International Journal of Child and Adolescent Resilience

Les effets de la méthode d’enquête sur le profil de femmes victimes d’agression sexuelle dans l’enfance

Camille Bégin — 2024-03-06

Contexte : L’enquête par Internet est aujourd'hui largement utilisée sans que l'on connaisse ses effets sur le profil des femmes victimes d’agression sexuelle dans l’enfance (ASE), comparativement à d’autres méthodes. Cette étude vise à comparer les effets de l’utilisation de la méthode d’enquête par Internet à ceux de la méthode d’enquête populationnelle téléphonique sur le profil de femmes victimes d’ASE, et ce, relativement aux données sociodémographiques, aux expériences de victimisation et aux difficultés d’adaptation à l’âge adulte.

Méthode : L’étude compare deux échantillons de femmes victimes d’ASE ayant répondu au même questionnaire, soit un provenant d’une enquête populationnelle téléphonique avec un échantillonnage probabiliste (N = 199), et l’autre d’une enquête impliquant l’auto-administration du questionnaire par Internet avec un échantillonnage de convenance (N = 269).

Résultats : Comparativement aux femmes de l’enquête populationnelle téléphonique, celles de l’enquête par Internet sont plus susceptibles d’être étudiantes que de travailler, d'avoir fait des études postsecondaires que d’avoir atteint un niveau d’étude primaire, de déclarer un revenu annuel supérieur à 40 000 $ que de moins de 20 000 $, de rapporter davantage de victimisations à l’enfance, de rapporter les symptômes d’un trouble dépressif et ceux d’un trouble de stress post-traumatique, et d’avoir déjà eu des idéations suicidaires.

Conclusion : Les résultats montrent que les choix méthodologiques permettent d’obtenir des profils de femmes victimes d’ASE significativement distincts.

Implication : Au-delà des avantages logistiques que procure l’enquête par Internet, ses effets doivent être considérés dans la planification d’une recherche et dans l’interprétation des résultats.

Exploring Multisystemic Resilience among Youth of Color Exposed to Direct and Indirect Violence

Lacy Jamison — 2023-05-09

Objectives: Youth of color (YOC) are more likely to experience direct and indirect violence compared to non-Hispanic White youth. Although the negative consequences of violence exposure are well-established, less is understood about factors that may facilitate resilience.

Methods: The current study utilized hierarchical linear regression modeling to examine the associations between resilience and psychological health, social support, and school engagement among YOC in the United States who have experienced violence. Participants included 75 YOC (M_age = 9.39; SD = 1.56; 84.1% Black or African American, 9.3% Biracial or Multiracial, 5.3% Hispanic, 1.3% Indigenous) who were directly or indirectly exposed to violence in the past year. They were recruited from a family justice center in the southern United States.

Results: The final model was significant (F(5,74) = 21.71; p < .001) and accounted for 57% of the variance in resilience. Specifically, lower levels of direct violence exposure (β = -.18; p = .002), greater social support from friends and nonparental adults (β = .35; p < .001), and more school engagement (β = .47; p < .001) were related to higher resilience.

Conclusions and Implications: Findings highlight the importance of interpersonal and school resources in facilitating resilience among YOC who have been exposed to violence. Clinicians are encouraged to connect YOC with accessible resources to foster behavioral, cognitive, and emotional involvement in school. Further, mental health care providers can assist YOC by helping them establish and maintain supportive relationships, which may enhance resilience.

Burnout and Moral Distress Among Social Workers Working with Children and Families Versus Those Who Do Not

Denise Michelle Brend — 2024-01-23

Objectives: Burnout is of international concern among social workers, and recently moral distress (MD) has been identified among this professional group. Little is known about how burnout and MD experiences differ between social workers serving children and families (CF) and social workers in other domains. Less is known about the potential relationship between burnout and MD across these subgroups of social workers.

Methods: This brief report examines if the levels of, and associations, between MD and burnout differ between a sample of Finnish CF social workers (n = 199) compared social workers in other domains (n = 168).

Results: Based on multivariate analyses of covariance and hierarchical regression analyses, we found that working with children and families did not moderate the associations between MD and burnout. However, working with children and families was associated with higher levels of exhaustion, MD frequency, and distress. MD frequency and MD distress were also both significant predictors of burnout among the sample of social workers. CF social workers had higher levels of exhaustion compared to the other social workers.

