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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Jennifer Stuber, MPhil1, Betty Pfefferbaum, MD, JD2, Kristin Moore, PhD3, Maureen Wilson-Genderson, PhD4, Sandro Galea, MD, MPH5, David Vlahov, PhD5, and Gerry Fairbrother, PhD6. (1) The New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10029, 2124163527, jstuber@nyam.org, (2) Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, PO Box 26901, WP-3470, Oklahoma City, OK 73190-3048, (3) Child Trends, 4301 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20008, (4) Department of Community Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry, 40 East Laurel Road, Stratford, NJ 08084-1324, (5) Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10029, (6) Division of Health and Science Policy, The New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10029
Behavior Problems of Children in Manhattan after the September 11th attacks
Objectives. After disasters, children may go on to experience behavioral and mental health problems. Public health and other officials are concerned about assessing the prevalence and determinants of behavior problems among children living in Manhattan after the September 11th attacks.
Methods. We surveyed 1008 adult residents of Manhattan contacted using random digit dialing 5 to 8 weeks after the attacks. The adults who were also parents of a child between the ages of 4-18 (N=112) were asked about a focal child’s level of exposure, extent of loss, and behavioral reaction.
Results. Since the September 11th attacks, 19% of parents reported it is often or sometimes true that their child does not get along with other kids, 38% said that their child cannot concentrate or pay attention long and 33% indicated that their child has been unhappy, sad or depressed. Determinants of child behavior problems in a multivariable model were exposure to more than 2 hours per day television in the week after the September 11th attacks (OR=2.42, p<.10), having siblings (OR=2.07; p<.10), and seeing a parent cry (OR=2.07, p<.10).
Conclusion. Greater exposure to television coverage in the week after the September 11th attacks is associated with parent’s reporting more behavior problems in their children. In addition, parental distress is associated with behavior problems in the child.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to
Keywords: Children and Adolescents, Mental Health
Related Web page: www.nyam.org/responsenew.html
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.