American Journal of Community Psychology

Abstract

Acute and chronic exposure to adversity and trauma has been linked to later dysfunction, disorder, and disease.Children and adults who are exposed to recurring and extremely stressful interpersonal conditions such as abuse and neglect and domestic violence often experience significant social-emotional, cognitive, and behavioral consequences that undermine their health and well-being.Other risks within and outside the home can compound the costs of interpersonal trauma.At the same time, research shows that the long-term, negative impacts of trauma appear to be lessened, and possibly reversed, when schools and other systems that serve vulnerable children and families (e.g., child welfare, juvenile and criminal justice, health care) provide adequate safety, care, and resources.