Citation

Veronese G, Barola G. Clin. Child Psychol. Psychiatry 2018; 23(2): 311-332.

Affiliation

Department of Human Sciences "R. Massa," University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1359104518755220

PMID

29451002

Abstract

Within a preventive framework, we outline a school-based intervention aimed at strengthening skills of survival and psychological functioning in children who have experienced war and political violence in the Gaza Strip. In accordance with a socio-ecological perspective on wellbeing and resilience, the pilot study aimed at evaluating the outcomes of a psychosocial narrative school-based intervention with a group of school-aged children in the aftermath of war. The intervention was oriented at empowering positive emotions, life satisfaction, and optimism in children as protective factors in preventing posttraumatic reactions after war.

FINDINGS showed the efficacy of the intervention in favoring life satisfaction in different ecological domains. Children in the intervention group showed greater appreciation for friends, school, family, themselves, and their living environment. At the end of the activity, children were increased the level of positive emotions, but negative feelings were stronger than before the narrative intervention. Clinical implications and future direction or community work are, then, discussed.

Language: en

Keywords

Children affected by war; intervention; life satisfaction; ongoing trauma; pessimism and optimism; resilience and skill of survival