Levels and predictors of PTSS in young children aged 3–12 years at the hardest-hit area of China during early COVID-19 outbreak

The results are among the first to reveal the levels of PTSS in young children aged 3-12 years under crisis. The rate of avoidant and hyper-arousal symptoms in children is 5.51% and 6.10% respectively, which is equivalent in children at hardest-hit and other area, and lower than that of pre-COVID disasters such as earthquakes (13.1%), but higher than those reported in college students during COVID-19 (2.7%). Due to omission of intrusion-symptom observation, the findings may indicate partial symptoms and result in lower PTSS rate. Risk and protective predictors of PTSS help to recognize high-risk sub-populations and prevent PTSS in young children under crisis.