2. 8 Effect of trauma on learning
Steele, 2007 shows how students process trauma depends on
their age and level of development. By understanding how students experience
traumatic events and how they express their lingering distress over the
experience, school personnel can better respond and help them through this
challenging time.
2. 8. 1 Effects on students
For students, a traumatic experience may cause ongoing
feelings of concern for their own safety and the safety of others. These
students may become preoccupied with thoughts about their actions during the
event, often times experiencing guilt or shame over what they did or did not do
at the time. They might engage in constant retelling of the traumatic event, or
may describe
being overwhelmed by their feelings of fear or
sadness.
2.8.1.1. Effects on preschool students
Preschool students may lose recently acquired developmental
milestones and may increase behaviors such as bedwetting, thumb sucking, and
regress to simpler speech. They may become more clingy to their parents and
worry about their parents safety and return. These young students may also
become more irritable with more temper tantrums and have more difficulty
calming down. A few students may show the reverse behavior and become very
withdrawn, subdued, or even mute after a traumatic event. These students may
have difficulties falling or staying asleep or have nightmares about the event
or other bad dreams. Typically these students will process the event through
post-traumatic play.
2.8.1.2. Effects on elementary school students
Elementary students may show signs of distress through somatic
complaints such as stomachaches, headaches, and pains. These students may have
a change in behavior, such as increase irritability, aggression, and anger.
Their behaviors may be inconsistent. These students may show a change in school
performance and have impaired attention and concentration and more school
absences. Late elementary students may excessively talk and ask persistent
questions about the event.
2.8.1.3. Effects on middle and high school students
These students exposed to a traumatic event feel
self-conscious about their emotional responses to the event. They often
experience feelings of shame and guilt about the traumatic event and may
express fantasies about revenge and retribution. A traumatic event for
adolescents may foster a radical shift in the way these students think about
the world. Some of these adolescents may begin to engage in self-destructive or
accident-prone behaviors, and reckless behaviors. There may be a shift in their
interpersonal relationships with family members, teachers, and classmates.
These students may show a change in their school performance, attendance, and
behavior.
2.8.1.4. Variations among students
In spite of the ability to predict general responses to trauma
depending on age and developmental level, there is still tremendous variability
among students regarding post-traumatic symptoms and the extent to which
learning and school behavior may be disrupted. The variety of individual
responses to trauma is related to many factors, including a student's prior
history of trauma or loss, prior or current mental health issues such as
depression, anxiety, or behavior problems, and individual differences in
temperament.
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