Sierra Leone's Child Soldiers: War Exposures and Mental Health Problems by Gender

Betancourt, Theresa S.; Borisova, Ivelina; Soudière, Marie de la; Williamson, John

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.09.021

Cited by 109 publications

(103 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Our results correspond to those reported by Hecker et al [50], who found that perpetrating violence was positively related to symptoms of PTSD in forcibly recruited, but not in voluntary combatants. The finding that perpetration can be traumatizing has also been reported in war veterans [51] and research with Sierra Leonean child soldiers showed a strong association of killing and symptoms of depression and anxiety [17]. In addition to the personal threat connected to the forced exertion of atrocities, moral conflict and feelings of shame and guilt may arise and have a unique or aggravating impact on the mental health status of former child soldiers and their successful readjustment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

The Challenge of Living On: Psychopathology and Its Mediating Influence on the Readjustment of Former Child Soldiers

et al. 2014

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Current civil wars are characterized by the increasing involvement of civilian populations and the systematic employment of child soldiers. An example of such wars was the conflict in Northern Uganda, where the war-affected population is still challenged by the reintegration of formerly abducted children and youths. A cross-sectional, population-based survey, using a multistage cluster sampling approach of 1,113 Northern Ugandans aged between 12 and 25 in camps for internally displaced persons and locally validated instruments was conducted to assess symptoms and diagnoses of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and probable Depression in war-affected, as well as formerly abducted individuals. Further objectives were to determine predictors of psychopathology and to relate indicators of maladjustment (i.e., impairments in daily and community functioning, somatic complaints, suicidality, aggressiveness and discrimination) to abduction, level of exposure to violence and psychopathology. 43% of the sample reported abduction by the rebel army. Exposure to violence among this group was higher than for non-abducted youths (t = 28.05; p<.001). PTSD point prevalence rates were 25% among former child soldiers and 7% among the comparison group. High suicidal ideation was present in 16% and 6% respectively. A higher amount of experienced and witnessed event-types (β = . 32. p<.001), loss of first-degree relatives (β = .13. p<.001) and the number of event-types involving forced perpetration (β = .23. p<.001) were identified as risk factors of PTSD symptoms in former child soldiers. The associations between abductee-status and indicators of maladjustment were fully mediated by level of trauma exposure and psychopathology. Results show that child soldiering and its psychological sequelae affect a substantial proportion of children and youths. After release or flight, their readjustment depends at least partly on their level of mental traumatization.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

The Challenge of Living On: Psychopathology and Its Mediating Influence on the Readjustment of Former Child Soldiers

et al. 2014

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“…Finally, individual resources also showed a trend toward significance in modifying the effects of violence exposure, where children with a low unknown locus of control (i.e., not knowing why events happened) had lower distress than those with a higher unknown locus of control (Sheilds et al, 2009b). Gender also modified some of the effects of violence exposure on children's health (Betancourt, Borisova, de la Soudiere, & Williamson, 2011; Betancourt, McBain, Newnham, & Brennan, 2014). …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Children's exposure to community and war violence and mental health in four African countries

Foster

Brooks‐Gunn

2015

Social Science & Medicine

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In this article we review the mental health consequences of children's exposure to community and war violence (ETV) in four African countries: South Africa, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Rwanda. A focus on Africa is particularly pressing because of children's high levels of community and war ETV in countries therein. Regions of Africa present important macro-contexts for understanding children's various types of violence exposure amidst war and economic disadvantage. Findings of the review across 20 quantitative studies from 2004-2015 indicate consistent associations between exposure to war and community violence and children's symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and aggression. School climate and family support mitigate these ETV influences upon children: however, more research is needed on the buffering effects of such resources. The effects of war violence are mediated by perceived discrimination in communities post-conflict. We integrate findings across studies to synthesize knowledge on children's ETV in Africa around a model of its correlates, mediators, and moderators in relation to mental health.. Emerging research points to avenues for prevention and future inquiry.

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“…Anxiety and depressive symptoms have also been shown in FCSs in Sierra Leone (Betancourt, Borisova, de la Soudiere, & Williamson, 2011;Borisova, Betancourt, & Willett, 2013), Nepal (Kohrt et al, 2008;Morley & Kohrt, this issue), and El Salvador (Santacruz & Arana, 2002), and as compared to their never-conscripted peers (Kohrt et al, 2008). Witnessing, experiencing, and perpetrating violence; younger age of involvement; and length of time in an armed group are all shown to have negative mental health consequences for FCSs (Bayer et al, 2007;Kohrt et al, 2008).…”

mentioning

confidence: 88%

Children of Former Child Soldiers and Never-Conscripted Civilians: A Preliminary Intergenerational Study in Burundi

Song¹,

Jong

O’Hara

et al. 2013

Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma

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Sierra Leone's Child Soldiers: War Exposures and Mental Health Problems by Gender

Cited by 109 publications

References 31 publications

The Challenge of Living On: Psychopathology and Its Mediating Influence on the Readjustment of Former Child Soldiers

The Challenge of Living On: Psychopathology and Its Mediating Influence on the Readjustment of Former Child Soldiers

Children's exposure to community and war violence and mental health in four African countries

Children of Former Child Soldiers and Never-Conscripted Civilians: A Preliminary Intergenerational Study in Burundi

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