Promoting Resilience in Members of Violent Families

Abstract

Family violence takes many forms, including child maltreatment, sibling abuse, intimate partner violence, parent abuse, and elder abuse. The magnitude of these experiences has made family violence a worldwide public health concern, with negative short‐ and long‐term consequences. There are, however, multiple interventions that aim to combat these deleterious effects and bolster resilience in families exposed to violence. Future research on interventions for violence‐exposed families should examine short‐term, affordable services that include multiple family members, consider key developmental stages, and emphasize empowerment.

A randomized controlled trial examining the effect of camp HOPE Tennessee on youth functioning: Results from a pilot study.

“…Consistent with existing literature (Moola et al, 2014; Thurber et al, 2007) and study hypotheses, campers endorsed better Psychological Well-being and Autonomy and Parent Relations at 2-month follow-up, compared to youth who did not attend camp. These findings align with literature regarding strengths-based interventions (Howell et al, 2017; McDonald et al, 2016) and the PYD model (ACA, 2006; Catalano et al, 2004), which suggest that developing life skills and supportive relationships with adults, both of which are incorporated in the camp’s curriculum, can bolster positive functioning in youth. The camp’s focus on hope, individual strengths, and youth exerting agency in a safe environment with supportive adults may be particularly salient for fostering Psychological Well-being (i.e., positive mood and outlook on life) and Autonomy and Parent Relations (i.e., feeling self-efficacious and supported).…”

“…Both internal (e.g., self-control) and external (e.g., social support) resources can buffer against the negative consequences of family violence (Howell, 2011), indicating that interventions designed to bolster these resources may promote positive functioning. Indeed, strengths-based intervention literature suggests that programming designed to improve internal and external resources may promote psychosocial functioning more effectively than those designed to reduce behavioral and emotional symptomology (Howell et al, 2017; McDonald et al, 2016). One such strengths-based intervention framework is the positive youth development (PYD) model.…”

“…Because camps are immersive experiences, they create ample opportunities to challenge negative attitudes/behaviors and reinforce positive attitudes/behaviors (Thurber et al, 2007). Furthermore, camp interventions offer substantial intervention time and naturally address many barriers inherent to traditional intervention engagement (Howell et al, 2017).…”

A Familial Case Study Exploring the Effects of a Strengths-Based Camp Intervention on Children’s Self-Perception

“…Given that Black/African American youth experience higher rates of victimization compared to youth of other races (Elsaesser & Voisin, 2015), it is important to examine self-perception among these youth and identify interventions that enhance this construct. Although evidence-based treatments for children exposed to victimization have traditionally focused on reducing psychopathology and behavioral problems, there is increasing acknowledgment that interventions intended to promote strengths are more effective at fostering positive functioning amidst adversity (Howell et al, 2017). Few studies have examined interventions designed to bolster strengths among children affected by victimization, especially among children identifying as Black/African American.…”

“…Although victimization can have negative effects on children’s self-perception, there are interventions available that effectively enhance self-perception among these youth (Whitson et al, 2012). Traditional evidence-based treatments for this population typically focus on symptom reduction and are often characterized by time and financial constraints (Howell et al, 2017). Camp-based interventions may offer a useful alternative to traditional interventions by reducing stigma often associated with mental health treatment, emphasizing independence and exploration, and providing opportunities to interact with peers (American Camping Association, 2012).…”