Perception of treating professionals on the needs and motivations of adolescent victims of interpersonal trauma when starting a specialized intervention
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4067/s0718-50652025000100207Keywords:
Violencia, adolescentes, Infancia, IntervenciónAbstract
Interpersonal trauma consist in any traumatic experience caused by other human being. In Chile, although there are programs of intervention to support victims, these are mainly focused on reducing symptoms, neglecting other important aspects. The objective was to describe the perception of professionals from centres specialized in interpersonal trauma about the needs and motivations of adolescents when starting a reparative intervention. The participants were 85 professionals who work with adolescents exposed to interpersonal trauma. Through an online survey, they expressed their views on the needs of adolescents and their caregivers when initiating specialized interventions. Participants recognize the need to reduce symptoms but point out that there are more basic needs relevant to recovery. Among them, the need to be validated and believed, to be cared for and respected, as well as to receive social support stands out. They are also motivated to regain self-confidence and develop their personal resources to carry out normal activities during adolescence. These findings make it possible to make visible factors to be considered in the interventions.
Key words: violence, adolescents, psychological effects, childhood well-being
References
Alisic, E., Zalta, A. K., van Wesel, F., Larsen, S. E., Hafstad, G. S., Hassanpour, K., & Smid, G. E. (2014). Rates of post-traumatic stress disorder in trauma-exposed children and adolescents: meta-analysis. British Journal of Psychiatry, 204(5), 335–340. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.113.131227
Bal, S., Crombez, G., De Bourdeaudhuij, I., & Van Oost, P. (2009). Symptomatology in adolescents following initial disclosure of sexual abuse: The roles of crisis support, appraisals and coping. Child Abuse & Neglect, 33(10), 717–727. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2008.11.006.
Batkin-Khan, G. & Aronso, S. (2007). Group Treatment for Traumatized Adolescents: Special Considerations. Group, 31(4), 281-292. https://www.jstor.org/stable/41719166
Betancourt, T. S., Agnew-Blais, J., Gilman, S. E., Williams, D. R., & Ellis, B. H. (2010). Past horrors, present struggles: The role of stigma in the association between war experiences and psychosocial adjustment among former child soldiers in Sierra Leone. Social Science & Medicine, 70(1), 17–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.09.038
Black, P., Woodworth, M., Tremblay, M., & Carpenter, T. (2012). A Review of Trauma-Informed Treatment for Adolescents. Canadian Psychology- Psychologie Canadienne, 53, 192-203. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0028441.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Cabecinha-Alati, S., Montreuil, T., y Langevin, R. (2022). The role of maternal child maltreatment history and unsupportive emotion socialization in the intergenerational transmission of emotion regulation difficulties. Child Abuse & Neglect, 129, 105661, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105661
Callahan, K. L., Scaramella, L. V., Laird, R. D., & Sohr-Preston, S. L. (2011). Neighborhood Disadvantage as a Moderator of the Association Between Harsh Parenting and Toddler-Aged Children’s Internalizing and Externalizing Problems. Journal of Family Psychology, 25(1), 68–76. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022448
Castillo-Gallardo, P., González-Célis, A., & Rivas-Naranjo, V. (2022). The crisis of subsidiarity in the National Service for Minors: Chile (1994-2021). Revista Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, Niñez y Juventud, 20(2), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.11600/rlcsnj.20.2.4932
Cicchetti, D. (2004). An odyssey of discovery: Lessons learned through three decades of research on child maltreatment. The American Psychologist, 59(8), 731–740. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.59.8.731
Consejo Nacional de la Infancia. (2018). Análisis Multivariable de Estudio Polivictimización en Niños, Niñas y Adolescentes realizado por la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Santiago, Chile.
Cordero-López, B., & Calventus-Salvador, J. (2022). Parentalidad y su efecto en la autodeterminación y el bienestar adolescente. Revista Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, Niñez y Juventud, 20(1), 1-23. https://doi.org/10.11600/rlcsnj.20.1.5118
Cook, A., Spinazzola, J., Ford, J., Lanktree, C., Blaustein, M., Cloitre, M., & van der Kolk, B. (2005). Complex trauma in children and adolescents. Psychiatric Annals, 35(5), 390-398. https://doi.org/10.3928/00485713-20050501-05
Corbella, S. & Botella, L. (2003). La alianza terapéutica: historia, investigación y evaluación. Anales de Psicología, 19(2), 205-221
Deblinger, E., Pollio, E., & Dorsey, S. (2016). Applying Trauma-Focused Cognitive–Behavioral Therapy in Group Format. Child Maltreatment, 21(1), 59-73. http://doi.org/10.1177/1077559515620668 cmx.sagepub.com
Dedoose Version 8.0.35 (2018). Web application for managing, analyzing, and presenting qualitative and mixed method research data. Los Angeles, CA: Socio Cultural Research Consultants.
DeJong, M. (2010). Some reflections on the use of psychiatric diagnosis in the looked after or “in care” child population. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 15(4), 589–599. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104510377705
Denzin, N. (2006). Sociological methods: A sourcebook (5th edition). Aldine transaction, Piscataway.
