Explores how children who grew up exposed to violence assimilate their experiences. The study involved 2 groups of 10- to 17-year-old children living in Canada: one group consisted of refugee children from Bosnia, Burundi, Liberia, and Somalia; the other group contained children whose mothers were victims of domestic violence. Study participants were asked about their lives before violence occurred, during the violence, and after. Findings revealed that: (1) children of war recalled happy memories before the onset of violence, whereas children of battered women experienced violence as a constant in their lives, not an aberration; (2) some of the children of battered women expressed a commitment to helping others in situations similar to their own; (3) many of the children of war recounted the losses they suffered and the difficulties they faced adjusting to life in North America; and (4) many children in both groups, however, had a sense of confidence and hope for the future, despite the complex circumstances in which they had grown up. Children want an opportunity to talk about the violence they have witnessed; by listening to them, the caring professions can learn a great deal about coping and survival. (Description from source)
