Coping strategies of domestic violence victimized and non victimized children

The present study aimed to investigate coping strategies of domestic violence victimized and non-victimized children in school's microsystem. Eighty-seven children, divided in two groups participated in this study: 49 victimized and 38 non-victimized children. They answered a structured interview to identify the most frequent conflicts faced with teachers and classmates and the coping strategies to deal with those issues. The victimized children reported higher frequency of verbal aggression from teachers, and physical aggressions as coping strategies to deal with peers. The non-victimized children seemed to look for others' support as coping strategies to deal with problems they have with their classmates. Girls did not seem to act when they faced problems with their teachers, and they felt more upset with teacher's verbal aggression. Results are discussed based on the ecological context and hierarchical relations, and give subsidies out to support intervention programs, to promote resilience and children's healthy adaptation to school.

Coping; school system; aggression; resilience; risk; protection