Family Understanding of the Role of Social Support in Healing Child Trauma

Abstract

This study aims to explore the family's understanding of the role of social support in the process of healing child trauma. Trauma in children can occur due to various bad events that can affect their psychological development, and social support from the family plays an important role in this recovery. This study used a qualitative approach with a case study design, involving 25 families who had children who were or had experienced trauma. The results showed that although most families understood trauma as a result of bad events, their understanding of the long-term impact of trauma on children was still limited. Social support provided by families was more dominant in the form of emotional and psychological support, such as affection, attention, and open communication, while material support was more limited. The main challenges faced by families in providing social support were the lack of knowledge about the right way to help children overcome trauma, as well as limited resources. This study also found that the role of parents was very important in healing child trauma, with strong social support from the family directly related to faster recovery in children.