Children’s SWB after Tsunami 2004: A Study in Tamil Nadu/India

Dr. Silvia Exenberger-Vanham &

Ao. Univ. Prof. Dr. Barbara Juen

Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship under the 7th Framework Programme

of the European Commission

Four Years Post-Tsunami: Long-Term Effects of Trauma on Children aged 8-17 – A Culture-Sensitive Approach

Co-operation

Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship under the

7th Framework Programme of

the European Commission

Four years post-tsunami: Long-term effects of trauma in children aged 8-17 – a culture-sensitive approach

• Shifting paradigms – symptoms, problems and resources of children and their mothers

• Assignment of culture-sensitive measurements – formulation of indicators of psychosocial well-being

• Mental health and psychosocial support over long periods of time – development of a training that focuses on strengthening resilience in children

Main focus of the project:

Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship under the

7th Framework Programme of

the European Commission

Aim of the present study

Development of indicators of children’s subjective well-being in the given sub-culture after 2004 tsunami from a child’s and caregiver’s perspective.

Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship under the

7th Framework Programme of

the European Commission

Research questions

• Which indicators determine subjective well-being amongst children in Tamil Nadu after 2004 tsunami? What contributes to the children’s well-being?

• What is the concept of the mothers of their children’s subjective well-being?

• What is the children’s concept of their subjective well-being?

• Which indicators are cultural specific?

Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship under the

7th Framework Programme of

the European Commission

Definition of subjective well-being Subjective well-being

A Person is said to have subjective well-being if s/he experiences life satisfaction and frequent joy, and only infrequently experiences unpleasant emotions such as sadness or anger (Diener, Suh, & Oishi, 1997, p.25).

•Children associate well-being as positive feeling states such as happiness, excitement, peacefulness or calm – some integrate anger and sadness (Fattore, Mason, & Watson 2007)

•“well” described as “feeling good, being happy and able to live your life to the full” (NicGabhainn & Sixsmith, 2005)

Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship under the

7th Framework Programme of

the European Commission

Method [sample children & mothers]

• 112 tsunami-affected children aged 8-17 either living with their parent(s) or in family-based out-of-home care

• 56 adults, biological mothers (42) and caregivers of family-based out-of-home care (14)

with parent(s)younger

(8-11 years)

with parent(s)

older(12-17 years)

Family-based younger

(8-11 years)

family-basedolder

(12-17 years)

f 14 23 12 13 62

m 13 20 11 6 50

27 43 23 19 112

Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship under the

7th Framework Programme of

the European Commission

Transcription of focus groups

Focus groups

Children give answers

Mothers giveanswers

happy

unhappy

coping

A culture-sensitive approach: development of a list of indicators of children‘s SWB

behaviour of children

children’s (un)happiness

coping

56 mothers(villages & SOS)

112 children(villages & SOS)

Analysis on the basis of the qualitative research methodology “Grounded Theory”

5 domains, 12 categories, 50 sub-categories

Categories: academic life, appreciation, civic life, family, SOS family, peers, social skills, coping, nature, tsunami, health, materialism

List of indicators of children’s well-being with 72 statements for mothers to answer about their children

Focus groups

Children give answers

Mothers giveanswers

happy

unhappy

coping

A culture-sensitive approach: development of a list of indicators of children‘s SWB

behaviour of children

children’s(un)happiness

coping

56 mothers(villages & SOS)

112 children(villages & SOS)

List of indicators of children’s well-being with 17 statements

List of indicators of children’s well-being with 64 statements

Results

Factor analysis [mothers’ data] • Principal component analysis (PCA) on 17 items with orthogonal rotation (varimax)• KMO = .717 sampling adequate for the analysis• Bartlett’s test of sphericity χ2 (136) = 1111,36, p < .001• N = 333

Rotated Factor Loadings

Trauma-related generalised fear

Trauma-related specific fear

Academicachievem.

Other trauma-related symptoms

Family compliance

Coping 1*friends

Eigen-values

3,34 1,83 1,58 1,34 1,29 1,05

% of variance

19,67 10,77 9,28 7,85 7,57 6,15

α .77 .72 .55 .46 .45 --

Mothers’ concept of children’s well-being

Fear of *natural changes like full moon*peculiar sounds*rumours about tsunami*unexpected behaviourFear of

*playing at beach*taking bath in sea

*going to sea Child*getting praised often*has good concentration*has faith in studies

*clinging*sleeping disturbances

*withdrawal Child*is supportive towards mother*is taking advice*shares sorrows with family members

Having some close friends

TRAUMA-related generalised fear

TRAUMA-related specific fear

Academic achievement

TRAUMA: other trauma-related symptoms

Family compliance

COPING 1: friends

Factor analysis [children’s data] • Principal component analysis (PCA) on 64 items with orthogonal rotation (varimax)• KMO = .706 sampling adequate for the analysis• Bartlett’s test of sphericity χ2 (2016) = 6580,58, p < .001 • N = 290

Rotated Factor Loadings

Other trauma-related symptoms

Academicachievem.

