Traumatismes relationnels précoces, capacité de mentalisation et caractéristiques du jeu chez les enfants ayant vécu de la maltraitance et issus de la population générale Flore Villacrés Décarie, Miguel M. Terradas et Maxime Labonté

Abstract

Introduction

Children housed in Child and Youth Protection Centers (CYPCs) are likely to have experienced early relational traumas (ERTs). ERTs would hinder the development of mentalizing capacity (MC) and lead to the presence of traumatic play. MC and play are related and complementary skills, but their links have never been empirically tested.

Objective

The study aims to explore the relationship between MC and manifestations of traumatic and symbolic play in school-age children who have experienced ERTs housed in CYPCs in Quebec and compare them with children from the general population (GP).

Method

Two groups of 15 children aged 7 to 12 participated in a free play period and an interview to assess their MC.

Results

Children housed in CYPCs have lower MC and more traumatic play than children from the PG, but they did not present less symbolic play. No significant link has been demonstrated between the MC and the presence of traumatic or symbolic play.

Conclusion

The present study confirms the associations between ERT, low MC, and traumatic play. It also leads to important questions concerning the links between the MC and the play characteristics of children who have experienced ERTs. The authors emphasize the importance of conducting more studies with larger samples to verify the associations between MC and play.