Relational patterns in four girls exposed to domestic violence: A case study
AI Summary
Girls exposed to domestic violence developed insecure, hostile relational patterns, perceiving parental figures as threatening.
Ego functions were disrupted, notably impulse control, identity and autonomy; dissociation, repression and fantasy served as overadaptive defences.
Relational dysfunctions stemmed from chronic family violence rather than isolated events; brief psychodynamic psychotherapy aided identification of unconscious dynamics and intervention.
Child Abuse Negl. 2026 Jun 5;178:108141. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2026.108141. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Domestic violence has a significant impact on the psychological development of children, shaping their internal relational models and coping strategies.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify and characterize the relational patterns of four school-aged girls exposed to domestic violence and referred for child psychotherapy.
PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Four girls aged 9 10, enrolled in a public school located in a socioeconomically disadvantaged area of Medellín, Colombia, participated in the study.
METHODS: A qualitative embedded case study design was employed. Data collection included in-depth interviews, the Family Test by Lluís (1978), selected plates from the Children’s Apperception Test (CAT), and the Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnostics (OPD) system. Data were triangulated and analyzed using psychodynamic interpretative criteria.
RESULTS: The participants exhibited insecure and hostile relational patterns, with parental figures perceived as threatening. Disruptions in ego functions such as impulse control, identity, and autonomy were observed. Defensive mechanisms including dissociation, repression, and fantasy were prominent, reflecting an overadaptive response to emotional distress.
CONCLUSIONS: Relational dysfunctions in these girls are not solely the result of isolated traumatic events but emerge from persistent exposure to family violence. Brief psychodynamic Psychotherapy proved valuable in identifying unconscious relational dynamics and guiding therapeutic interventions.
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