Determinants of Resilience in Haitian Street Children Four Years After the January 2010 Earthquake

Abstract

After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, despite economic and relational precariousness, research noticed resilience among street children. This study assesses determinants of resilience among street children 4 years after the earthquake. One hundred twenty-eight street children aged 7–18 completed measures assessing life events, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), resilience, social support (SS), and depression. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 22. Results showed that resilience score was high, especially for those who faced economic issues. For those who faced intrafamilial and relational violence, resilience was less relevant. Resilience score increased with age and was correlated with satisfying SS. Traumatic events after the earthquake, depression, and SS satisfaction are the best predictors of resilience.

Keywords:

• Depression
• earthquake
• Haiti
• resilience
• street children
• social support
• trauma

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank François Jacquin for his helpful English translation verification (ANR-RECREAHVI ANR-10-HAIT-002).

Disclosure statement

All authors declare the absence of any conflict of interest.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Daniel Derivois

Daniel Derivois, PhD, is professor of clinical psychology and psychopathology, University of Bourgogne Franche Comté (France), and Deputy Director of the Psy-DREPI Laboratory EA7458. His research focuses on children, adolescents, and vulnerable families, complex trauma and resilience, identity, and migration, in a global perspective. He coordinated the ANR-RECREAHVI project, following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

Jude Mary Cénat

Jude Mary Cénat, PhD, is professor in the clinical psychology program of the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa and director of the Vulnerability, Trauma, Resilience, and Culture Research Laboratory. His research program explores risk and protective factors associated with both interpersonal and noninterpersonal traumas with a specific interest in the role of cultural factors.

Amira Karray

Amira Karray, PhD, is a lecturer in clinical psychology and psychopathology in Aix-Marseille University, Laboratory LPCPP EA3278. Her research focuses on trauma and resilience in social and humanitarian contexts, and on school dropout and violence among vulnerable children.

Emilie Charpillat-Richard

Emilie Charpillat-Richard is a PhD student in clinical psychology and psychopathology at the Laboratory Psy-Drepi EA7458, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté in France. She works on trauma and identity among vulnerable children.