The mediating role of event-related houseld discussions in the relationship between family factors and psychological adjustment in children and adolescents exposed to terrorism and community violence

The main objective of the study was to test the mediating role of event-related household discussions in the relationship between family factors (family functioning and parental mental health) and developing internalizing and externalizing behavior problems in children and adolescents after controlling for exposure to terrorism and community violence events. With this aim a total of 129 children and adolescents ages between 11-18 years and their parents who exposed to terrorist attacks and July 15, 2016 coup attempt and related community violence events took place in Ankara in the last 1.5 years were recruited in the study. Data were gathered through self-report measurement tools. Results indicated that father's and mother's mental health and family functioning predicts internalizing and externalizing problems of children and adolescents. It was also revealed that both father's and mother's mental health and family functioning influence the quality of the event-related household discussion hold between parent and their children after traumatic event exposure. Regardless of the effects of event-related household discussion, family functioning directly influences the internalizing and externalizing behavior problems of children and adolescents. The main finding of the study is that event-related household discussion mediates the relationship for parental mental health and internalizing behavioral problems but does not mediate the relationship for parental mental health and externalizing behavioral problems of children and adolescents. The study provides useful framework for clinicians in terms of the importance of adopting comprehensive approach for treatment of psychological adjustment of children and adolescent and effectiveness of household discussions conducted between parents and their children after traumatic events.