Research on adolescent trauma and posttraumatic stress, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has continued to grow, yet its knowledge structure and temporal trends remain insufficiently mapped. Based on 4,417 English-language articles retrieved from PubMed and Web of Science, this study used BERTopic topic modeling, semantic clustering, a cross-topic semantic network, and topic prevalence trend analysis to examine the field’s topic structure, semantic connections, and temporal changes. The results identified 14 topics organized into three research pathways: Macro-Crisis and High-Adversity Contexts; Psychosocial Trauma, Psychopathology, and Clinical Care; and Neurobiological Mechanisms of Youth PTSD. The field has expanded continuously since 2000, with the three pathways showing distinct temporal characteristics. Topics within the macro-crisis and high-adversity pathway followed diverse trajectories, and some showed pronounced event sensitivity; the psychosocial trauma, psychopathology, and clinical care pathway exhibited localized reconfiguration of research attention; and research on neurobiological mechanisms showed relatively steady long-term development. Cross-cluster network analysis indicated that PTSD Diagnosis and Assessment in Youth constituted a relatively stable semantic connection across pathways, whereas Maltreatment and Trauma-Related Psychopathology provided only a weaker, threshold-sensitive supplementary connection. Overall, the field has developed along three relatively distinct but partially connected research pathways, with clear structural differentiation and localized and unevenly distributed cross-pathway semantic connections. These findings provide a structural framework for future cross-context comparisons, measurement alignment, and evidence integration.
Tizz Time is a protective behaviours-infused, trauma-informed violence prevention programme informed by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) research. It is a play-based, child-led programme created for early years children aged three to six years old. Tizz Time aims to promote the voice of the child and to provide support to children who may have experienced adversity or trauma at home or within their community. Process Analysis research methodology was used to review and develop the aims, outcomes and objectives of Tizz Time as well as develop a Logic Model. Qualitative interviews were carried out with teachers and the facilitator of Tizz Time to assess initial indicators of success and explore the feasibility and implementation of the programme, including facilitators and barriers. Staff and teachers responded positively to the trauma-informed training aspect of the programme; they reported increased knowledge in trauma-informed practice and shared what they learned widely throughout their schools. Positive changes in children’s behaviour and emotion regulation were also observed. Data monitoring format recommendations were set up to allow for future impact review and outcome analysis. Tizz Time is one of the few violence prevention programmes for this age group. This study considers the programme's potential outcomes against the wider public health approach to violence prevention.
The literature has shown that women who perpetrated crimes report high rates of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which are associated with impaired adult attachment and the development of psychopathic traits (e.g., impulsivity and emotional dysregulation). Positive childhood experiences (PCEs) have been associated with adaptive functioning, even in the presence of ACEs. Despite this, the combined role of adult attachment dimensions and PCEs in the relationship between ACEs and psychopathic traits remains insufficiently understood in incarcerated women. This study aims to examine how ACEs are associated with psychopathic traits, with a specific focus on the potential moderating role of attachment dimensions and PCEs. A sample of 164 incarcerated women (M = 38.75, SD = 11.99) completed the ACEs Scale, the Benevolent Childhood Experiences Scale, the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale–Short Form, and the Adult Attachment Scale–Revised. Results showed that ACEs were positively associated with psychopathic traits, particularly lifestyle and antisocial facets, whereas PCEs were negatively associated with the lifestyle facet. Moderated moderation analyses revealed no significant three-way interactions between ACEs, PCEs, and any of the attachment dimensions (anxiety, comfort with closeness, or trust in others) after FDR correction. These findings suggest facet-specific associations between ACEs and psychopathic traits and indicate that the hypothesized protective role of PCEs was not conditioned by adult attachment dimensions in this sample of incarcerated women.
