Protective Factors, Resilience, and Child Abuse and NeglectJane F. Gilgun, Ph.D., LICSW School of Social Work University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Child abuse and neglect The effects of childhood abuse and neglect can be life-long and have serious effects on the quality of life Some child victims of abuse and neglect cope with, adapt to, and overcome many of the effects of abuse and neglect This suggests the existence of processes that are protective Protective processes moderate the effects of risks They are found within individuals, families, peer groups, social institutions such as schools, and through more nebulous influences such as social policy and economic forces Adults provide the resources and create conditions that foster protective processes when children have experienced risks and other adversities Peers often are factors in protective processes Developmental psychopathology Study of high risk groups, usually longitudinally, in order to understand factors associated with both adaptive and maladaptive outcomes Risks developmental psychopathologists have studied include: Child abuse & neglect, parental mental health, parental death and abandonments, foster care Unsafe neighborhoods, homelessness, natural Vulnerability Child abuse and neglect results in vulnerability That may include a sense of the self as defective (shame) and may result in psychic wounds Psychic wounds can be thought of as “hot buttons” that when pushed results in intense emotional pain When psychic wounds are restimulated, persons may experience dysregulation Dysregulation The person at least temporarily experiences a sense of unmanageability of their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors; pulse and heart rates may accelerate Many possible signs of dysregulation: anxiety, fear, depression, withdrawal, lethargy, crying bouts, bedwetting, agitation Persons seek to re-regulate Coping with dysregulation Re-regulation: To regain a sense of self-efficacy, control, and mastery over self and the environment Four strategies: Pro-social Anti-social Self-injurious Inappropriate Pro-social efforts to re-regulate Seeking comfort and affirmation from caring adults and peers Talking about hurt and confusion Engaging in behaviors that soothe emotional pain (e.g., exercise & art) Reinterpreting the meanings of the abuse and neglect Anti-social efforts to re-regulate Examples: Destruction of property Bullying Attacking others Inappropriate sexual behaviors Bragging and acts of bravado Self-injurious efforts to reregulate Examples: Cutting Anorexia & bulimia Substance use and abuse Suicide attempts Recklessness Spending money Inappropriate Efforts at Regulation Distracting self or others in situations that demand attention, as in classrooms Making noises, humming, wandering around the classroom, throwing paper planes Acting silly in situations where silliness is incongruous Perseveration that is not primarily neurological Protective Factors: A factor is protective when we can identify both the risks that lead to vulnerability and the assets/resources that persons use to cope with, adapt to, and overcome risks. Close, long-term relationships with persons who model pro-social behaviors and who affirm pro-sociality in the person who has experienced abuse and neglect Protective Factors (continued) Emulating the pro-social behaviors of persons they admire Strong desire to be pro-social Ability to engage in self-soothing behaviors Affirming ethnic/cultural identification Hope for the future Resources to attain life goals Resilience: An Outcome Coping with, adapting to, and overcoming risks; an outcome Flexible, help-seeking, problem-solving behaviors when stressed Ability to maintain an integrated sense of self when “hot buttons” are pushed Persons can be resilient in one situation and fragmented and brittle in others Roles of adults Adults as parents, policy makers, program planners, prevention specialists, and direct practitioners have pivotal tasks in the promotion of resilience, including Provision of resources that children and youth recognize as important to them and are consistent with what they want. Psychologically available so that children have safe havens where they can process adversities/trauma & learn prosocial coping Roles of adults Parents do whatever it takes to become psychologically available to their children Create situations where young people can succeed Be positive role models Give time and attention that eventually result in young persons' increasing capacities to regulate and re-regulate themselves in times of stress.
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