Family violence exposure and Associated risk factors to child PTSD in a Mexican sample

Abstract

This dissertation study examines the interactional effects of trauma exposure on parent-child relationships with 87 mother-child dyads from a child maltreatment population in Monterrey, Mexico. The relational impact of trauma on youth is salient given the important role that the parent/caregiver plays in a child's life. Data from four standardized instruments of a larger study piloting an innovative multi-method assessment protocol was examined to gain a cultural and contextual understanding of trauma and family violence exposure and associated risk factors of child PTSD in this sample. Findings indicated high levels of exposure to any potentially traumatic stressor in children and mothers, particularly violence in the home and community. Socioeconomic and sociocultural cultural factors such as poverty, traditional gender role socialization, and excessive community violence were associated with greater PTSD symptomatology in children and mothers in this sample. Results from this study support the need for more family-based research to explore intra- and extrafamilial influences on parent-child relationship and the impact of larger cultural and community factors on the development of PTSD. Implications for families, practitioners, researchers, social institutions within the community and government, and the larger global community are discussed.