A Meta‐Analysis of Risk Factors That Predict Psychopathology Following Accidental Trauma

PURPOSE: This meta-analysis aimed to explore the risk factors that place a child at risk of psychopathology following accidental trauma. DESIGN AND METHODS: The predictive power of 8 factors was examined via transforming and combining the effect sizes to yield a weighted average effect size for each factor. RESULTS: The results indicated that the majority of effect sizes, although significant, were inconsistent across the studies, yielding little conclusive evidence. However, pretrauma psychopathology and threat to life were strong and consistent predictors. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Information gathered from such meta-analyses could be used in the identification of at-risk children and the development of screening tools. However, further widespread and comprehensive reviews of the potential risk factors and their relationships to psychopathology need to be investigated.