Resilience Through Meaning-Making: Case Studies of Childhood Adversity

Hakkim, Adeeba and Deb, Amrita (2021) Resilience Through Meaning-Making: Case Studies of Childhood Adversity. Psychological Studies, 66 (4). pp. 422-433. ISSN 0033-2968

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Abstract

This paper explores processes of resilience in young adults who have experienced abuse during childhood. To study individual processes contributing to resilience, a case study approach is adopted. Qualitative interviews were conducted with three participants: one female (aged 25) who experienced sexual abuse, one male (aged 18) and one female (aged 20) who reported emotional abuse. The inclusion criteria were: the presence of significant traumatic experience, assessed by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and a significant score on the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. A thematic analysis guided by Braun and Clarke’s (2006) approach was conducted. The most prominent theme regarding factors that promote resilience was the meaning-making that the individuals engaged in. The themes were distilled to identify cognitive processes underlying meaning-making. Findings are interpreted in the light of existing literature. A major implication of the study is how meaning-making processes may inform therapeutic interventions for individuals struggling with experiences of abuse. © 2021, National Academy of Psychology (NAOP) India.

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