Hope and life satisfaction in Palestinian children victim of military violence: The predictive role of agency, potentially traumatic experiences and symptoms of trauma.

Journal: Child abuse & neglect

Volume: 146

Issue: 

Year of Publication: 2023

Affiliated Institutions:  Department of Human Sciences & Education "R. Massa", University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy; Stellenbosch University, Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch, South Africa. Electronic address: guido.veronese@unimib.it. Department of Human Sciences & Education "R. Massa", University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy; An-Najah National University, Department of Psychology and Counseling, Nablus, Palestinian territories, State of Palestine. Department of Human Sciences & Education "R. Massa", University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy. An-Najah National University, Department of Psychology and Counseling, Nablus, Palestinian territories, State of Palestine. Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.

Abstract summary 

Children exposed political violence deploy resources to maintain functioning, hope and life satisfaction.We sought to explore whether or not children promote hope and life satisfaction trough agency, psychological difficulties, potentially traumatic experiences and symptoms in Palestine.965 children (494 males and 471 females) in multiple geographical contexts, and areas were involved.We administered the War Child Agency Assessment Scale, Child Hope Scale, Multilevel Students'Life Satisfaction Scale-Bref, the Strength and difficulties scale, the Child Revised Impact of events Scale, and Trauma Checklist, and performed regression analysis; hope and life satisfaction were dependent and agency, strength and difficulties, trauma symptoms and traumatic events independent variables.Specific forms of agency predicted life satisfaction (β = 0.219; ** p < .01, social agency; β = 0.11; ** p < .01, with agency in education) and hope (β = 0.07; ** p < .05, agency on free movement), while mental difficulties (conduct problems, β = -0.09; ** p < .01; hyperactivity, β = -0.07; ** p < .05; β = -0.15; ** p < .01 with life satisfaction) (conduct problems, β = -0.06; ** p < .05, and difficulties in pro-social behaviour, β = -0.21; ** p < .01 with hope), traumatic events (β = -0.16; ** p < .01, with life satisfaction; β = -0.15; ** p < .01, with hope) and trauma symptoms (β = -0.09; ** p < .05, with hope) were negatively associated with the dependents variables.We found a positive role of social, educational, and freedom of movement agentic behaviours in fostering hope and life satisfaction.

Authors & Co-authors:  Veronese Guido G Bdier Dana D Obaid Hania H Mahamid Fayez F Crugnola Cristina Riva CR Cavazzoni Federica F

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations : 
Authors :  6
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106520
SSN : 1873-7757
Study Population
Males,Male
Mesh Terms
Male
Other Terms
Agency;Hope;Life satisfaction;Mental health;Palestinian children;Political violence;Trauma symptoms
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Publication Country
England