Poster #168 - Children Exposed to Armed Conflict: Implications for Social and Behavioral Problems

• In Event: 1-115 - Poster Session 03
  In Poster Session: PS 03 Section - Race, Ethnicity, Culture, Context

Integrative Statement

Introduction: Previous studies indicate that children living in armed-conflict zones show increased mental health problems, such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Evidence has shown that children exposed to more severe or frequent violence exhibit higher levels of mental health symptoms. This empirical evidence seems to be underestimated; researchers and clinicians suggested that among children trauma due to exposure to armed conflict may be manifested in ways other than symptoms of psychopathology. Instead, trauma may be demonstrated as behavioral or social difficulties (such as fighting with peers). This may be due to their fragile state and difficulties in self-regulation. Therefore, it is important to adopt a wide approach when examining children’s adjustment and mental health in conflict zones. We propose that children who are exposed to political violence and who experience high levels of stress may have more adjustment difficulties as seen in their behavioral and social problems. Specifically, we hypothesize that children exposed to higher levels of political violence will show: 1) elevated levels of PTSD and 2) higher levels of behavioral and social problems compared to children who are exposed to lower levels of political violence.

Study population: Participants in this study included 526 children (aged 10-13 years old) and their teachers living in southern Israel; 261 of the children were recruited through schools located in the Gaza vicinity (high-exposure group) and the rest were from schools located in the Beer-Sheva area (low-exposure group). During data collection, children in the high-exposure group were exposed to constant missile attacks (sometimes hundreds in one day), forcing them to stay close to shelters (because they have only seconds to find protection).

Methods: Both children and teachers completed questionnaires. Children reported on their PTSD symptoms using the Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS). Teachers reported on children’s social experience using the SEQ- Teacher Report (SEQ-T) and children’s behavioral problems using the Problem Behavior at School Interview (PBSI).

Results: Preliminary analyses indicated that children in the high-exposure group did not show higher levels of PTSD [t(526)=-.65, ns] compared to children in the low-exposure group, based on their own reports. However, children in the high-exposure group showed significantly more behavioral problems [t(458)=-2.22, p< .05] and negative social experiences [t(457)=-3.24, p≤ .001] compared to children in the low-exposure group, based on teachers’ reports.

Conclusions: Children living with exposure to higher levels of armed conflict are at higher risk for behavioral problems and negative social experiences. Interestingly, no difference exists in children’s self-report of PTSD symptoms. This finding may suggest that chronic exposure to armed conflict is expressed in children’s behavioral and social problems rather than through PTSD symptoms. This study highlights the need to consider children’s normative difficulties when identifying children who struggle due to the chronic stress to which they are exposed. The importance of understanding the way children express their difficulties when living under chronic danger will be discussed.

Authors

• Kinneret Levavi, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
  Presenting Author

• Naama Atzaba-Poria, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
  Non-Presenting Author