Narrating hope and resistance: A critical analysis of sources of agency among Palestinian children living under military violence

Background: In light of critical and socioconstructionist theories, the aim of our research was to analyze source of agency, psychological adjustment to trauma as protective factors against political violence in children living in three different refugee camps in Palestine, as well as exploring the risks to which these children are exposed. Methods: Thematic content analysis was applied to children's written and drawn productions in order to extract the main categories and themes. Results: Four main domains of agency emerged from the analysis: personal growth, political well-being, social relationships, and geographical context. For each domain, specific dimensions are discussed. Conclusions: The results of this preliminary exploration of children's agency suggest that the children's living environment plays a key role in shaping their suffering and reactions to war and ongoing violence. Furthermore, the social nature of the children affected by war-related suffering forces practitioners and policymakers to question the effectiveness of intervention programs that are predominantly focused on symptoms