Does war beget child aggression? Military violence, gender, age and aggressive behavior in two Palestinian samples

Abstract

We examined, first, the relations between children's exposure to military violence and their aggressive behavior and the role of age and gender in that relation in two Palestinian samples. Second, we tested parenting practices as a moderator of the relation between exposure to military violence and aggressive behavior, and third, whether exposure to military violence of different nature (direct victimization versus witnessing) has specific associations with different forms of aggression (reactive, proactive and aggression-enjoyment). Study I was conducted in a relatively calm military-political atmosphere in Palestine-Gaza, and included 640 children, aged 6-16 years whose parents (N=622) and teachers (N=457) provided reports. Older children (> or =12 years) provided self-reports (N=211). Study II included 225 Palestinian children aged 10-14-year, who participated during a high-violence period of the Al Aqsa Intifada characterized by air raids, killing and destruction. Results showed that witnessing severe military violence was associated with children's aggressive and antisocial behavior (parent-reported) in study I, and with proactive, reactive and aggression-enjoyment (child-reported) in the study II. As hypothesized, good and supporting parenting practices could moderate the link between exposure to military violence and aggressive behavior. Aggr.

The impact of humanitarian emergencies on the prevalence of violence against children: an evidence-based ecological framework

“…Both age groups should be considered in tandem to fully understand the dynamics of violence. Adults and children are more likely to witness traumatic events during humanitarian emergencies, including shelling, gunfire, abduction, torture, destruction of property, death of loved ones and domestic abuse between adults in their own household (Haj-Yahia & Abdo-Kaloti, 2003;Qouta, Punamäki, Miller, & El-Sarraj, 2008). Children who witness conflict or other emergency events are also more likely to show signs of post-traumatic stress and displays of anger and aggressiveness, which may provoke violent reactions from parents, caregivers and peers (Qouta et al, 2008).…”

“…Adults and children are more likely to witness traumatic events during humanitarian emergencies, including shelling, gunfire, abduction, torture, destruction of property, death of loved ones and domestic abuse between adults in their own household (Haj-Yahia & Abdo-Kaloti, 2003;Qouta, Punamäki, Miller, & El-Sarraj, 2008). Children who witness conflict or other emergency events are also more likely to show signs of post-traumatic stress and displays of anger and aggressiveness, which may provoke violent reactions from parents, caregivers and peers (Qouta et al, 2008). Adults and older children with post-traumatic stress are prone to perpetrate interpersonal violence themselves (Catani, 2010;Catani, Jacob, Schauer, Kohila, & Neuner, 2008;Catani et al, 2009).…”

“…The effects of post-traumatic stress on violence perpetration have been documented to persist over the lifecourse and across generations (Devakumar, Birch, Osrin, Sondorp, & Wells, 2014;Saile, Ertl, Neuner, & Catani, 2014). These long-term effects are often compounded by lack of educational opportunities for children growing up in emergencies and permanent disabilities caused by military victimization or other injuries (Charles & Denman, 2013;Qouta et al, 2008).…”

Family systems approach to attachment relations, war trauma, and mental health among Palestinian children and parents

“…These discrepancies between generations may reflect specific contextual political and military histories in the participating families. Palestinian children and youth are active in the national struggle for independence, often facing life-endangering military confrontations and sharing adult responsibilities (Qouta et al, 2008). In family therapeutic terms, children’s struggle for national safety can be described as a role reversal (Minuchin, 1974), which might be reflected in the discrepant family dynamics.…”

“…By contrast, supportive, secure, and wise parenting practices can protect children’s mental health, optimal development, and resilience in the life-endangering conditions of war (Betancourt et al, 2011; Cummings et al, 2011; Feldman, Vengrober, Eidelman-Rothman, & Zagoory-Sharon, 2013; Qouta, Punamäki, Miller, & El Sarraj, 2008). A study of Northern Irish children and parents confirmed that secure emotional family relations predicted low levels of psychological distress despite prolonged and severe sectarian and political violence (Cummings et al, 2011).…”