Classifying childhood war trauma exposure: latent profile analyses of Sierra Leone’s former child soldiers

AbstractThe present study examined whether there are distinct groups of children with reactive versus proactive motives for their aggressive behavior. We extended previous research by using a person-based analytical approach on data from a questionnaire assessing children’s motives independently from the severity of their aggression. Two competing hypotheses were tested. The both subtypes hypothesis holds that both reactive and proactive subtypes exist, as well as a mixed subtype. The reactive only hypothesis holds that only reactive and mixed subtypes exist. Hypotheses were tested on existing data from a community sample of children displaying aggression (Study 1: n = 228, ages 10–13, 54% boys), and two clinical samples of children with aggressive behavior problems (Study 2: n = 115, ages 8–13, 100% boys; Study 3: n = 123, ages 6–8, 78% boys). Teachers reported on children’s reactive and proactive motives. We selected measures available from peers, parents, teachers, and children themselves to compare the supported subtypes on variables that previous literature suggests uniquely correlate with reactive versus proactive aggression. Confirmatory latent profile analyses revealed that the both subtypes hypothesis best fit the data of all three samples. Most children were classified as reactive (55.7–61.8% across samples), with smaller percentages classified as proactive (10.4–24.1%) and mixed (18.0–33.9%). However, these subtypes only differed in expected directions on 7 out of 34 measures. Overall, results support the existence of both reactive and proactive subtypes of aggressive children, but the distinctiveness of these subtypes in terms of social-emotional characteristics warrants further study.

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Interpersonal violence and suicidality among former child soldiers and war-exposed civilian children in Nepal

Global Mental Health ◽

10.1017/gmh.2017.31 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Anvita Bhardwaj ◽

Christine Bourey ◽

Sauharda Rai ◽

Ramesh Prasad Adhikari ◽

Carol M. Worthman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Young Women ◽

Interpersonal Violence ◽

Teacher Support ◽

Suicide Risk ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Child Soldiers ◽

Child Soldier ◽

High Resource ◽

Former Child Soldiers

Background.Suicide risk reduction is crucial for 15–29-year-old youth, who account for 46% of suicide deaths in low- and middle-income countries. Suicide predictors in high-resource settings, specifically depression, do not adequately predict suicidality in these settings. We explored if interpersonal violence (IPV) was associated with suicidality, independent of depression, in Nepal.Methods.A longitudinal cohort of child soldiers and matched civilian children, enrolled in 2007 after the People's War in Nepal, were re-interviewed in 2012. The Depression Self-Rating Scale and Composite International Diagnostic Interview assessed depression and suicidality, respectively. Non-verbal response cards were used to capture experiences of sexual and physical IPV.Results.One of five participants (19%) reported any lifetime suicidal ideation, which was associated with sexual IPV, female gender, former child soldier status and lack of support from teachers. Among young men, the relationship between sexual IPV and suicidality was explained by depression, and teacher support reduced suicidality. Among young women, sexual IPV was associated with suicidality, independent of depression; child soldier status increased suicidality, and teacher support decreased suicidality. Suicide plans were associated with sexual IPV but not with depression. One of 11 female former child soldiers (9%) had attempted suicide.Conclusion.Sexual IPV is associated with suicidal ideation and plans among conflict-affected young women, independent of depression. Reducing suicide risk among women should include screening, care, and prevention programs for sexual IPV. Programs involving teachers may be particularly impactful for reducing suicidality among IPV survivors.

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Former Child Soldiers

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Fifty Years and Beyond ◽

10.4324/9781315223469-17 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 147-147

Author(s):

Kofi A. Annan ◽

Mary Robinson

Keyword(s):

Child Soldiers ◽

Former Child Soldiers

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Maintaining a Safety Net and Peace for Former Child Soldiers in Africa

Cultivating a Culture of Nonviolence in Early Childhood Development Centers and Schools - Advances in Early Childhood and K-12 Education ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-7476-7.ch004 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 56-81

Author(s):

Florence Nyemba ◽

Rufaro Chitiyo

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Peace Education ◽

Safety Net ◽

Child Soldiers ◽

Human Consciousness ◽

Education Programs ◽

The World Bank ◽

At Risk Children ◽

Former Child Soldiers ◽

Challenges And Opportunities

This chapter focuses on the challenges and opportunities associated with the implementation of peace education programs in Africa. Peace education programs are used widely to create peaceful environments for at-risk children. Their intended goals are to end violence through modeling human consciousness to resolve conflicts peacefully and to provide children with a stable socioeconomic future. Using a systematic review of literature, the authors examine how humanitarian agencies with support from the World Bank utilize peace education programs to create safety nets for former child soldiers in Africa. The challenges and opportunities of such programs are examined. The authors then propose for the adoption of a community-based participatory practice to facilitate the sustainability of peace education programs. The chapter will benefit at-risk children in war-torn African regions and all stakeholders involved in the creation of safe environments for children.

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Informal and Formal Supports for Former Child Soldiers in Northern Uganda

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1100/2012/825028 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sofie Vindevogel ◽

Michael Wessells ◽

Maarten De Schryver ◽

Eric Broekaert ◽

Ilse Derluyn

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Armed Conflict ◽

Survey Design ◽

Child Soldiers ◽

Potential Contribution ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Chi Square ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Former Child Soldiers ◽

Chi Square Analysis

This study aimed to evaluate the potential contribution of informal community initiatives and formal interventions in support of former child soldiers' resilience in the wake of armed conflict. Using a cross-sectional survey design, a stratified random sample of 330 formerly recruited and 677 nonrecruited young people was consulted about their perspective on desirable support for former child soldiers provided by close support figures, communities, humanitarian organizations, and governments. Data analysis occurred by conducting qualitative thematic analysis and statistical chi-square analysis to explore clusters, similarities, and variations in reported support across the different “agents,” hereby comparing the perspectives of formerly recruited and non-recruited participants. The results indicated that formerly recruited and non-recruited participants had comparable perspectives that call for the contribution of various informal and formal support systems to former child soldiers' human capacities and the communal sociocultural fabric of war-affected societies. This highlights the importance of community-based, collective, and comprehensive support of formerly recruited young people and their surroundings in the aftermath of armed conflict.

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Physical Activity and Mental Toughness as Antecedents of Academic Burnout among School Students: A Latent Profile Approach

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16112024 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (11) ◽

pp. 2024 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Peggy Cheung ◽

Chunxiao Li

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Secondary School ◽

Secondary School Students ◽

Mental Toughness ◽

School Students ◽

Academic Burnout ◽

Latent Profile Analyses ◽

Current Survey ◽

Potential Risk Factors ◽

Latent Profile

Background: The purpose of the current survey-based study was to identify patterns of academic burnout and their antecedents among secondary school students. Methods: Secondary school students (n = 1209) completed a survey measuring academic burnout, physical activity, and mental toughness. Results: Using latent profile analyses, three burnout profiles were identified: a “moderately engaged group” (n = 699; 57.8%), a “burnout group” (n = 389; 32.2%), and a “well-functioning group” (n = 121; 10.0%). Group comparisons revealed that the “well-functioning group” reported significantly higher levels of physical activity and mental toughness than the other two groups. Conclusions: These findings suggest that lack of physical activity and mental toughness are potential risk factors for academic burnout. These findings may inform the development of intervention programs for academic burnout.

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