Parent-child mental health in Ukraine in relation to war trauma and drone attacks

IF 4.3 2区医学 Q1 PSYCHIATRY

Comprehensive psychiatry Pub Date : 2025-03-10 DOI:10.1016/j.comppsych.2025.152590

Amna Naeem , Iftikhar Sikder , Shanshan Wang , Emily S. Barrett , Nancy Fiedler , Miraj Ahmad , Uyen-Sa D.T. Nguyen , Dmytro Martsenkovskyi , Irina Holovanova , Madelyn Hsiao-Rei Hicks , Ubydul Haque

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

We aimed to address the knowledge gap regarding mental health in Ukrainian children and parents one year after Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion including associations with exposure to drone attacks.

Methods

A cross-sectional, quota-sampled survey was conducted among parents of children aged 3–17 in Ukraine one year after the invasion (n = 858). Participants completed self-reported screening measures of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17, Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen–Caregiver, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, the International Trauma Questionnaire, and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) 3-Item Loneliness Scale. We analyzed scores in relation to drone attack exposure using logistic regression.

Findings

Many children aged 3–6 years had scores suggestive of ADHD (24.2 %), conduct disorder (20.5 %), and anxiety/mood disorder (12.1 %). Results were similar among children aged 7–17 (anxiety/mood disorder: 24.1 %, conduct disorder: 14.5 %, and ADHD: 14 %). Of the 45.0 % of children aged 3–6 and 57.0 % aged 7–17 exposed to post-invasion trauma, 21.8 % and 17.6 % had clinically relevant levels of PTSD symptoms, respectively. Parental symptoms met screening criteria for depressive disorder in 46.7 % and for anxiety disorder in 24.2 %. All parents reported post-invasion trauma, with 24.5 % screening positive for PTSD. Child mental health disorder odds increased with parental PTSD (OR 1.85, 95 %CI 1.29–2.72) and symptoms meeting screening criteria for depressive disorder (OR 1.99, 95 %CI 1.15–2.56). The odds of children aged 7–17 having clinically relevant levels of PTSD symptoms increased with parental symptoms screening positive for depressive disorder (OR 6.0, 95 %CI 2.0–18.3), anxiety disorder (OR 3.48, 95 %CI 1.76–6.8), and PTSD (OR 3.23, 95 % 1.67–6.2). Parents had a higher prevalence of screening positive for PTSD in high-intensity drone attack regions (28.9 %) than low- and moderate-intensity regions (25.0 % and 20.5 %, respectively, p = 0.04).

Interpretation

The high prevalence of children and parents in Ukraine with symptoms screening positive for mental disorders indicates an urgent need for services for school-age children and parents in this war-affected region. High-intensity drone attacks increase the risk of parents screening positive for PTSD.

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来源期刊

Comprehensive psychiatry 医学-精神病学

CiteScore

12.50

自引率

1.40%

发文量

审稿时长

29 days

期刊介绍： "Comprehensive Psychiatry" is an open access, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the field of psychiatry and mental health. Its primary mission is to share the latest advancements in knowledge to enhance patient care and deepen the understanding of mental illnesses. The journal is supported by a diverse team of international editors and peer reviewers, ensuring the publication of high-quality research with a strong focus on clinical relevance and the implications for psychopathology. "Comprehensive Psychiatry" encourages authors to present their research in an accessible manner, facilitating engagement with clinicians, policymakers, and the broader public. By embracing an open access policy, the journal aims to maximize the global impact of its content, making it readily available to a wide audience and fostering scientific collaboration and public awareness beyond the traditional academic community. This approach is designed to promote a more inclusive and informed dialogue on mental health, contributing to the overall progress in the field.