The October 7, 2023, terrorist attack in Israel and ensuing mass displacement created acute, unprecedented psychological crises for families. While the impact of war and forced migration on children is well documented, far less is known about how parents, especially mothers, sustain caregiving under such extreme, ongoing threat. This study explores the lived experiences of displaced Israeli mothers, focusing on the emotional, relational, and functional dimensions of parenting during and after trauma. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with four Israeli mothers displaced with their children following the attack. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically using an inductive approach, with particular attention to emotional narratives, caregiving practices, and perceptions of both destroyed homes and hosting environments. Three themes emerged: (A) Alone in the Shelter: The Weight of Solo Parenting During Attack, War, and Displacement; (B) From Regulated Parenting to Fragmented Parenting; and (C) The Double-Edged Sword of the Hosting Community. Together, they depict intense emotional strain, destabilized parental identities, children’s accelerated maturity or increased dependency, and ambivalent experiences of host communities as simultaneously protective and destabilizing. Parenting in this context entails both relentless protection and gradual emotional erosion. Mothers oscillated between composure and collapse, often with limited systemic support. The findings underscore the need for trauma-informed, relationally grounded interventions that recognize caregivers as survivors in their own right and prioritize their emotion regulation, reflective functioning, and restoration of parental coherence as central to family recovery.
The intersection between autism, developmental trauma, and attachment disruption contributes to unique difficulties for care experienced autistic children. However, understanding regarding the efficacy of Theraplay® for this cohort is lacking. This study evaluated the impact of a 30-hour neuro-collaborative Theraplay®-informed psychotherapeutic intervention on the presentations of developmental trauma and attachment difficulties in care experienced autistic children compared to a non-autistic group. Between April 2020 and April 2024, intervention efficacy was evaluated utilising a mixed design with an autistic group (N = 35) and non-autistic group (N = 172). The 30-hour intervention included 10-hours of therapy informed by Theraplay® principles for parents and children, 10-hours of sensory regulation delivered directly to children or psycho-educationally to parents, and 10-hours of therapeutic parenting informed by the principles of dyadic developmental parenting. Therapeutic outcomes were measured at pre- and post-therapy utilising the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Young Children (TSCYC), the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL), the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function 2nd Edition (BRIEF-2), and the Assessment Checklist for Children (ACC). Paired t-tests showed that post-treatment scores significantly improved compared to pre-treatment scores in the full cohort and non-autistic group in the TSCYC and CBCL and analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) controlling for age and gender showed no difference in treatment outcome between autistic and non-autistic children. While t-tests did not demonstrate significant improvements in the smaller autistic group, there was movement in the direction of improvement accompanied by encouraging effect sizes. The 30-hour neuro-collaborative Theraplay®-informed intervention was shown to be effective for children with a history of developmental trauma and attachment disruption, and it may be effective for children who are also autistic but further studies with larger samples will be required to confirm this. Implications for practice are discussed.
Previous research has largely focused on bivariate associations between childhood abuse, coping strategies, and psychological outcomes. However, few studies have situated these variables within an integrated analytical framework to examine their complex interrelationships, particularly among institutionalized adolescents. This study examined whether avoidant coping is associated with depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and suicidal behaviors, and tested a serial mediational model linking childhood abuse to suicidal behaviors through avoidant coping and emotional distress. Participants were 273 institutionalized adolescents in Vietnam who completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Brief COPE Inventory, the depression scale, anxiety scale, and three suicide-related items. Structural equation modeling was used to examine indirect associations among study variables. The results indicated that childhood abuse was indirectly associated with depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms through avoidant coping. Moreover, the serial indirect pathway linking childhood abuse to suicidal behaviors through avoidant coping and anxiety symptoms was supported, whereas the corresponding pathway involving depressive symptoms was not supported. The findings suggest that avoidant coping and anxiety may play a role in the association between childhood abuse and suicidal behaviors among institutionalized adolescents. Interventions targeting maladaptive coping strategies and anxiety symptoms may be relevant for promoting mental health and suicide prevention in this vulnerable population.
