Childhood Psychological Resilience Factors in Young Adults with Adverse Childhood Experiences: A Qualitative Preliminary Study

Abstract

Over the past decades, numerous studies have repeatedly demonstrated the risk factors and long-term negative outcomes associated with adverse childhood experiences. However, the factors that contribute to positive development and psychological resilience after adverse childhood experiences are less well known. The aim of this study was to understand the childhood resilience factors of young adults who experienced adverse childhood experiences. Focus Group Interview was used in this qualitative study. Participants were young adults (n= 6) who were university students between the ages of 21 and 26 (mean age = 23.17, SD= 2.14). The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results showed that individual, relational and societal factors played a protective role in the participants' childhood. At the same time, participants emphasized that relational and societal protective factors had some shortcomings or potentially damaging consequences. This preliminary study uncovered multiple layers of childhood protective factors (individual, relational and societal) and emphasized the importance of assessing the multifaceted nature of protective factors.

Keywords

• child abuse and neglect
• protective factors
• resiliency
• emerging adulthood
• focus group interview

Olumsuz Çocukluk Yaşantıları Olan Genç Yetişkinlerde Çocukluk Dönemi Psikolojik Sağlamlılık Faktörleri: Nitel Bir Ön Çalışma

Abstract

Geçtiğimiz on yıllarda çok sayıda araştırma çocukluk dönemi olumsuz yaşantılarına ilişkin risk faktörlerini ve uzun süreli olumsuz sonuçları tekrar tekrar ortaya koymuştur. Ancak, çocukluk dönemi olumsuz yaşantıları sonrası olumlu gelişime ve psikolojik sağlamlığa katkı sağlayan faktörler daha az bilinmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı çocukluk döneminde olumsuz yaşantılar deneyimleyen genç yetişkinlerin çocukluk dönemi psikolojik sağlamlık faktörlerini anlamaktır. Bu nitel çalışmada Odak Grup Görüşmesi kullanılmıştır. Katılımcılar 21–26 yaş arası (Yaş Ort.= 23.17, SS= 2.14) üniversite öğrencisi olan genç yetişkinlerden oluşmaktadır (n= 6). Veriler tematik analiz ile incelenmiştir. Sonuçlar bireysel, ilişkisel ve toplumsal düzeydeki faktörlerin katılımcıların çocukluğunda koruyucu rol oynadığını göstermiştir. Aynı zamanda katılımcılar ilişkisel ve toplumsal koruyucu faktörlerin kimi eksiklikleri veya potansiyel olarak zarar veren sonuçları olduğunu vurgulamıştır. Başlangıç niteliğindeki bu çalışma, çok katmanlı çocukluk dönemi koruyucu faktörlerini ortaya çıkarmıştır (bireysel, ilişkisel ve toplumsal) ve koruyucu faktörlerin çok yönlü doğasını değerlendirmenin önemini vurgulamıştır.

Keywords

• çocuk istismarı ve ihmali
• koruyucu faktörler
• psikolojik sağlamlık
• beliren yetişkinlik
• odak grup görüşmesi

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