Toward a Culture-Informed Conceptualization of Child Agency in a Context Characterized by Political and Military Violence. A Qualitative Exploration throughout Experts’ Voices

Abstract Our present study sought to qualitative explore the perceptions of experts on meaning children agency in a context characterized by ongoing colonial violence and structural racism. Namely, we explored culture context-specific features agency, experts’ about decolonized definition, gaps with mainstream definition construct Western contexts. The involved 14 participants (N = 8 women), aged between 32 70 years mean age 45 (SD 9.72) who came from Gaza Strip, West Bank (Ramallah, Bethlehem, Hebron Jenin) territories currently part State Israel (Jerusalem Jaffa). They are all mental health professionals universities, research centres, hospitals social welfare services. Secondly, analysis resulted map five themes representing culturally oriented Palestinian children’s model. A threatening , alleviating factors healthy aggravating harmful . conceptualization child lies multifaceted nature itself re-declined multiple levels complexity- cultural, political, social, economic. findings might contribute creating indicators agentic behaviours better operationalization itself.