The hidden dangers of childhood trauma: Why parents need to be vigilant about protecting their kids from violent influences.

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    Childhood trauma is a prevalent issue that is often overlooked in society. As parents, it is our duty to be vigilant about protecting our children from violent influences. The effects of childhood trauma can have long-lasting impacts on mental health, behavior, and academic outcomes.

    The age at which a person experiences a crime may play a big role in the severity of the effect upon them. In a study of World Trade Center first-responders, depressive symptoms were found to be worse in those that experienced childhood bullying, despite having all experienced the same traumatic event. In a day and age where a new school shooting takes place seemingly every day, the effect on kids may be dire.

    Exposure to violence is unfortunately all too common in our society. Even if a child is not the direct victim of a violent crime, witnessing violence can still have a profound impact on their mental health. Research has shown that children exposed to violence become more desensitized to it, believing that “violence is an acceptable way to solve problems” without any consequence. This can lead to an increase in aggression and angry thoughts, as well as an increase in several mental health related issues.  Kids who react this way to anger or other factors have often learned it from other sources.  This is all the more reason why we as parents should remain vigilant and wary as to what our children are exposed to.  

    In extremely harsh cases of violence, such as domestic abuse or school shootings, children have been known to develop PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). According to ptsduk, PTSD symptoms displayed by adolescents and children include: "learning difficulties, poor behaviour at school, depression and anxiety, aggression, risk-taking and criminal behaviours, emotional numbness, and a range of physical issues including poor sleep and headaches."

    The potential PTSD and other disorders received from experiencing violence or violent crimes aside, the adverse effects go beyond just that of mental health issues. In a study done by Stanford University on the impacts of surviving a school shooting, students who were exposed to a shooting at their school in grades 10 and 11 were 3.7 percent at the mean less likely to graduate from high school; 9.5 percent less likely to enroll in any college; 17.2 percent less likely to enroll in a four-year college; and 15.3 percent less likely to obtain a bachelor's degree by age 26. Student survivors had 13.5% lower average annual earnings compared to their counterparts.  Those who experience childhood abuse may develop PTSD in their adult lives, resulting in various mental health problems such as internalized trauma and the use of protection methods. Oftentimes, victims of childhood abuse are more prone to depression, anxiety, trust issues, and lack of self-confidence. 

    Studies like this one, however, show that the effects of witnessing violence or violent crimes may be highly individualized, as some people may be more predisposed to be negatively impacted by such events. Someone’s natural resilience, social support, and their own personal coping strategies may all play a role in how detrimental the effects of an event are on their life.  Some would argue that those who end up with serious lasting consequences were going to all along.  Mainstream media and outrage culture would have us believe it is because of school shootings or police brutality, but as parents the best thing we can do is shelter our children from the harsh realities of the world they live in.  

    Many parents would argue that the best thing for a child would be to allow exposure to such violence, thereby better preparing them for the world, and that shielding a child may create a false sense of security.  Violence is a sad reality of the world we inhabit, and some would argue it is best to develop the skills they need to navigate difficult situations.  However, as numerous studies have shown time and time again, exposure to violence at a young age could have potentially drastic consequences, and therefore, it seems that violence does not in fact make a child "tougher," but rather promotes bad behavior, negative outlooks, and serious mental health issues.  In an era where drag shows and war violence from Ukraine infiltrate our media, children are being traumatized every day, and as the research shows, exposure to violence can have long-lasting effects on mental health, behavior, and academic outcomes. While much of this is inevitable, we should take steps to reduce the violence and trauma being exposed to our children.  

    In a time where people are seemingly always plugged in, especially the youth, access to traumatizing, unregulated internet videos and games is at an all time high.  Children and adolescents are able to view and read about violence, whether intentionally or not. As children are far more likely to be influenced, the effect on adults seems markedly less severe. In children and adolescents, however, exposure to traumatic media can lead to an increase in aggression and angry thoughts, as well as an increase in several mental health related issues.  By removing access to such things from our children, we are able to better protect them.  As school shootings become more prominent, and the effects of violence are highly individualized, and parents should be vigilant of the effects video gaming and internet use may have on their children.  

    It could be argued that excessive monitoring of your child's media consumption, and censoring them from viewing potentially violent media could lead to a lack of creativity and a sense of fear and anxiety as a opposed to one of openness and trust.  While these concerns are not without merit, I would argue that a child's creativity and exploration of complex themes could still be encouraged without the presence of violent media.  Age-appropriate media should be encouraged instead, thereby reducing the possible negative repercussions of viewing violent media.  Moreover, it is the opinion of this writer that monitoring a child's media consumption doesn't have to create an environment of fear and anxiety. By approaching these conversations with openness and honesty, a parent could help their child develop critical media literacy skills while also fostering trust and communication within the family.  

    Parents should always be protective of the things their children view.  By protecting our children from witnessing violence and violent acts, we can better protect them from the potential negative consequences therein.  The ugly truth is that violence and its exposure to our kids is almost unavoidable, and while this is certainly true to some extent, we should always try our best to shelter our kids from as much of this as we can.