School Difficulties Linked to Unresolved Maternal Psychotrauma among the Children of Mass Crime Survivors in the Villages of Ramka in the Province of Relizane

Abstract

The objective of this research is to retrospectively assess the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among mothers, survivors of mass crimes in villages in Ramka region, seeking a correlation with the construction of insufficiently secure early mother-child bonds, predisposing the development of an insecure-type attachment in their children at the origin of their learning difficulties in primary cycle.

The methodological device used is based on Kerns and Bacro attachment test and a projective graphic test (family drawing), offered to children, as well as an observation grid, filled in by teachers, in the form of a pre-established questionnaire evaluating pupils' academic performance, and the Post-Traumatic Checklist Scale, administered to parents. This study fits in an attachmentist psychodynamic referential. We have chosen as the study area two primary schools in the daïra of Ramka, wilaya of Relizane, viz., Ramka and Souk El Haad schools. The target population consists of surviving mothers and their schooled children.

The study is therefore based on a sample of 10 mothers, who were exposed to traumatic events, prior to their children’s birth and a ten-children sample aged between 09 and 11years. These pupils are distributed over two classes; 4th year and 5th year primary grade. Our results reveal a correspondence between maternal post-traumatic stress symptomatology scores and the attachment styles and academic performance of their children.