We analyse attitudes of agency, psychological adjustment to trauma and resistance against political violence in children living in three refugee camps, Palestine. In 2014 UNICEF reported 300.000 children in need of psychological protection (Gaza). We move from a narrative constructivist approach. One-hundred-twenty-two children took part in a qualitative explorative research: thirty-two from Aida refugee camp, forty-four from Dheisheh refugee camp, and forty-six from Jabalia refugee Camp, Gaza Strip. All children were asked to write a self-characterisation and to represent it by drawings. Clinical interpretation of drawings was performed using an ad hoc grid. In addition, thematic content analysis was applied to both written and drawn materials. Our work is in line with the APA (American Psychological Association) ethical guidelines. The children were constantly informed about research procedures and instruments. They were able to withdraw from the research whenever they decided not to continue. Five indicators emerged. Marked pressure (66%) and colour (48%) are showing emotional distress and aggressive attitudes. Perspective absence (66%), low details and stereotyped human figure (43%) are referring to regressive tendencies and developmental retardation. Sharp and square lines are indicating emotional hyper-control and relational distress. The narrative-constructivist text analysis of children drawings pointed out four main themes from self-characterisations (future and dreams 56%, need of movement 34%, sports and leisure 71%, peer relationship 38%) and three themes from drawings (positive emotion 58%, environment 54%, future and dreams, 25%). The results are discussed in the light of narrative constructivist perspective rather than psychobiological and clinical frameworks

Cavazzoni, F., Veronese, G. (2017). Agency and activism among Palestinian children living under military violence. A qualitative inquiry. Intervento presentato a: "Social Justice, solidarity anc children's rights", Bologna, Italy.

Agency and activism among Palestinian children living under military violence. A qualitative inquiry

CAVAZZONI, FEDERICA;VERONESE, GUIDO
2017

Abstract

We analyse attitudes of agency, psychological adjustment to trauma and resistance against political violence in children living in three refugee camps, Palestine. In 2014 UNICEF reported 300.000 children in need of psychological protection (Gaza). We move from a narrative constructivist approach. One-hundred-twenty-two children took part in a qualitative explorative research: thirty-two from Aida refugee camp, forty-four from Dheisheh refugee camp, and forty-six from Jabalia refugee Camp, Gaza Strip. All children were asked to write a self-characterisation and to represent it by drawings. Clinical interpretation of drawings was performed using an ad hoc grid. In addition, thematic content analysis was applied to both written and drawn materials. Our work is in line with the APA (American Psychological Association) ethical guidelines. The children were constantly informed about research procedures and instruments. They were able to withdraw from the research whenever they decided not to continue. Five indicators emerged. Marked pressure (66%) and colour (48%) are showing emotional distress and aggressive attitudes. Perspective absence (66%), low details and stereotyped human figure (43%) are referring to regressive tendencies and developmental retardation. Sharp and square lines are indicating emotional hyper-control and relational distress. The narrative-constructivist text analysis of children drawings pointed out four main themes from self-characterisations (future and dreams 56%, need of movement 34%, sports and leisure 71%, peer relationship 38%) and three themes from drawings (positive emotion 58%, environment 54%, future and dreams, 25%). The results are discussed in the light of narrative constructivist perspective rather than psychobiological and clinical frameworks
abstract + poster
children, war, political violence, agency, activism
English
"Social Justice, solidarity anc children's rights"
2017
2017
none
Cavazzoni, F., Veronese, G. (2017). Agency and activism among Palestinian children living under military violence. A qualitative inquiry. Intervento presentato a: "Social Justice, solidarity anc children's rights", Bologna, Italy.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/167489
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