Analyzing Children’s Trauma during the Covid-19 Pandemic Using Relational-Cultural Theory: A Literature Review

Abstract

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has been extensively discussed, but only a limited number of studies investigate how pandemics are related to traumatic experiences for children. Using a literature review of 38 peer-reviewed articles, both qualitative and quantitative published in the reputable international journals, this study examines how pandemic situations trigger trauma in children. From the literature review, we concluded a number of impacts of Covid 19 on children, including their experience of sudden and shocking changes of events, loss, grief, domestic violence, Covid-19 infections, being surrounded by an adult experiencing mental health disturbance, and becoming the victim of financial restraint faced by their parents. In the frame of relational-cultural theory, parents, caretakers, and educators must help children to reconnect with their peers and environment to face adverse experiences caused by the covid-19 pandemic by providing mutual empathy and building trustworthiness. As culture is an active factor in relational processes, we need to consider individual cultural values to support children who have experienced trauma during the pandemic. Abstrak: Penelitian telah menunjukan berbagai dampak dari Covid-19, namun pembahasan tentang kemungkinan dampak Covid-19 terhadap trauma pada anak-anak masih jarang. Artikel ini menggunakan literature review untuk menganalisis kaitan antara covid-19 dan trauma pada anak. Review dilakukan pada 38 artikel hasil penelitian kuantitatif dan kualitatif yang telah dipublikasikan pada peer-reviewed jurnal internasional bereputasi. Hasil dari literature review diketahui bahwa anak-anak mengalami kejadian tiba-tiba yang mengejutkan, kehilangan, kekerasan, terinfeksi covid-19, bersama dengan orang dewasa yang mengalami tekanan mental dan kesulitan ekonomi. Berdasarkan relational-cultural theory, orang tua atau pengasuh dan pendidik perlu menyediakan lingkungan yang aman bagi anak dengan menunjukan empati dan membangun kepercayaan anak sehingga anak bisa menghadapi situasi traumatis selama pandemi Covid-19. Budaya merupakan salah satu faktor yang memengaruhi relasi, sehingga dalam membantu anak-anak yang mengalami trauma selama pandemi perlu untuk mempertimbangkan nilai budaya individu.