Adopted children are frequently exposed to several forms of neurodevelopmental trauma. This includes in utero and post-natal maltreatment through infancy and childhood, and prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). These experiences can impair executive function and self-regulation, and result in emotional, behavioural, relational, and educational challenges, resulting in mental health difficulties, marginalisation, increased likelihood of incarceration and further intergenerational trauma. This study explores whether outcomes for adopted children who received Neuro-physiological Psychotherapy (NPP) are sustained for a larger cohort and for those children who have experienced both neurodevelopmental trauma and PAE. It aims to understand changes in executive functioning from a neuroscience perspective, including Polyvagal Theory (Porges, 2011). The results show that previous significant differences between outcomes for the NPP treatment group and a non-equivalent control group were sustained within a larger treatment group. Results showed significant differences for global executive functioning [F(1,74) = 7.53, p = .008, η²p = .09], behavioural regulation [F(1, 74) = 10.62, p = .0002, η²p = .22], and emotional control [F(1,74) = 10.38, p = .002, η²p = .12], as reported on the Behaviour Rating of Executive Functioning scale (BRIEF) and favouring the intervention group. Similar results were found across teacher reported indices as well. Significant reductions in parent-reported total behavioural difficulties [F(1,74) = 5.63, p = .003, η²p = .11] and externalising problems [F(1,74) = 8.36, p = .005, η²p = .11], between treatment and control groups were found, based on the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL). Finally, Linear Mixed-effects Modelling (LMM) for the Behavioural Regulation Index score indicated that NPP for adopted children was as effective, whether PAE was present or not [β = -12.82 SE = 5.12, t = -2.51, p = .015]. Further analysis revealed significant differences in pre- and post-treatment outcomes across executive functioning and behavioural subscales when PAE was present. This provides support for the positive impact of NPP for adopted children when PAE is present. It highlights the need for interventions that recognise the complex effects of neurodevelopmental trauma, which are multi-modal and informed by neuroscience. NPP’s integration of somatosensory, creative and dyadic therapies with therapeutic parenting support, likely supports neuro-physiological adaptations which lead to positive outcomes for some of society’s most vulnerable children.
In 2017, Hurricane Irma on the island of Saint Martin caused extensive damage, leaving residents vulnerable to losses and facing the challenges of reconstruction. Scientific literature highlights the mental health effects affecting young people, particularly those most vulnerable psychologically and at the and socio-economic status. Although the psychological effects of natural disasters are widely documented, no study has focused on the psychological consequences of this disaster in the specific social and cultural context of Saint Martin. One year after the hurricane, we conducted an action research project to study the psychological consequences of this event among children and adolescents on the island. The current study is a first exploratory and descriptive study of the drawings of children who were victims of Hurricane Irma. It aims to highlight the concerns and emotional expressions of children and adolescents, expressed in drawings, through an analysis of emerging themes. The study was conducted among 50 participants aged 5 to 16 years who experienced Hurricane IRMA, divided into two groups in two different socio-economic backgrounds: an “advantaged” group (N = 33 participants, N = 15 girls, N = 18 boys, M = 9.06 years old, SD = 2.12) and a “disadvantaged” group (N = 17 participants, N = 10 girls, N = 7 boys, M = 10.67 years old, SD = 3.0). For both groups, a drawing workshop was proposed with a sketchbook titled “Talk About Yourself “. This drawing mediation tool asked to freely draw a story with beginning (T1), a middle (T2) and end (T3) without direct instructions linked to the natural disaster. The themes of the drawings were identified in a double-blind and team-based manner, with qualitative and then statistical analysis. a significant spontaneous presence of houses, as well as frequent references to the Irma were observed. A significant increase was observed in colors and movement scenes (T2). Significant differences between the two groups were also identified, particularly more houses and more damaged houses drawings in the disadvantaged group (T2). The drawings of the disadvantaged group show a significantly higher number of explicit references to Hurricane, reconstruction scenarios, as well as the presence of human figures and houses. The drawings of the disadvantaged group show that they express elements of their experience of the hurricane and that they were more directly impacted, both materially and emotionally, than the children in the advantaged group. The discussion highlights (1) the importance of rebuilding the internal habitat and the concrete environment after the disaster, (2) the need for storytelling and temporal continuity and (3) the inequalities in the face of traumatic events, linked to social conditions and their effects on mental health. Methodological limitations are discussed. The most vulnerable and precarious children and adolescents were the most emotionally negatively impacted by the hurricane. On the other hand, they mobilized more resources to face and overcome the traumatic event. This study highlights the need to consider the multiplicity of vulnerabilities (psychological, social, economic) in disaster management and prevention.
