Growing up in armed groups: trauma and aggression among child soldiers in DR Congo

Abstract

BackgroundChild soldiers are often both victims and perpetrators of horrendous acts of violence. Research with former child soldiers has consistently shown that exposure to violence is linked to trauma-related disorders and that living in a violent environment is correlated with enhanced levels of aggression.ObjectiveTo gain more insight into the experiences and the mental health status of former child soldiers, we conducted a survey with N=200 former child soldiers and adult combatants in the DR Congo.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews concerning military experiences, experienced and perpetrated violence, and mental health.ResultsFormer child soldiers reported more experienced and perpetrated violence, a greater severity of trauma-related suffering, as well as higher appetitive aggression than adult ex-combatants. Appetitive aggression was related to more perpetrated violence, higher military ranks, voluntary recruitment and higher rates of reenlistments in former child soldiers.ConclusionsOur results indicate that growing up in an armed group is related to higher levels of trauma-related disorders and aggressive behavior. This may explain the challenge of reintegrating former child soldiers. It is thus important to consider mental health problems, particularly trauma-related disorders and aggressive behavior, of former child soldiers for designing adequate reintegration programs.

Aggression inoculates against PTSD symptom severity—insights from armed groups in the eastern DR Congo

“…In line with Elbert et al (2010) and our prior findings (Hecker et al, 2012, 2013; Hermenau et al, 2013), we argue that perceiving aggressive behavior as fascinating and arousing can be advantageous in a cruel and violent environment such as that experienced in an armed group, as it reduces the risk of trauma-related disorders such as PTSD.…”

“…Our findings indicate that some former combatants seem to adapt to the cruel and violent environment of armed groups and are able to cope with the adverse conditions. After demobilization, attraction to violence and aggressive behavior, however, pose challenges for the integration of excombatants into civil society as it heightens the risk of voluntary rerecruitment (Hermenau et al, 2013). Thus, our findings may offer one possible explanation at the individual level as to why struggles to end the ongoing conflict in the DRC have engendered so little success.…”

“…Participants received financial compensation of about $2 US. Other aspects of the data gathered during the extensive investigations are presented by Hecker et al (2012, 2013) and Hermenau et al (2013). …”

“…For child soldiers, perceiving the perpetration of violence as fascinating and arousing seems to be adaptive for survival in a violent environment. Being more appetitively aggressive is advantageous in this extremely violent environment, with people high in this factor occupying higher positions in armed groups, as well as being both acknowledged and feared by peers (Crombach, Weierstall, Hecker, Schalinski, & Elbert, in press; Hermenau, Hecker, Maedl, Schauer, & Elbert, 2013). …”

Addressing Post-traumatic Stress and Aggression by Means of Narrative Exposure: A Randomized Controlled Trial with Ex-Combatants in the Eastern DRC

“…and was related to higher ranks in child soldiers (Crombach et al, 2013;Hermenau et al, 2013). These changes in the behavior and mental state of child soldiers that are caused by war experiences can pose a challenge to reintegration (Betancourt et al, 2010;Boyden, 2003;Medeiros, 2007).…”