Exposure to war and ongoing political violence increases mental health risks among children, especially in terms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depressive, and somatic symptoms (Barber, 2013). The exclusive focus on negative functioning leads to underestimate natural potential of adjustment to trauma and coping abilities in war affected children in their developmental phases (Veronese & Castiglioni, 2015). Using structural equation modeling, we tested to what extent data gathered in a predominantly nonclinical sample of Palestinian children (N=1,276) living in refugees camps supported a conceptual model in which the relationship between subjective well-being and trauma mainly resembles a top-down structure. In this cross-sectional design, the model revealed that feelings of life satisfaction contribute to a better affect balance in children (6-11) that, in turn, buffer the effect of traumatic events. Our findings underlines the importance of dimensions of subjective well-being in children involved in traumatic events and may inspire treatment intervention focusing on the ability to enact positive emotions as a crucial resource to deal with traumatic reactions.

Veronese, G. (2016). Life satisfaction and adjustment to trauma in children living ongoing military violence and human rights violations in Gaza Strip. Intervento presentato a: Rethinking Trauma and Resilience in the Context of Political Violence: New Directions in Research and Practice, London.

Life satisfaction and adjustment to trauma in children living ongoing military violence and human rights violations in Gaza Strip

VERONESE, GUIDO
Primo
2016

Abstract

Exposure to war and ongoing political violence increases mental health risks among children, especially in terms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depressive, and somatic symptoms (Barber, 2013). The exclusive focus on negative functioning leads to underestimate natural potential of adjustment to trauma and coping abilities in war affected children in their developmental phases (Veronese & Castiglioni, 2015). Using structural equation modeling, we tested to what extent data gathered in a predominantly nonclinical sample of Palestinian children (N=1,276) living in refugees camps supported a conceptual model in which the relationship between subjective well-being and trauma mainly resembles a top-down structure. In this cross-sectional design, the model revealed that feelings of life satisfaction contribute to a better affect balance in children (6-11) that, in turn, buffer the effect of traumatic events. Our findings underlines the importance of dimensions of subjective well-being in children involved in traumatic events and may inspire treatment intervention focusing on the ability to enact positive emotions as a crucial resource to deal with traumatic reactions.
slide + paper
trauma, life satisfaction, children, war, human rights
English
Rethinking Trauma and Resilience in the Context of Political Violence: New Directions in Research and Practice
2015
2016
none
Veronese, G. (2016). Life satisfaction and adjustment to trauma in children living ongoing military violence and human rights violations in Gaza Strip. Intervento presentato a: Rethinking Trauma and Resilience in the Context of Political Violence: New Directions in Research and Practice, London.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/108480
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