Based on previous studies reporting an association between high image contr
ol and low posttraumatic symptoms in adults exposed to a traumatic event, t
his study explored whether a high capacity for image control by children ma
y serve as protective factor against the long-term effect of trauma. The sa
mple consisted of 39 children displaced due to the destruction of their hom
es after the missile attack on Tel-Aviv during the Gulf War, Analysis confi
rmed the hypothesis that low scores on the Test of Visual Image Control wer
e associated with specific posttraumatic symptoms but not with general ones
.