experienced sexual assault or abuse

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Pat-Horenczyk, R., Kenan, A.M., Achituv, M. et al. Protective Factors Based Model for Screening for Posttraumatic Distress in Adolescents. Child Youth Care Forum 43, 339–351 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-013-9241-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-013-9241-y

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