Children prenatally exposed to alcohol often face a multitude of difficulties such as mental health difficulties and behavioural and cognitive challenges. A high percentage of children with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) have also experienced traumatic life events. Research suggests that interventions can help reduce the difficulties faced after trauma, particularly when involving the caregiver and child. Due to the cognitive difficulties often experienced by children with PAE, it is unclear whether typical trauma-informed interventions can be effectively used with this population. This study aimed to explore the experiences of caregivers whose children with PAE participated in a family-based, trauma-informed intervention. Eleven caregivers (10 adoptive, one foster) were recruited via therapeutic services in the UK and an established FASD mailing list. Caregivers were caring for a total of 12 children with PAE aged 8 to 18. A variety of interventions were received, including Theraplay, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Sandplay Therapy, therapeutic parenting sessions and sensory therapies. These were accessed for varying lengths of times and in different combinations. Reflexive thematic analysis was employed to explore semi-structured interview data, with particular focus on perceived benefits and challenges, children’s ability to engage in therapy, potential outcomes and factors influencing change. This generated five interrelated themes: (1) Enduring the therapeutic journey to survive, (2) Engagement as fluid and negotiable, (3) The therapeutic relationship is the active ingredient, (4) “There’s no magic button”: supported caregivers are the agents of change, (5) Redefining success. Family-based therapy was positioned as a relational, effortful, and ongoing process that supports families to live with enduring complexity. Therapeutic change was primarily located within caregivers’ development of understanding, responsiveness and ability to adapt the caregiving environment, as opposed to within the child. Engagement emerged as negotiated and developmentally contingent, with the therapeutic relationship as a central component. Therapy was shaped by the perceived permanence of PAE and trauma and by wider systemic constraints. The findings support family-based, flexible therapeutic approaches for children with PAE and trauma that prioritise relational safety and caregiver understanding. Early sensory and play-based interventions, integration of therapeutic models, and caregiver-only sessions may enhance effectiveness.
Children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities are at substantially elevated risk for sexual abuse, yet developmentally appropriate and empirically evaluated prevention programs remain limited, particularly for individuals with moderate intellectual disability (MID). This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a family-inclusive, visually supported, and role-playing–based sexual abuse prevention intervention grounded in Behavioral Skills Training (BST) principles. A pre-experimental pretest–posttest design was employed with 20 children with moderate intellectual disability (aged 10–17 years) and their parents recruited from a Barrier-Free Living Center. Children participated in individualized sessions focusing on body privacy, discrimination between appropriate and inappropriate touch, boundary setting, refusal skills, and help-seeking/reporting behaviors, while parents received parallel training to support and reinforce these skills at home. Outcomes were assessed using structured, performance-based child and parent knowledge–awareness forms and the Child Neglect and Abuse Awareness Scale for Parents (CNAASP). Pre–post comparisons were conducted using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and paired samples t-tests. Results showed statistically significant improvements across all child and parent subscales and total scores following the intervention (p < .001). The largest gains among children were observed in boundary setting, refusal (“saying no”), and reporting behaviors, indicating enhanced behavioral safety skills. Parents also showed significant increases in awareness across all CNAASP domains, particularly in sexual abuse and reporting processes. These findings suggest that family-inclusive, visually supported, and practice-oriented interventions may contribute to the development of foundational safety knowledge and behavioral competencies among children with MID, while also potentially enhancing parental protective capacity.
This study examined how expectations of success changed over time and explored the proximal and distal roles of Exposure to Victimization (ETV) and friendship quality on changes in expectations among justice-involved youth. Baseline and annual follow-up data from the Pathways to Desistance project, a longitudinal study focused on young offenders, was utilized. Results from a growth curve model showed that justice-involved youth had positive linear growth and growth variability of expectations. However, the growth of the trajectory decelerated towards later time points (i.e., late adolescence to emerging adulthood). ETV had proximal and distal negative effects on expectations, whereas friendship quality showed proximal and distal promotive effects. These findings underscore that justice-involved youth have a similar expectations trajectory to other youth, but that this trajectory may fluctuate based on distinct life experiences.
Intergenerational violence in families is well documented, yet research often relies on quantitative methods, overlooking the complexity of lived experiences. Qualitative studies on parents exposed to both intimate partner violence (IPV) and child maltreatment remain scarce. This study examines narratives of Finnish parents to explore how parents with childhood experiences of both maltreatment and exposure to IPV narrate and make meaning of intergenerational continuity or change in violence. Data consist of 15 written narratives analyzed through narrative methods, including composite narratives and fictionalized characters to synthesize accounts and highlight thematic patterns. Our findings disrupt the notion of a simple, linear cycle of harm. Instead, intergenerational transmission emerges as a dynamic and probabilistic process. Breaking one cycle, such as IPV, does not automatically end another, like child maltreatment. What seems to matter is how individuals make sense of and integrate relational traumas into their life story. When these experiences are acknowledged and processed, parents can move toward earned secure attachment, transforming both parenting and partner relationships. Together these insights highlight the need for prevention strategies that go beyond exposure, focusing on early attachment support and interventions that combine personal agency and re-authoring childhood experiences with external resources such as safe relationships and professional guidance.
