Effects of parental separation on the resilience of children who have experienced trauma
Date
2017
Authors
Chen, Deborah, author
Youngblade, Lise, advisor
Farinas, Janina, advisor
Peila-Shuster, Jackie, committee member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
This study examined the effects of parental separation on the resilience of children who have experienced trauma as well as assessing trauma severity, age, and gender as potential moderators of this relationship. There is considerable literature looking at the adverse effects of parental separation on children, but little has been done specifically related to children exposed to significant trauma. Utilizing data from the Colorado State University Children's Trauma and Resilience Assessment Center (CTRAC), the current study examined the effect of parental separation on resilient functioning, measured through the Resilience and Trauma Severity Scales for Children and Adolescents (RSCA) in a sample of 81 children who had been exposed to trauma. Furthermore, this study tested several moderators (trauma severity, age, and gender) on the association between parental separation and resilience in traumatized children. Results indicated no significant main effect of parental separation on resilience. However, trauma severity emerged as a significant moderator of the relationship between parental separation and children's resilience, and gender emerged as a significant predictor of certain aspects of resilient functioning.