Children Exposed to War/Terrorism

Abstract

This paper reviews the prevalence of psychological morbidities in children who have been exposed to war-related traumas or terrorism as well as the diversity of war-related casualties and their associated psychological responses. The psychological responses to war-related stressors are categorized as (1) little or no reaction, (2) acute emotional and behavioral effects, and (3) long-term effects. Specific categories of war-related casualties discussed include refugee status, traumatic bereavement, effects of parental absence, and child soldiers. Psychological responses associated with terrorism and bioterrorism are presented. Lastly, mediators of the psychological response to war-related stressors are discussed, to include exposure effects, gender effects, parental, family and social factors, and child-specific factors. Children exposed to war-related stressors experience a spectrum of psychological morbidities including posttraumatic stress symptomatology, mood disorders, externalizing and disruptive behaviors, and somatic symptoms determined by exposure dose effect. Specific questions for future research are identified.

Stress and Health: Psychological, Behavioral, and Biological Determinants

“…Studies have also addressed the psychological consequences of exposure to war and terrorism during childhood (Shaw 2003). A majority of children exposed to war experience significant psychological morbidity, including both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive symptoms.…”

Coping with Terrorism: Age and Gender Differences in Effortful and Involuntary Responses to September 11th

“…Although numerous studies have examined children's symptomatology in response to war or terrorism (e.g., Goenjian et al, 2000;Pfefferbaum et al, 2000;Shaw, 2003), we are aware of only one that has assessed the strategies used by children and adolescents to cope with war or terrorism. Three weeks after the first Gulf War ended, a large sample of Israeli middle and high school students reported on strategies used to cope with wearing gas masks and retreating to sealed rooms during air raids (Weisenberg, Schwarzwald, Waysman, Solomon, & Klingman, 1993).…”

Turkish Elementary School Students’ Perceptions of Local and Global Terrorism

“…Terrorism does not only harm its victims, but it also leaves long-lasting negative effects on other people (Ayalon, 2001;Merari & Friedland, 2001;Shaw, 2003). A unique trait of terrorism is that it cannot be predicted when, where, or how it is going to happen and by whom it is going to be executed.…”

“…After the September 11 terrorist attacks in United States, many studies were conducted on terrorism and its effects on children (see e.g. DeRanieri et al, 2004;Errante, 2003;Feerick & Prinz, 2003;Shaw, 2003;Silverman, 2002;Tucker, 2004) and many articles on intervention to help children cope with traumatic event during and after terrorist attacks were published in international journals and web sites (see e.g. Fassler, 2002;Gokler, 2001;Green & Ramirez, 2002;NASP, 2001;Perry, 2001).…”