Posttraumatic stress in infancy: The roles of cumulative trauma and caregiving context

Infants are exposed to traumatic events at higher rates than older children, potentially leading to posttraumatic stress symptoms. Despite this higher prevalence, posttraumatic stress responses in infancy have not been well researched due to conceptual, developmental, and methodological challenges. This study conducted in the United States investigated the responses of infants aged 3-18 months after exposure to a range of traumatic events. Caregivers reported on their infants' trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress symptoms using the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for DSM-5 for Children Age 6 and Younger and reported on their own posttraumatic symptoms on the PTSD Diagnostic Scale for DSM-5 (PDS-5). Of 116 racially and ethnically diverse infants, 96 (82.8%) were exposed to at least one traumatic event (M = 1.6; SD = 1.2; range = 0-7). Infant trauma exposure and caregiver symptoms were significant predictors of the number and severity of caregiver-endorsed infant symptoms. These findings indicate that infants as young as 3 months of age may manifest posttraumatic stress symptoms after trauma exposure. Developmental context and caregiver functioning should be considered when assessing for posttraumatic stress symptoms in infants.