Trauma, Emotional Neglect, and Developmental Vulnerability in Children: Evidence from Albania

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Sociology
• Trafficking Studies

Background:

• Children in the Balkans face normalized emotional absence, parentification, and silencing.
• These relational harms are often unrecognized as neglect but create developmental vulnerabilities.
• Such vulnerabilities increase risks of exploitation, including human trafficking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify emotional and relational patterns contributing to child vulnerability in the Balkan region.
• To understand the cultural context and gendered dynamics of these harms.
• To inform prevention and intervention strategies for child protection.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study with 30 participants (16 professionals, 14 trafficking survivors).
• Semi-structured, trauma-informed interviews and focus groups.
• Reflexive thematic analysis to identify relational patterns.

Main Results:

• Emotional absence: Children experience caregivers' unavailability, leading to self-effacement.
• Parentification: Children assume emotional caregiving roles, regulating parental well-being.
• Silencing: Emotional expression is suppressed, leading to relational invisibility and shame.

Conclusions:

• Early relational harms create developmental vulnerabilities and heighten susceptibility to exploitation.
• Interventions require attachment-based assessments, early screening, and trauma-informed training.
• Culturally adapted approaches are essential to break cycles of harm and ensure child emotional safety.