Year: 2012
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Objective: Child maltreatment (physical, sexual, emotional or neglect) is a major concern in today's society, yet the prevalence continues. Despite the continuation of abuse, there are certain children who thrive and lead resilient, well-balanced lives. It is clear these children possess qualities that cause them to be resilient despite adversity. This discussion will examine the current peer-reviewed literature in relation to child abuse or maltreatment and the protective factors that help promote resilience. Study Design: The databases CINAHL, PubMed, and Google Scholar were utilized to search for relevant research articles, ranging from 1998 to 2011, related to the topic of resilience, child maltreatment/abuse, and protective factors. Results: As research continues to examine the definitive qualities of resilient children following abuse, current findings suggest protective factors at an individual, familial and community level act as a buffer against negative outcomes. Factors that contribute to healthy adapted lifestyles include characteristics within the child (i.e. easy-going temperament, flexibility, resourcefulness), and external to the child (i.e. a supportive, available family member, peer relationships, and community organizations). Conclusion: After review ofthe current literature regarding child maltreatment and its relationship with resilience, it was found that resilient children possess individual characteristics (i.e. easy temperament, outgoing, resourceful and strong problem-solving and planning skills), along with having strong family support and community resources available to them versus non-resilient children.
Author: Meghan L. Sahlberg
Language: English
Topic: Child Abuse and Trauma
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2174725323