This study was a longitudinal examination of PTSS in a
high-risk group of children. The study approach was rare in its
examination of a range of victimization experiences, including
multiple types of maltreatment and witnessed or indirect experiences
of violence. Broad inclusion criteria were used that
reinforced the theoretical underpinnings of a developmental
psychopathology perspective, reflecting a more dimensional
representation of symptoms. Consistent with DSM-5, this
study also examined the importance of negative mood states,
such as anger, in relation to the expression of posttraumatic
stress. Overall, mean levels of PTSS suggested high levels of
resilience, despite the fact that the sample had high average
rates of exposure to violence. Surprisingly, children reported
quite high rates of feeling safe within their home, perhaps
indicating that this sample had access to a number of protective
factors that are not captured by the current study (e.g., family
support after violence; new foster placements).