Finkelhor, D. & Browne, A. (1985). The traumatic impact of childabuse: A conceptualization. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 55(4), 530-541. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-0025.1985.tb02703.x
Finkelhor D., Ormrod, R.K., & Turner H.A. (2009). Lifetime assessment of poly-victimization in a national sample of children and youth. Child Abuse Neglect 33, 403-411. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2008.09.012
Fischer, S., Dölitzsch, C., Schmeck, K., Fegert, J. M., & Schmid, M. (2016). Interpersonal trauma and associated psychopathology in girls and boys living in residential care. Children and Youth Services Review, 67, 203–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.06.013
Flouri, E., & Midouhas, E. (2017). Environmental Adversity and Children’s Early Trajectories of Problem Behavior: The Role of Harsh Parental Discipline. Journal of Family Psychology, 31(2), 234–243. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000258
Ford, J. D., Stockton, P., Kaltman, S., & Green, B. L. (2006). Disorders of Extreme Stress (DESNOS) Symptoms Are Associated With Type and Severity of Interpersonal Trauma Exposure in a Sample of Healthy Young Women. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 21(11), 1399–1416. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260506292992
Garcia-Meneses, J., Chanez-Cortés, I., Fardella-Cisternas, C., & Corvalán-Navia, A. (2022). Huellas afectivas del trabajo en política de protección a la infancia. Revista Latinoamericana de Ciencias So-ciales, Niñez y Juventud, 20(1), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.11600/rlcsnj.20.1.5144
Graham-Bermann, S. A., Kulkarni, M. R., & Kanukollu, S. (2011). Is Disclosure Therapeutic for Children Following Exposure to Traumatic Violence? Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 26(5), 1056–1076. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260510365855
Greeson, J. K., Briggs, E. C., Kisiel, C. L., Layne, C. M., Ake III, G. S., Ko, S. J., Gerrity, E. T., Steinberg, A. M., Howard, M. L., Pynoos, R. S., & Fairbank, J. A. (2011). Complex trauma and mental health in children and adolescents placed in foster care: Findings from the national child traumatic stress network. Child Welfare, 90(6), 91–108.
Grencavage, L. M., & Norcross, J. C. (1990). Where are the commonalities among the therapeutic common factors? Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 21, 372-378. https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.21.5.372
Guerra, C. y Arredondo, V. (2017). Investigación sobre psicoterapia en abuso sexual infantil: ¿Una tarea pendiente en Chile? Summa Psicológica, 14(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.18774/summa-vol14.num1-227
Guerra, C. y Bravo, C. (2014). La víctima de abuso sexual infantil versus el sistema de protección a la víctima: Reflexiones sobre la victimización secundaria. Praxis 16, 71-84.
Guerra, C. y Pereda, N. y Guilera, G. (2017). Poly-victimization and Coping Profiles: Relationship with Externalizing Symptoms in Adolescents. Journal of in a High-Risk Sample of Young Children Exposed to Interpersonal Trauma: Prevalence, Correlates, and Contributors. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 28(3), 258–261. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22003
Hien, D., Litt, L., López-Castro, T., y Ruglass, L. (2020). Complex trauma and addiction treatment. En J.D. Ford y Ch. A. Courtois (Eds.) Treating Complex Traumatic Stress Dissorders in Adults (pp. 487- 508). New York: The Guildford Press
Horvath, A. O. (2005). The therapeutic relationship: Research and theory. An introduction to the special issue. Journal of the Society for Psychotherapy Research, 15, 9-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503300512331339143
Kwok, S., Gu, M., y Kwok, K. (2022). Childhood emotional abuse and adolescent flourishing: A moderated mediation model of self-compassion and curiosity. Child Abuse & Neglect, 129, 105629, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105629
Lathrop Gómez, F. (2014). La protección especial de derechos de niños, niñas y adolescentes en el derecho chileno. Revista chilena de derecho privado, 22, 197-229. https://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-80722014000100005
Link, B. G., & Phelan, J. C. (2006). Stigma and its public health implications. The Lancet (British Edition), 367(9509), 528–529. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(06)68184-1
Leech, T. (2011). Social support and resilience in the aftermath of sexual assault: Suggestions across life course, gender, and racial groups. In T. Bryant-Davis (Ed.).Surviving sexual violence: A guide to recovery and empowerment. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Mahoney, A., Karatzias, T., & Hutton, P. (2019). A systematic review and meta-analysis of group treatments for adults with symptoms associated with complex posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 243, 305-321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.09.059
Manjon- Gonzalez, J. (2012). Psicoterapia Ambulatoria con Mujeres Víctimas de Violencia de Pareja: Una propuesta desde el Modelo Transteórico del Cambio. Revista de la Asociación Española de Neuropsiquiatría, 32, 83-101. https://doi.org/10.4321/S0211-57352012000100007
Mauritz, M. W., Goossens, P. J. J., Draijer, N., & van Achterberg, T. (2013). Prevalence of interpersonal trauma exposure and trauma-related disorders in severe mental illness. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 4(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v4i0.19985
McElvaney, R., & Tatlow-Golden, M. (2016). A traumatised and traumatising system: Professionals’ experiences in meeting the mental health needs of young people in the care and youth justice systems in Ireland. Children and Youth Services Review, 65, 62–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.03.017
Morlat, P. Lei, Ch., Tse, S. & Guerra, C. (2022). Polyvictimization and Depressive Symptomatology in Adolescents: Evaluation of the Role of School Social Climate. Children & Schools https://doi.org/10.1093/cs/cdac009
Olivares-Espinoza, B., y Morales- Retamal, C. (2022). Análisis crítico de las intervenciones de acogimiento residencial en Chile. Revista Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, Niñez y Juventud, 20(2), 1-27. https://dx.doi.org/10.11600/rlcsnj.20.2.5070
Orellana, D., Arredondo, V., Carrasco, C. y Guerra, C. (2015). Significados asociados a la participación en juicios orales en niños y niñas víctimas de delitos sexuales. Praxis 17, 61-81.