Implications: MD may be an important factor influencing the wellbeing of CF social workers. Organizations employing CF social workers are encouraged to investigate potential sources of MD and set workplace policies to reduce risks. More research examining causes of, and identifying effective remedies to, MD is warranted.

Associations Between Child Maltreatment Types and Pre- and Post-Partum Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms: A Brief Report

Alesha Frederickson — 2024-02-01

Objective: To foster resilience through reducing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in pregnant mothers with child maltreatment (CM) histories, it is important to understand factors impacting their well-being. This study explored whether CM predicted the severity of PTSD symptoms and symptom clusters during pregnancy and change in symptoms from pregnancy (Time 1; T1) to 3 months postpartum (Time 2; T2).

Methods: 88 pregnant women (aged 18 to 29) completed surveys on CM exposure, adult interpersonal trauma experiences, and PTSD symptoms at T1; 58 participated at T2.

Results: Stepwise regressions were conducted with the covariates age, family status, and adult interpersonal traumas. When accounting for all CM types, only neglect remained associated with overall PTSD symptoms (F_t1(4, 71) = 19.08, p < .001) and for each of the PTSD symptom clusters (ps < .01). Physical abuse remained associated with the alterations in cognition and mood cluster. No CM types were associated with changes in PTSD symptoms from T1 to T2.

Implications: In future research, the implications of neglect for pregnant mothers should be explored in depth. Perinatal care should be trauma-informed, including assessing for CM histories, to foster greater resilience by reducing perinatal PTSD symptoms.

Social Media as a Tool for Disseminating Scientific Knowledge on Child Abuse and Resilience: A Brazilian Experience

Francine Souza — 2023-10-16

Objectives: Social media is a common tool for disseminating information in developing countries, including Brazil. Research regarding social media’s effect on increasing awareness of and knowledge about child abuse has yet to be widely tested in those countries. This exploratory study tested whether social media is a viable outlet for disseminating empirically supported information about child abuse in Brazil.

Methods: We utilized social media platforms, such as Facebook, ResearchGate, Twitter (which has subsequently rebranded as X but will be referred to herein as Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube, to disseminate a series of short videos, in cartoon format, on the scientific research surrounding child abuse, adverse childhood events, and resiliency to such experiences.

Results: The results indicate that social media has a promising reach in Brazil, as the dissemination started by 10 researchers had over 30,000 views.

Conclusion and Implications: Social media may be a viable format for disseminating empirically-supported information in developing countries like Brazil. Each platform, however, has its own characteristics and, as such, the target audiences, engagement, delivery, followers, impact time, and other metrics vary across platforms. Additionally, not all social media platforms provide the same outreach internationally. Future directions are discussed.

The Narrative Shelter for Young People with Childhood Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence: A Concept for Creating Opportunities for Storytelling, Storylistening, and Resilience

Serge Nyirinkwaya — 2024-02-13

Objectives: Childhood experiences of intimate partner violence (CEIPV) remain a significant public health issue affecting millions of young people (YP) globally. Although CEIPV has been researched for decades, YP’s voices are often left unheard, their stories relegated to mere research data. Their CEIPV are usually told through adult proxy accounts rather than by YP themselves. Additionally, research shows that YP have limited opportunities to influence domestic violence policies and practices. This theoretical paper proposes a new YP engagement model for CEIPV research and practice.

Methods: The model is based on a review of relevant literature, including lessons from the women’s shelter movement, child rights, narrative practice, trauma and violence-informed approaches, and selected case studies.

Results: The Narrative Shelter Model integrates storytelling and storylistening to create a safe space for YP with CEIPV to exercise their voice and choice, and share their stories in a non-retraumatizing way. Moreover, the model invites the storylistener(s) to connect with YP’s stories to influence decision-making.

Conclusion: The Narrative Shelter Model elicits a path towards creating safe and inclusive spaces for YP with CEIPV to share their stories and be heard as agents of social change. It aims not only to promote their voices but also to empower them to become young advocates and peer supporters in responding to IPV, thereby strengthening their resilience and recovery. The use of this model within domestic violence agencies can continue to position YP as experts in their own lives and pivotal agents in shaping knowledge and effective interventions.