Study of the effect of post-traumatic stress disorder and comorbid disorders on the daily lives of schoolchildren aged 11 to 16 in public schools in Morocco

Background Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after exposure to traumatic events such as those involving actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. This survey was conducted to assess the prevalence of PTSD among adolescents attending public schools in the city of Salé in Morocco and to study the levels of anxiety and depression – the most common disorders associated with PTSD. Participants and procedure Based on a cross-sectional survey, 900 schoolchildren with an age between 11 and 16 years old were selected. The percentage of participants who agreed to take part was 89%. The validated questionnaires (socio-demographic data, list of life events, CPTS-RI, CDI and STAIY) were completed by the schoolchildren. Using SPSS statistical software, Student’s t-test, Cohen’s d test, chi-square (χ2), Cramer’s V, and Pearson’s correlation (r) were calculated. The research project began after receiving research authorization from the Ministry of National Education, and consent forms were signed by partici-pants. Results The prevalence of PTSD was 31.7%. Factors such as adolescent developmental characteristics, socioeconomic status, and parental education level may contribute to the observed prevalence. A higher percentage of this disorder was observed in girls (60.7%) than in boys (39.3%) (p = .008, d = 0.75). This prevalence reflects the proportion of schoolchildren currently exhibiting PTSD symptoms. Among participants, 77.2% exhibited anxiety symptoms and 51.3% exhibited depressive symp-toms. Conclusions PTSD has negative consequences for the well-being of school-age adolescents, affecting their emotional, social, and aca-demic functioning. Interventions are available to treat this disorder in affected adolescents. Adolescents with PTSD should have access to professional psychological care from trained specialists, as well as support from their families.