CHILDRENS REACTIONS TO SERIAL MURDER

This study examined the psychological reactions of children who lived in a community exposed to serial murder. The research also examined ho w parents coped with their children's psychological responses. Thirty- four parents of 64 children between the ages of 5 and 18, inclusive, w ere asked to identify changes in their children since the serial murde rs. Data collection began 4 weeks following the murders and included a ssessment of emotional, cognitive and behavioral aspects of the child' s responses. Follow-up data collection occurred at 9 months and 18 mon ths after the murders. Results indicated that children, as a group, ex perienced a number of psychological changes following the murders, eve n though none of the actual victims were children. The most frequently reported symptoms were anxiety-based (fear of being alone, difficulty falling asleep and wanting to sleep with parents). Most children show ed a significant decline in symptoms across time. The most popular par ent coping strategies involved discussing issues of risk minimization, talking about the murders, and spending more time with children.