Aggression, anxiety & social development in adolescent children of war veterans with PTSD versus those of nonveterans

Children of war veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are the subjects of continues indirect war-related trauma. Furthermore, identification with their fathers predisposes them to similar behavioural disturbances. So, evaluation of mental health and social development would be necessary to identify their psychological problems and plan more targeted interventions for solving these problems. Using three self-administered questionnaires, this descriptive, cross - sectional study was carried out to compare aggression, anxiety and social development in adolescent children of war veterans and those of nonveterans (in Isfahan high schools). The two groups were matched regarding sex, academic achievement, grade of high school and family income. After controlling the level of parental education (as a confounding variable), aggression & anxiety in adolescent children of war veterans with PTSD was significantly higher than the other group (P<0.05) but the two groups showed no significant difference in social development. The higher rate of anxiety & aggression among children of war veterans with PTSD along with many other factors such as low socioeconomic status in this group, signifies the importance of mental health screening programs & appropriate interventions in this group.