Trauma-related fears and intrusions

Coping 1b*distract.*friends*nature

community orientation

Ill-being*getting beaten & scolded

Family complia.

Eigen-values

6,22 4,48 4,25 3,26 2,39 2,03 1,86

% of variance

9,72 6,99 6,64 5,09 3,74 3,18 2,90

α .71 .82 .80 .62 .73 .71 .46

Children’s concept of their own well-beingTRAUMA: other trauma related symptoms

Academic Achievement

TRAUMA-related fears and intrusions

COPING 1b: distractibility, friends, nature

Community orientation

ILL-BEING: getting beaten &scolded

Family compliance

*often quarrelling *being laughed at*getting teased a lot*having often fights*scoring good marks

*good relationship to teacher*getting praised often

*concrete plans for the future*still haunted by thoughts about tsunami*fear of: natural changes, term of tsunami & peculiar sounds*fear of going to sea, & taking bath in sea

*having some close friends*distraction

*nature – help to overcome sad moments

*loves nature itself and being in nature

*likes sportive activities*likes going on tour*is taking part at festivals*likes to show talents

*getting beaten and scolded*getting upset by proximate

and distal affairs *follows advices*goes to the temple*cares for environment

Factor analysis [mothers’ & children’s data]

• Principal component analysis (PCA) on 72 items with orthogonal rotation (varimax)• KMO = .713 sampling adequate for the analysis• Bartlett’s test of sphericity χ2 (2556) = 7892,42, p < .001 • N = 288

Rotated Factor Loadings

Coping 1a*nature*orientation on elder people

Trauma-related generalis. & specific fear

Other trauma-related symptoms

Academic achievem

Coping 1b*playfulln.*friends*feeling good at h.

commun orientat.

Family complia.

Eigen-values

6,66 5,33 4,65 3,51 2,77 2,30 1,96

% of variance

9,25 7,40 6,46 4,87 3,85 3,20 2,72

α .71 .82 .73 .81 .55 .72 .55

Mothers’ & children’s concept of children’s well-being

COPING 1a: nature & orient. on elder people

TRAUMA-related general. & specific fear

TRAUMA: other trauma-related symptoms

Academic achievement

COPING 1b: playfulness, friends, at home

Community orientation

Family compliance

*loves nature itself & being in nature*speaks with elder people to overcome sadness

*fear of: natural changes, term of tsunami & peculiar sounds

*fear of going to sea*still haunted by thoughts

about tsunami *often quarrelling*being laughed at*getting teased a lot*withdrawal*scoring good marks

*good relationship to teacher*getting praised often

*has faith in studies*concrete plans for the future *likes to play with friends

*having some close friends*likes being at home

*likes sportive activities*likes going on tour

*likes to show talents*likes to take part in

programmes*follows advices*goes to the temple*supportive towards mother

Discussion

Comparison of mothers’ & children’s concept of children’s well-being

TRAUMA-related generalised fear

TRAUMA-related specific fear

Academic achievement

TRAUMA: other trauma-related symptoms

Family compliance

COPING 1b: friends

TRAUMA: other trauma related symptoms

Academic Achievement

TRAUMA-related fears and intrusions

COPING 1a&b: distractibility, friends, nature

Community orientation

ILL-BEING: getting beaten &scolded

Family compliance

mothers’ concept mothers & children children’s concept

TRAUMA-related generalised fear

TRAUMA-related specific fear

Academic achievement

TRAUMA: other trauma-related symptoms

Family compliance

COPING 1b: friends

TRAUMA: other trauma related symptoms

Academic Achievement

TRAUMA-related fears and intrusions

COPING 1a&b: distractibility, friends, nature

Community orientation

ILL-BEING: getting beaten &scolded

Family compliance

COPING 1a: nature & orient. on elder people

TRAUMA-related general. & specific fear

TRAUMA: other trauma-related symptoms

Academic achievement

COPING 1b: playfulness, friends, at home

Community orientation

Family compliance

Love for nature & orientation on elder people

withdrawal,quarrelling,fighting

friends,playfulness,happy at home