Peña Cárdenas, F., Pinto Cortez, C., Zamorano González, B., Villarreal Sotelo, K., y Hernandez Rodríguez, G. (2022). Victimization and Polyvictimization in Children and Adolescents in a Violent City at Northern Border of Mexico. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2022.2052387
Pinto-Cortez, C., Flores-Jara, J., Pereda, N., y Guerra, C. (2019). Victimización y polivictimización en niños, niñas y adolescentes Aymara y su relación con sintomatología post-traumática. Interciencia, 44(4), 229-235.
Prochaska, J.O., y Di Clemente, C.C. (1983). Stages and Processes of Self-Change of Smoking: Toward an Integrative Model of Change. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 51(3), 390-395.
Santibáñez, Patricia., Román, M.F., Lucero, C., Espinoza, A., Irribarra, D., & Müller, P. (2008). Variables Inespecíficas en Psicoterapia. Terapia psicológica, 26(1), 89-98. https://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-48082008000100008
SENAME (2019). Orientaciones Técnicas Línea Programas de Protección Especializada en Maltrato y Abuso Sexual Grave (PRM). Servicio Nacional de Menores. Santiago de Chile. https://www.sename.cl/wsename/p16_21-12-2018/2-ORIENTACIONES-TECNICAS-PRM.pdf
SENAME (2020). Anuario Estadístico 2019. Departamento de Planificación y Control de Gestión. Servicio Nacional de Menores. Santiago de Chile. https://www.sename.cl/web/index.php/anuarios-estadisticos-sename/
SENAME (2021). Catastro de la Oferta Programática de la red SENAME. Departamento de Planificación y Control de Gestión. Servicio Nacional de Menores. Santiago de Chile. https://www.sename.cl/web/index.php/oferta-programatica/
Servicio Nacional de Protección Especializada a la Niñez y Adolescencia (2021). Página web. http://mejorninez.cl/).
Sinclair, Caroline, & Martínez, Josefina. (2006). Culpa o Responsabilidad: Terapia con Madres de Niñas y Niños que han Sufrido Abuso Sexual. Psykhe (Santiago), 15(2), 25-35. https://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-22282006000200003
Singh, C. D., Andrews, N. C. Z., Motz, M., Pepler, D. J., Leslie, M., & Zuberi, S. (2020). Trauma-informed and relational approaches to service provision: building community-based project capacity to respond to interpersonal violence through a national initiative. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1833-1833. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09960-3
Spano, R., Rivera, C., & Bolland, J. (2006). The Impact of Timing of Exposure to Violence on Violent Behavior in a High Poverty Sample of Inner City African American Youth. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 35(5), 681-692. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-006-9080-3
Tarren-Sweeney, M. (2008). The mental health of children in out-of-home care. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 21(4), 345–349. https://doi.org/10.1097/YCO.0b013e32830321fa
van der Kolk, B. A. (2005). Developmental Trauma Disorder. Psychiatric Annals, 35(5), 401- 408.
Van Nieuwenhove, K., & Meganck, R. (2019). Interpersonal Features in Complex Trauma Etiology, Consequences, and Treatment: A Literature Review. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 28(8), 903–928. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2017.1405316
Wang, X. (2022). Intergenerational effects of childhood maltreatment: The roles of parents’ emotion regulation and mentalization. Child Abuse & Neglect, 128, 104940. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.104940
Yearwood, K., Vliegen, N., Chau, C., Corveleyn, J., & Luyten, P. (2021). Prevalence of Exposure to Complex Trauma and Community Violence and Their Associations With Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(1-2), 843–861. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260517731788
Zajac, K., Ralston, M., & Smith, D. (2015). Maternal support following childhood sexual abuse: Associations with children’s adjustment post-disclosure and at 9-month follow-up. Child Abuse & Neglect, 44, 66–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.02.011.
Zuberi, S., Motz, M., Leslie, M., & Pepler, D. J. (2018). Building Connections: Supporting the Readiness and Capacity of Community-Based Projects to Deliver a Trauma-Informed Intervention. Zero to Three, 39(2), 21.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Bastian Toloza, Geremi Figueroa, Michelle Marchant , Edgardo Toro , Raahat Manrai, Carolina Saavedra, Cristóbal Guerra
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
