Very little research has investigated the social patterning over time or studied social vulnerability of most of the above indicators from adolescence to adulthood. However, all four mechanisms: socially differential exposure, tracking, socially differential tracking and socially differential vulnerability seem to be active in establishing social differences in adult educational attainment. In recent years, there has been increased attention to the impact of trauma on children and youth. Evidence suggests that devastating natural disasters (such as hurricanes and bushfires) (La Greca et al. 1996; Yelland et al., in press), injuries resulting from motor vehicle and other types of accidents (Meiser-Stedman et al., 2008) , and life-threatening medical conditions such as cancer (Phipps, Jurbergs & Long, 2009 ) are associated with the development posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms and disorder (PTSD) in children and adolescents. Although existing research has focused on mental health reactions of child trauma victims, very little attention has been devoted to the health effects of traumatic events. This is especially surprising, in that stress has long been known to affect immune functioning and susceptibility to disease. Nevertheless, there has been recent interest in the health effects of children's trauma exposure (Fairbank & Fairbank, 2009) , and this symposium will address this issue. The three papers in the symposium address the impact of traumatic stressors on child health. Each of the papers in the symposium focuses on different traumatic stressors and their potential health effects. The first paper by Kenardy, Anderson, and Le Brocquehus focuses on the predictive value of posttraumatic stress on health outcomes in a large sample of children with mild to severe traumatic brain injury. The second paper by La Greca and colleagues will present two recent studies that examined the impact of destructive natural disasters (hurricanes) on children's somatic symptoms. Finally, the third presentation by Llabre and Hadi presents data on two studies of the psychological and health consequences of war exposure on children. All authors will discuss the implications of their findings for assessing children affected by traumatic events. Hierarchical regressions revealed that hurricane experiences accounted for 7.2% of the variance in somatic symptoms at Time 2 (p=.001). Time 1 PTSD also predicted Time 2 somatic symptoms (p=.001), but hurricane experiences were not significant when PTSD symptoms were included. Major life events added to the prediction of Time 2 somatic symptoms (p<.001). Study 2 included 328 children (50% girls; M age=8.72 years) who completed similar measures 9 months post-disaster. Using regression to predict somatic symptoms, demographics were entered first (8% of the variance, p<.01); then hurricane-exposure (14% of the variance, p<.001); and finally children's PTSD symptoms (16% of the variance, p<.001). In the final step, only PTSD symptoms, child's age (β=−.15) and stressors occurring during the hurricane (β=.11) remained significant. These studies are the first to examine health outcomes in children exposed to natural disasters. Children exposed to destructive disasters and who experience disaster-related stressors report significant somatic symptoms 9 and 21 months postdisaster. Findings suggest that children exposed to natural disasters may be vulnerable in terms of their physical health as well as mental health. Further attention the health status of children exposed to natural disasters is important in to address. Two studies, conducted in the Middle East, document the psychological and health consequences of war exposure in childhood. One study, conducted in Lebanon after the Lebanese-Israeli war in the summer of 2006, included a population-based sample of over 6000 children in grades 1 through 12 who were assessed for multiple exposures, prior exposure, sociodemographic characteristics, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS). The prevalence of PTS symptoms was estimated at 27.7% in children who were in grades 1 to 5 and at 26.4% in children and adolescents in grades 6 to 12. Specific symptom clusters had higher prevalence. Between 41-53% (depending on age) reported difficulty in falling and staying asleep. Older age was associated with increased symptoms. Past and concurrent exposures to warrelated events were the strongest predictors of PTS symptoms. The other study included 151 Kuwaiti children who were 7-10 years old during the first Gulf war, selected for participation based on their level of exposure to war-related events. Participants were assessed two years after the war and again as young adults (19-23 years old). As adults they reported on their general health, medical diagnoses, and sleep habits. At both assessments they reported on symptoms of posttraumatic stress, depression, and anxiety. A structural model supported the notion that psychological distress mediates the effect of war exposure on self-rated health, quality of sleep, and obesity. The session will conclude with a brief discussion with all presenters participating Research on Iraq War veterans who have experienced traumatic brain injuries has found that posttraumatic stress mediated the effect of the brain injuries on health outcomes. The aim of this paper is to explore the predictive value of posttraumatic stress on health outcomes in children with mild to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). 204 children aged 6 to 14 years were recruited after admission to hospital for TBI. Participants were followed before 2 months and at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months post injury. Posttraumatic stress was identified via a structured clinical interview (CAPS-CA). Health outcomes were assessed using the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ). The presence of PTSD was found to be unrelated to the severity of the TBI. After accounting for the severity of the TBI, PTSD was associated with longer recovery times over the 18 months as assessed by physical outcomes. Of greater concern PTSD was associated with a lack of recovery as assessed by psychosocial outcomes. This has significant implications for the assessment and rehabilitation of pediatric TBI. Subjective health complaints, modern health worries and coping. Camilla Ihlebaek Terms like functional somatic illnesses, unexplained medical symptoms, and somatization disorders have been used on a variety of combinations of multiple symptoms, with diagnostic labels such as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity, chronic fatigue syndrome, and chronic whiplash syndrome. These conditions are described by common subjective health complaints such as musculoskeletal pain, gastrointestinal discomfort, tiredness, fatigue, allergic and respiratory complaints, depression, and anxiety. Subjective health complaints are common in the general population. For most people the complaints are minor everyday nuisance, however for some it becomes substantial and is given a diagnostic label and professional help is needed. An important question is why and to whom this happens. A possible mechanism for such multiple symptoms could be somatic and cognitive sensitization. Furthermore, two cognitive mechanisms that seem to be closely linked to the process of sensitization are worrying and coping. There is an increasing interest of health in media and in the population. This might lead to worries concerning features of modern life and its affect on health. Worrying could play a role by enhancing biased memory and interest of health related information, leading to sensitization. Therefore, modern health worries could be associated with health complaints and medically unexplained symptoms. Individuals that uses active problem solving coping strategies have been found to have lower levels of subjective health complaints than others in stressful work situations. An essential condition for coping to occur is that the individual expects a positive result of the handling of a stressful situation, i.e. positive response outcome expectancy. The result of no control of the outcome would be learned helplessness and negative response outcome expectancy could be defined as hopelessness. Both hopelessness and helplessness may lead to depression and multiple subjective health complaints. In this symposium the relationships between subjective health complaints, modern health worries and coping will be discussed. Background: Worries about environmental and technical changes affecting people's health have been shown be associated with the use of health care services, health behaviours, mood and reporting of physical symptoms. Aim: In a representative sample of the German population we examined the relationship of modern health worries to demographic factors. depression, symptom reporting and health-related quality of life. Methods: 2,524 participants of a representative sample of the German completed the Modern Health Worries Scale, Depression and Somatization Module of the Patient Health Questionnaire, as well as the SF-12 health-related quality of life scale. Socioeconomic status and demographic information were also gathered.