Published in

PsycEXTRA Dataset

DOI: 10.1037/e517292011-112

Wiley, Child Development, 4(81), p. 1077-1095, 2010

DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01455.x

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

Sierra Leone's Former Child Soldiers: A Follow-up Study of Psychosocial Adjustment and Community Reintegration

Journal article published in 2010 by Theresa Stichick Betancourt, Marie de la Soudiere, Ivelina Ivanova Borisova, Timothy Philip Williams, Robert Thomas Brennan, Theodore Hatch Whitfield, John Williamson, Stephen Edward Gilman ORCID
This paper is available in a repository.
This paper is available in a repository.

Full text: Download

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Upload
Green circle
Postprint: archiving allowed
Upload
Red circle
Published version: archiving forbidden
Policy details
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

This is the first prospective study to investigate psychosocial adjustment in male and female former child soldiers (n=156, 12% female). The study began in Sierra Leone in 2002 and was designed to examine both risk and protective factors in psychosocial adjustment. Over the two-year period of follow up, youth who had wounded or killed others during the war demonstrated increases in hostility. Youth who survived rape had higher levels of anxiety and hostility, but also demonstrated greater confidence and prosocial attitudes at follow up. Of the potential protective resources examined, improved community acceptance was associated with reduced depression at follow up and improved confidence and prosocial attitudes regardless of levels of violence exposure. Retention in school was also associated with greater prosocial attitudes.