From laughter to survival: The effect of war on children’s play in Gaza

IF 1.7 2区社会学 Q1 FAMILY STUDIES

Children and Youth Services Review Pub Date : 2025-08-09 DOI:10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108526

Dana Bdier, Bilal Hamamra, Fayez Mahamid

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Abstract

Genocide in Gaza has interrupted children’s play, endangering their growth and overall well-being. This research employed semi-structured interviews with thirty participants in Gaza between November 2024 and January 2025 to examine the effects of ongoing war, which began in October 7, 2023 on Gazan children’s play. Transcriptions underwent bottom-up thematic content analysis, resulting in seven themes: Old Games Reimagined with Violence; Emotional Avoidance and Loss of Interest in Play; War-Themed and Aggressive Play; Play Reflecting Daily Struggles; Play as a Coping Mechanism Amid Violence; The Loss of Childhood Through Responsibility; Community Efforts to Restore Childhood. Research shows that although genocide limits and distorts Gazan children’s play, it also encourages adaptive strategies that enhance emotional resilience. The research emphasizes the necessity for comprehensive interventions—including safe play initiatives, psychosocial assistance, and community engagement—to protect the right to play, aid in the recovery of Gaza’s youngest survivors, and strengthen social unity, resilience, and overall developmental continuity.

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从欢笑到生存：战争对加沙儿童玩耍的影响

加沙的种族灭绝中断了儿童的玩耍，危及他们的成长和整体福祉。这项研究在2024年11月至2025年1月期间对30名加沙参与者进行了半结构化访谈，以检查持续战争对加沙儿童游戏的影响，这场战争始于2023年10月7日。对转录进行了自下而上的主题内容分析，得出了7个主题：用暴力重新想象旧游戏；情绪回避与游戏兴趣的丧失战争主题和攻击性玩法；反映日常挣扎的游戏；游戏作为暴力中的应对机制因责任而失去童年；社区努力恢复童年。研究表明，虽然种族灭绝限制和扭曲了加沙儿童的游戏，但它也鼓励了增强情感弹性的适应性策略。该研究强调了全面干预的必要性，包括安全游戏倡议、社会心理援助和社区参与，以保护游戏权利，帮助加沙最年轻的幸存者康复，并加强社会团结、复原力和整体发展连续性。

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来源期刊

Children and Youth Services Review Multiple-

CiteScore

6.30

自引率

6.10%

发文量

303

期刊介绍： Children and Youth Services Review is an interdisciplinary forum for critical scholarship regarding service programs for children and youth. The journal will publish full-length articles, current research and policy notes, and book reviews.