Applying the ADAPT Psychosocial Model to War-Affected Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Multiple individual, social, and environmental factors have long been recognized as influencing a child’s response to traumatic experiences. However, there remain few socio-ecological frameworks to guide researchers and practitioners working with war-affected children. This article examines Silove’s psychosocial model of adaptation and development after trauma and persecution (ADAPT model) in relation to war-affected children. The utility of the model is explored by examining whether the systems of safety, attachment, identity, justice, and existential meaning described in the ADAPT model are represented in a narrative review of research from the last 20 years on the experiences of war-affected children and adolescents. Results suggest that research with war-affected children has covered all five psychosocial pillars in the model, but with overemphasis on the safety, followed by the attachment, domains. This review highlights that need for research and psychosocial interventions that focus on adaptation of war-affected children’s identity development, sense of justice, and meaning systems.

Cultural Brokering with Syrian Refugee Families with Young Children: An Exploration of Challenges and Best Practices in Psychosocial Adaptation

“…Insensitive and demeaning encounters with service providers, similar to racial microaggressions (see Husain & Howard, 2017), can impact how refugees feel about their new home country, including feelings of belonging and security, which are all essential psychosocial needs for successful integration. Running Head: CULTURAL BROKERING WITH SYRIAN REFUGEES Challenges faced by Syrian refugee families with young children mapped onto the five psychosocial needs of the ADAPT model (Silove, 2013;Yohani, 2015) and most of the core domains of the Social Integration Framework (Ager & Strang, 2008), providing evidence for the use of these frameworks in further studies involving Syrian refugee populations.…”

“…In particular, one of the authors (Yohani) provided on-going training on traumainformed practice and psychosocial strategies to support families' adaptation in preparation for working with Syrian refugee families. The monthly training drew on Silove's ADAPT framework as a model for informing psychosocial adaptation (ADAPT; Silove, 2006;Yohani, 2015), and ensured ongoing communication with cultural brokers.…”

“…Families' resettlement experiences also impact their children's adjustment including children's feelings of strength, support, and sense of security (Kanji & Cameron, 2013;Punamäki, Qouta, & El-Sarraj, 2001). Critical psychosocial supports, if preventative and implemented early after arrival, can reduce the cumulative effects of trauma and resettlement stressors that often impact refugee children and families (Yohani, 2015). Psychosocial adaptation is a complex process that begins during the early stages of resettlement as refugees begin to navigate Western culture and deal with shifting gender and family roles, new identities, trauma, loss, and lack of social supports.…”

Syrian Refugee Families with Young Children: An Examination of Strengths and Challenges During Early Resettlement

“…Refugee children who have been exposed to conflict and displacement enter the education system in resettlement countries with unique challenges and needs. In addition to the usual migration challenges associated language and cultural barriers, this child population is likely to have encountered trauma in the form of threats to safety, relationships, identity and human rights violations (Betancourt et al, 2012;Yohani, 2015). For example, a few studies have already documented mental health impacts of the Syrian crisis on children to include psychosomatic symptoms, depression, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Hadfield, Ostrowski, & Ungar, 2017;Hassan et al, 2015;Özer, Şirin, & Oppedal, 2013;Soykoek, Mall, Nehring, Henningsen, & Aberl, 2017).…”

“…It does not consider the fact that "cultural groups have values, beliefs, lifestyles and patterns of social exchange different from those found in North American middleclass communities" (Tudge, 2008, p. 73). In addition, Bronfenbrenner's theory does not provide specific guidance regarding psychosocial adaptation or outcomes in the aftermath of trauma and displacement such as experienced by refugees from conflict zones (Yohani, 2015). The proposed RAISED model is a cultural-ecological model that has at its core the view of culture as "the everyday life, the everyday dramas, events, and activities in which individuals participate, by themselves and with others"… and that are "intertwined within the contexts in which they take place" (Tudge, 2008, p. 73).…”