Parent-Child Agreement Regarding Children's Acute Stress : The Role of Parent Acute Stress Reactions

ABSTRACTObjectiveWe examined parent-child agreement regarding child acute stress disorder (ASD) and the relationship between parent ASD symptoms and parent ratings of child ASD.MethodParent-child dyads (N = 219; child age 8-17 years) were assessed within 1 month of child injury. Parent-child agreement was examined regarding child ASD presence, severity, and specific symptoms. Relationships among parent ASD and parent- and child-reported child ASD were examined using regression analysis and generalized estimating equations (GEE).ResultsParent-child agreement was low for presence of child ASD (X = 0.22) and for individual symptoms. Parent and child ratings of child ASD severity were moderately correlated (r = 0.35). Parent ASD was independently associated with parent-rated child ASD, after accounting for child self-rating (β =.65). Generalized estimating equations indicated that parents with ASD overestimated child ASD and parents without ASD underestimated child ASD, compared to the child's self-rating.ConclusionsParents' own responses to a potentially traumatic event appear to influence their assessment of child symptoms. Clinicians should obtain child self-report of ASD whenever possible and take parent symptoms into account when interpreting parent reports. Helping parents to assess a child's needs following a potentially traumatic event may be a relevant target for clinical attention.