As digital communication becomes central to modern relationships, it also creates new avenues for harm, one of which is cyber intimate partner aggression. In Indonesia, this digital form of partner violence appears to be increasing, particularly among young adults. This study examined how childhood trauma is associated with cyber aggression toward partners, and whether maladaptive schemas help account for this association. A diverse sample of young adults (N = 941; 84.5
This study examined the associations between childhood trauma, body dissatisfaction, bulimia, and drive for thinness in adolescents, with a specific focus on the roles of narcissistic traits and dissociative experiences as intervening variables. A sample of 439 high school students from Southern Italy completed self-report measures assessing eating-disorder-related symptoms, pathological narcissism, childhood trauma, and dissociation. The hypothesised path model showed significant indirect associations between emotional abuse and both drive for thinness and bulimia through vulnerable narcissism and dissociative experiences. More specifically, depersonalisation was positively associated with bulimia, whereas passive influence was positively associated with drive for thinness. Grandiose narcissism showed a negative association with body dissatisfaction and was not positively associated with the eating-related outcomes. Multi-group analyses indicated that the model was not invariant across males and females. In males, absorption was involved in the indirect association between childhood trauma and body dissatisfaction, whereas this pathway was not observed in females. These findings suggest that childhood trauma may be linked to eating-disorder-related features through different psychological pathways involving narcissistic vulnerability, specific dissociative dimensions, and gender. Because of the cross-sectional design, the findings should be interpreted as associative rather than causal.
Although the link between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adolescent substance use is well established, it remains unclear how factors such as school connectedness might moderate this relationship. This study addressed this gap by examining whether the relationship between ACEs and substance use varies by levels of school connectedness among a large sample of adolescents. Data from 23,078 students in grades 9 through 12, collected via the 2022 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, were analyzed using negative binomial regression models adjusting for a range of potential confounding influences. Results indicated that each additional ACE was associated with a 17
Children exposed to natural disasters and armed conflict face an elevated risk of mental health difficulties; however, the range and patterns of reported outcomes across studies remain insufficiently characterized. To synthesize evidence regarding mental health outcomes among school-attending children exposed to natural disasters and armed conflict. A systematic literature review was conducted using CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCO to identify studies published from 1 January 2013 to 1 July 2025. Eligible studies comprised observational research examining mental health in elementary and secondary students exposed to disasters or armed conflict. Two reviewers independently evaluated studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. Twenty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety were the most frequently reported mental health outcomes. Although most studies demonstrated minimal bias, substantial variation existed in study design, measurement instruments, and assessment timing. Factors, such as direct trauma exposure, family separation, and parental distress, were consistently associated with poorer mental health outcomes. Due to methodological heterogeneity, pooled outcome frequencies could not be calculated. This review demonstrates that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety are the predominant mental health disorders assessed in schoolchildren exposed to disasters or armed conflict. The findings underscore the importance of contextual and familial influences in understanding children’s psychological responses. Further research employing standardized measures and longitudinal designs is necessary to enhance comparability across studies and inform the development of evidence-based interventions. Question: What mental health outcomes and associated risk factors are most frequently reported among school-attending children exposed to natural disasters and armed conflict? Findings: In this systematic review of 27 studies, identified post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety were the most frequently reported mental health outcomes. The studies exhibited substantial variability in research design, measurement instruments, and assessment timing. Trauma exposure, family separation, and parental distress were consistently associated with poorer mental health outcomes. Meanings: These findings indicate that research on child mental health in disaster and conflict settings predominantly focuses on post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety, with outcomes shaped by contextual and familial factors. Greater methodological consistency and longitudinal research are necessary to enhance the interpretation of results and inform the development of effective interventions.
