Citation

Katz C, Tsur N, Nicolet R, Carmel N, Klebanov B. Trauma Violence Abuse 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Israel.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1524838020908851

PMID

32116133

Abstract

Child maltreatment (CM) has received much research attention in recent years, leading to the enormous development of services provided to children worldwide. However, although the literature in the field of trauma studies recognizes that responses to trauma are of central importance, for a variety of reasons, the research on this subject is sparse. The current systematic literature review was therefore designed to characterize and analyze the existing knowledge on children's responses to CM, while putting in focus all possible responses that will appear in the identified manuscripts. Key databases were explored using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, and only six studies were identified as relevant to the focus of the current study. Utilizing thematic analysis, the results addressed four main themes: the studies' methodologies, the terminology and responses that were explored in these studies, the abuse-related factors and contexts that were taken into account, and the consequences for the children (of their responses to the maltreatment). A key conclusion from this review is that concepts in this area, as well as theory, are considerably lacking. Promoting the development of theory regarding children's responses to CM is urgently needed, as it will greatly impact clinical intervention, legal investigation, and the development of prevention programs.

Language: en

Keywords

children; maltreatment; response