Salvadoran youth have an elevated risk of trauma exposure and related mental health problems. However, investigations of childhood trauma exposure and mental health sequelae in El Salvador are limited. The present study aimed to (a) explore the prevalence of exposure to potentially traumatic events and symptoms of posttraumatic stress, anxiety, and depression and (b) evaluate the associations between specific trauma types and emotional functioning among Salvadoran youth. A total of 1,296 youth aged 8–21 years from seven public schools completed self-report measures of trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), anxiety, and depression. Participants reported high levels of trauma exposure, endorsing an average of 3.62 (SD = 2.32) trauma types. In total, 34.5% of participants reported clinically elevated PTSS; fewer youths reported elevated depressive (8.7%) and anxiety symptoms (8.6%). Although boys reported exposure to more trauma types than girls, d = 0.22, girls were more likely to endorse elevated PTSS, V = .11; anxiety, V = .06; and depression, V = .10. Adolescents reported exposure to more trauma types than younger children, d = 0.23, and were more likely to endorse elevated PTSS, V = .07; anxiety, V = .13; and depression, V = .16. Undergoing a frightening medical procedure, OR = 2.30; female sex, OR = 1.92; witnessing domestic violence, OR = 1.70; and experiencing war between gangs, OR = 1.61, were strong predictors of elevated PTSS. This broad, school-based screening was a critical step toward better understanding the rate of trauma exposure and trauma-related symptoms among Salvadoran youth.

中文翻译：

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萨尔瓦多全民学校心理健康筛查试点：资源匮乏的学校环境中的创伤性压力


萨尔瓦多青少年遭受创伤和相关心理健康问题的风险较高。然而，萨尔瓦多对儿童创伤暴露和心理健康后遗症的调查有限。本研究旨在（a）探讨萨尔瓦多青年中潜在创伤事件和创伤后应激、焦虑和抑郁症状的患病率，以及（b）评估特定创伤类型与情绪功能之间的关联。来自 7 所公立学校的 1,296 名 8-21 岁青少年完成了创伤暴露、创伤后应激症状 (PTSS)、焦虑和抑郁的自我报告测量。参与者报告了高水平的创伤暴露，平均认可 3.62 ( SD = 2.32) 种创伤类型。总共有 34.5% 的参与者报告临床上 PTSS 升高；报告抑郁症状（8.7%）和焦虑症状（8.6%）升高的青少年较少。尽管男孩报告比女孩遭受更多类型的创伤， d = 0.22，但女孩更有可能认可升高的 PTSS， V = 0.11；焦虑， V = .06；和抑郁症， V = .10。青少年报告比年幼的儿童遭受更多类型的创伤， d = 0.23，并且更有可能认可升高的 PTSS， V = 0.07；焦虑， V = .13；和抑郁症， V = .16。经历可怕的医疗程序， OR = 2.30；女性， OR = 1.92；目睹家庭暴力， OR = 1.70；和经历帮派之间的战争， OR = 1.61，是 PTSS 升高的有力预测因素。这种以学校为基础的广泛筛查是更好地了解萨尔瓦多青少年创伤暴露率和创伤相关症状的关键一步。