2007 Reports

Facts About Trauma for Policymakers: Children's Mental Health

Cooper, Janice L.

Trauma can result in long- and short-term problems. Research suggests that these can include physical and emotional health conditions and put those exposed to trauma at increased risk for chronic ill health and premature death. For children and youth, in addition to health problems, other consequences of trauma include difficulties with learning, ongoing behavior problems, impaired relationships and poor social and emotional competence. Children and youth exposed to trauma, especially violence, experience more learning and academic difficulties and behavioral and mood-related problems. Research also shows that the younger children are when they experience trauma, the more vulnerable they are to its effects on brain development.