title: Modelling life satisfaction and adjustment to trauma in children exposed to ongoing military violence: An exploratory study in Palestine.
abstract: Exposure to war and ongoing political violence increases mental health risks among children, especially in terms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depressive or somatic symptoms. However, an exclusive focus on negative functioning can lead to underestimating the coping abilities and natural potential for adjusting to trauma of war-affected children at different developmental phases. Using structural equation modelling, we tested the extent to which data gathered in a predominantly nonclinical sample of Palestinian children (N=1276) living in refugee camps supported a conceptual model in which the relationship between subjective wellbeing and the effects of trauma is mainly top-down in direction. The cross-sectional design adopted showed that feelings of life satisfaction contributed to better affect balance in children (aged 6-11 years), which in turn, mitigated the impact of traumatic events. These findings point up the importance of dimensions of subjective well-being in children involved in traumatic events and may inspire intervention and treatment focused on the ability to activate positive emotions as a crucial resource for dealing with traumatic reactions.
authors.affiliation: University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy. Electronic address: guido.veronese@unimib.it.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Veronese
authors.affiliation: University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pepe
authors.affiliation: Remedial Education Centre, Gaza Strip, oPt.
authors.forename: Alaa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jaradah
authors.affiliation: Remedial Education Centre, Gaza Strip, oPt.
authors.forename: Feda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Al Muranak
authors.affiliation: Remedial Education Centre, Gaza Strip, oPt.
authors.forename: Husam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hamdouna
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D000069581:Exposure to Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008877:Middle East; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D008960:Models, Psychological; D065840:Protective Factors; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D014857:Warfare
keywords: Life satisfaction; Positive and negative affect; Trauma-protective factors; War-like conditions