Who Are the Resilient Children in Conditions of Military Violence? Family- and Child-Related Factors in a Palestinian Community Sample

Abstract

The prevalence of resilience in the presence of military violence and the role of child and family characteristics fostering that resilience were analyzed in a Palestinian community sample using a person-based approach. The participants consisted of a random sample of 640 Palestinian children and adolescents, their parents, and their teachers, all living on the Gaza Strip. A medical examination of the children and adolescents was conducted to assess health status on somatic, sensory, and cognitive domains. The results revealed an equal share of resilient (21%; high level of trauma and low level of disorders) and traumatized (23%; high level of trauma and high level of disorders) children. As hypothesized, characteristics of the resilient group were good parental mental health, supportive parenting practices, good school performance, superior cognitive functioning, good physical health, high body weight, and normal birth weight. Variable-based analyses revealed no support for the hypothesis that these family- and child-related factors protect child mental health, although their direct association was confirmed. The discussion focuses on mechanisms fostering child resilience in war zones.

Notes

Note. Sample sizes differ due to missing values.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

^a We count the percentages across gender, not across the resilience categorization groups, as other demographic factors.

^b Obligatory schooling refers to the elementary and preparatory school up to 16 years old. Secondary education may be gymnasium, vocational, or polytechnic school.

*p < .05. **p < .0001.

Note. Scores with different subscripts indicate differences at the p < .01 significance level by Sheffe's post hoc analyses.

^a F values and size effects (η²) refer to the analyses of covariance, which included the main effect of the resilience classification, with traumatic events as a covariant.

^b The parental mental health problems scale ranges from 0 (low) to 5 (high).

^c The parenting practices scale, combining both parent and child reports, ranges from 1 (low) to 27 (high) regarding supportive practices.

^d Overall school grade ranges from 1 to 5, as reported by the teacher.

^e Dichotomous variable: 1 = yes and 2 = no.

^f All health status scales range between 1 (low) and 4 (high) regarding problems and complaints.

*p < .01. **p < .001. ***p < .001.

Richard V. Wagner served as action editor for this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Raija-Leena Punamäki

Raija-Leena Punamäki is a professor of psychology at the University of Tampere and the University of Helsinki, Finland. Her research focuses on preventive interventions among trauma-affected children and infant development.

Samir Qouta

Samir Qouta is a professor of psychology at Gaza Islamic University, Palestine. He trains professionals in cognitive-behavioral therapy, and specializes in child development in traumatic stress. Research topics include child and family development and interventions among war-affected children.

Thomas Miller

Thomas Miller is an associate professor at Queens University, Kingston, Canada. He specializes in clinical neurophysiology and rehabilitation.

Eyad El-Sarraj

Eyad El-Sarraj is a psychiatrist and human right activist. He is the founder of the Gaza Community Mental Health Program, Palestine. His research specializes in impacts of war, military violence, and human rights abuse on human development and well-being.