Abstract
Experiences of trauma are very common during childhood, with externalizing symptoms developing as a prevalent outcome post-trauma exposure. The evaluation of how trauma type or proximity to trauma may impact the development of these symptoms over time across childhood and adolescence has not frequently been studied. Using data from the Gene Environment Mood (GEM) study Denver cohort, this study investigated the role of trauma type and proximity in the development of externalizing symptoms in children and adolescents ages 7-18 across three years. Results showed that youth exposed to trauma had higher levels of externalizing symptoms. Additionally, specific externalizing symptom subtypes (i.e., conduct problems and peer relationship problems) were identified as most likely to arise after traumatic experiences. As expected, directly experiencing trauma was associated with more externalizing symptom development than solely witnessing traumatic events. Finally, trauma exposure had long-lasting effects on the development of externalizing symptoms over time. This study demonstrates that the relationship between trauma and externalizing behaviors can be cyclical and that interrupting this cycle will involve developing early and precise interventions, specifically designed to address the most likely behavioral outcomes of traumatic experiences.