Chapter 12 – trauma- and stressor-related disorders
Traumatic events: exposure to actual or threatened harm of fear of death or injury and are
considered uncommon or extreme stressors. Include a wide range of intentional acts and
unintentional circumstances.
Stressful events: more common and less extreme than traumatic events. May be a single event
(parental separation or break-ups).
Child maltreatment: refers to four primary acts: physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse and
psychological abuse. Considered among the worst and most intrusive forms of trauma and stress.
History and family context:
Two cultural traditions have influenced the position until recently: absolute authority over the family
by the husband and the right to family privacy.
Healthy families:
Family relations are the earliest and most enduring social relationships that affect a child’s
competence, resilience and sense of well-being. Role of parents may rely heavily on child-rearing
methods from their own childhood.
For a healthy development children need a caregiving environment that balances their need for
control and direction with their needs for stimulation and sensitivity or responsiveness. Healthy
parent-child relationship needs:
- Knowledge of child development and expectations
- Skill in coping with the stress related to caring for small children
- Opportunities to develop normal parent-child attachment and early patterns of
communication
- Parental knowledge of home management
- Opportunities and willingness to share the during of child care
- Provision of necessary social and health services
Expectable environment: protective and nurturing adults, as well as opportunities for socialization
within a culture. Includes a supportive family, contact with peers and opportunities to explore and
master their environment.
Continuum of care:
Child care can be described along a hypothetical continuum ranging from healthy to abusive and
neglectful.
Boundaries between appropriate and inappropriate behavior toward children are not always clear or
well established, but an awareness of what is right and what is wrong can go a long way in preventing
maltreatment.
,
Traumatic events: exposure to actual or threatened harm of fear of death or injury and are
considered uncommon or extreme stressors. Include a wide range of intentional acts and
unintentional circumstances.
Stressful events: more common and less extreme than traumatic events. May be a single event
(parental separation or break-ups).
Child maltreatment: refers to four primary acts: physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse and
psychological abuse. Considered among the worst and most intrusive forms of trauma and stress.
History and family context:
Two cultural traditions have influenced the position until recently: absolute authority over the family
by the husband and the right to family privacy.
Healthy families:
Family relations are the earliest and most enduring social relationships that affect a child’s
competence, resilience and sense of well-being. Role of parents may rely heavily on child-rearing
methods from their own childhood.
For a healthy development children need a caregiving environment that balances their need for
control and direction with their needs for stimulation and sensitivity or responsiveness. Healthy
parent-child relationship needs:
- Knowledge of child development and expectations
- Skill in coping with the stress related to caring for small children
- Opportunities to develop normal parent-child attachment and early patterns of
communication
- Parental knowledge of home management
- Opportunities and willingness to share the during of child care
- Provision of necessary social and health services
Expectable environment: protective and nurturing adults, as well as opportunities for socialization
within a culture. Includes a supportive family, contact with peers and opportunities to explore and
master their environment.
Continuum of care:
Child care can be described along a hypothetical continuum ranging from healthy to abusive and
neglectful.
Boundaries between appropriate and inappropriate behavior toward children are not always clear or
well established, but an awareness of what is right and what is wrong can go a long way in preventing
maltreatment.
,
