Traumatology, Vol 30(1), Mar 2024, 27-36; doi:10.1037/trm0000238
Recognizing and diagnosing the avoidance symptom cluster of posttraumatic stress disorder in young children has been challenging. This study examines caregivers’ descriptions of young children’s avoidance reactions. By describing parents’ examples of childhood avoidance, clinicians, researchers, and educators may be able to provide more specific psychoeducation, which may improve identification of avoidance behaviors in young children. Caregivers (N = 73) of young children (aged 3–7 years) participated in a semistructured diagnostic clinical interview before enrolling in a clinical trial for childhood trauma. The assessment regarding the caregiver’s description of the child’s avoidance was audio recorded and transcribed for a thematic analysis. Most caregivers reported that the child experienced avoidance. Avoidance of conversation and places were the most reported type of child avoidance. Other types of avoidance included avoiding people, things, interpersonal situations, and activities. Some caregivers thought that their child avoided thoughts and feelings, but other caregivers were unsure if their child was avoiding these types of private experiences. Caregiver avoidance and nonavoidance also emerged as a main theme. Diagnosis for posttraumatic stress disorder in young children relies on accurate symptom identification. Current results provide insight into how caregivers describe avoidant reactions in their children, which may help professionals with accurate diagnoses, as well as help caregivers become better reporters themselves. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)