Coping and helping to cope: Perspectives of children of Palestinian political detainees

Abstract

This qualitative study investigates how children of Palestinian political detainees in Israeli detention cope with their fathers’ absences. Researchers conducted 16 semi-structured interviews with children, mostly aged 15 and older in the West Bank. Three themes are discussed that emerged from the interview data: how children cope with their sadness; the children’s perspectives on community support; and older children’s support to siblings and parents. Practitioners can support children by providing counselling to mothers and organising interventions, which give children the opportunity to connect. It is important that the agency of the older children is taken into account and built upon.