Protective Factors, Resilience, and Child Abuse and Neglect: A Powerpoint Presentation

8/2/2019 Protective Factors, Resilience, and Child Abuse and Neglect: A Powerpoint Presentation

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Protective Factors, Resilience,

and Child Abuse and Neglect

Jane F. Gilgun, Ph.D., LICSWSchool of Social Work

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities


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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


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Protective processes moderate the effectsof risks

They are found within individuals, families,

peer groups, social institutions such as

schools, and through more nebulousinfluences 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


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Developmental psychopathology

Study of high risk groups, usually

longitudinally, in order to understand

factors associated with both adaptive andmaladaptive outcomes

Risks developmental psychopathologists

have studied include: Child abuse & neglect, parental mental

health, parental death and abandonments,

foster care

Unsafe neighborhoods, homelessness, natural


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Vulnerability Child abuse and neglect results in

vulnerability

That may include a sense of the self asdefective (shame) and may result in psychicwounds

Psychic wounds can be thought of as hot

buttons that when pushed results in intenseemotional pain

When psychic wounds are restimulated,persons may experience dysregulation


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Dysregulation The person at least temporarily experiences

a sense of unmanageability of their

thoughts, emotions, and behaviors; pulseand heart rates may accelerate

Many possible signs of dysregulation:anxiety, fear, depression, withdrawal,lethargy, crying bouts, bedwetting, agitation

Persons seek to re-regulate


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Copingwith 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


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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


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Anti-social efforts to re-regulate Examples:

Destruction of property

Bullying

Attacking others

Inappropriate sexual behaviors

Bragging and acts of bravado


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Self-injurious efforts to re-

regulate Examples:

Cutting

Anorexia & bulimia

Substance use and abuse

Suicide attempts

Recklessness

Spending money


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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


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Protective Factors: A factor is

protective when we can identify both therisks that lead to vulnerability and the

assets/resources that persons use to cope

with, adapt to, and overcome risks.

Close, long-term relationships withpersons who model pro-socialbehaviors and who affirm pro-socialityin the person who has experiencedabuse and neglect


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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


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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


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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


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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.

Protective Factors, Resilience, and Child Abuse and Neglect: A Powerpoint Presentation

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