Resilience in Cameroonian Children Living in the Context of Family Adversity

This study poses the problem of the nature of the mechanisms involved in the resilience of Cameroonian children living in a context of family adversity. Our hypothesis is: Cameroonian children living in a context of family adversity manage to get up and have a normal social life because of cultural signifiers. To verify this hypothesis, we used the clinical method. Our population had six children exposed to various forms of abuse, aged seven to twelve. As data collection tools, we used the semi-structured interview and the CYRM-28 questionnaire. Data were processed using the thematic analysis technique and computerized processing. The results obtained show that participants use different cultural signifiers to cope with the adversity they experience daily, on the one hand; and, on the other hand, that they are resilient. These cultural elements, thanks to their action in the process of symbolization, participate in the mentalization in these children.