The impact of polyvictimization has been predominantly assessed in adolescent samples from the community and from a mental health perspective. The primary objective of this study is to expand current knowledge by examining its effects not only on mental health, but also on socioemotional skills representing important psychological resources in the face of adversity (self-concept, empathy, and reasoning), in a sample of 116 adolescents living in Portuguese Residential Care Homes aged 12 to 17 years old. An equivalent sample of 241 adolescents from the community was used as a comparison group. Effects within and between sample groups and different polyvictimization levels were estimated through path analysis. High-polyvictimization revealed to be the strongest predictor of significant outcomes among adolescents from both residential care and community settings. The threshold from which the impact of polyvictimization became more evident varied across sample groups and outcomes. Detrimental effects seem to be more pronounced in the community sample. In the residential care sample, polyvictimization was positively associated with an increased ability to feel empathy for others and improved reasoning skills. Findings emphasize the need for tailored approaches to the specific treatment needs of each multiply victimized child and/or adolescent.
Kenyan adolescents experience a high burden of depression and anxiety, compounded by childhood trauma and limited access to mental health services. This study examined associations of cumulative childhood trauma exposure (ACEs) and perceived family social support with depressive and anxiety symptoms among Kenyan secondary school students. A cross‑sectional secondary analysis was conducted using data from 17,089 adolescents collected across 63 public secondary schools in Kenya. Depressive and anxiety symptoms, adverse childhood experiences, and perceived family social support were assessed in separate survey versions. Multilevel models accounting for school clustering were fitted to the respective ACE (n = 1,932) and family support (n = 2,005) subsamples. Each additional ACE was associated with 0.75‑point higher depressive symptoms and 0.82‑point higher anxiety symptoms (p < .001), adjusting for age, gender, school form, and school clustering. Higher family social support was significantly associated with lower depressive (b = − 0.17, p < .001) and anxiety symptoms (b = − 0.16, p < .001). These findings indicate distinct risk and protective associations with adolescent mental health. Cumulative childhood trauma is a strong, graded correlate of adolescent depression and anxiety in Kenyan schools. Family social support appears to be a meaningful protective factor. The cross-sectional, self-report, split-survey design limits causal inference and prevented joint analysis of trauma and family support. Trauma-informed screening and family-strengthening interventions in school-linked services may benefit adolescent mental health in low-resource settings.
Childhood maltreatment is a recognized risk factor for adolescent psychological distress, yet existing research often overlooks the heterogeneous and dynamic nature of distress trajectories by relying on variable-centered methods. This longitudinal study employed a person-centered approach to examine how specific subtypes of childhood maltreatment predict transitions between distinct psychological distress profiles among Chinese adolescents over one year. A total of 864 seventh- and eighth-grade students from Yunnan Province, China, were assessed at two time points. Latent profile analysis (LPA) identified distress subgroups, and latent transition analysis (LTA) with multinomial logistic regression modeled transitions between profiles, testing associations with maltreatment subtypes. Three distress profiles were identified at both waves: Low, Moderate, and High Distress. The Moderate Distress group exhibited the least stability. Physical abuse increased transitions from Low to Moderate and High Distress; physical neglect raised risks from Low to High Distress. Emotional abuse showed a dual effect: facilitating improvement from Moderate to Low Distress but impeding recovery from High Distress. Specific maltreatment subtypes differentially predict distress profile transitions, underscoring the need for targeted interventions. This study contributes to person-centered methodologies and offers culturally relevant insights for supporting Chinese adolescents.
Children’s exposure to trauma can significantly affect their learning and behavior in school. Trauma-informed systems, including schools, can support youth who have experienced adverse childhood experiences by creating safe environments that avoid retraumatization and restore academic, health, and developmental trajectories. The purpose of this study was to obtain a baseline organizational assessment of a large Texas school district’s readiness to implement trauma-informed care (TIC). The study followed the first step in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s guidelines for implementing TIC: determining organizational readiness. An exploratory cross-sectional design was employed, using the Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care instrument to measure the district’s readiness by assessing staff attitudes toward TIC, their confidence in implementing TIC, and perceived organizational support for adoption among school professionals. Descriptive statistics were examined, and inferential testing included omnibus one-way ANOVA, paired t tests, and post hoc Bonferroni pairwise comparisons. The final sample consisted of 211 participants (N = 211), who included teachers, counselors, administrators, and nurses. Of these, 56
