Abstract
Background
Children exposed to parental violence (CEPV) may experience a range of adverse outcomes compared to non-exposed peers yet may demonstrate resilience shaped by both internal and external protective factors.Objective
To longitudinally explore the profiles of protective factors in children across the continuum of resilience (i.e., low, moderate, high, and exceptional).Participants and setting
Parent-reported data were collected on behalf of 211 CEPV (Mage = 10.11, SD = 2.21) residing across Canada.Methods
Grounded in Resiliency Theory, this longitudinal study used online surveys administered at three timepoints to assess children's resilience and protective factors.Results
Decision tree modelling at baseline found that children with exceptional resilience were more likely to have better health (χ2 = 56.23, p 2 = 20.66, p 2 = 21.76, p 2 = 76.55, p 2 = 35.08, p 2 = 122.91, p 2 = 25.55, p Conclusions
These findings suggest that supporting CEPV resilience requires attention to individual assets, safety and stability needs, and access to supportive services addressing violence exposure. This underscores the necessity of trauma- and violence-informed, integrated approaches that extend beyond individual- and family-level factors.