Family and Community as Protective Factors for Psychological Well-Being of Adolescents Survivors of Dating Violence

Abstract

Accumulated research has shown that family and community play an essential role in maintaining the survivors' psychological well-being of any kind of violence. However, previous research has not systematized how the family and community can play a protective role for psychological well-being among adolescent dating violence survivors. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the role of family and community as protective factors for the psychological well-being of adolescent survivors of dating violence. A systematic search of four databases generated 12 studies meeting the exclusion and inclusion criteria. The results of the review show how family and community play an important role in providing a sense of security and courage for adolescent survivors of dating violence to ask for help. This protective role impacts the positive adjustment of adolescents in dealing with negative conditions experienced as survivors of violence, which in turn will have a positive impact on their psychological well-being. Implications of this study are discussed how the psychological intervention can be developed based on family and community strengths as protective factors for the psychological well-being of adolescent survivors of dating violence.