Theresa S. Betancourt|Ivelina Borisova|Marie de la Soudière|John Williamson
Sierra Leone's Child Soldiers: War Exposures and Mental Health Problems by Gender
Harvard Global Health Institute|Save the Children|United States Agency for International Development
purpose examine associations war experiences mental health gender sample male female sierra leonean former child soldiers methods total 273 former child soldiers 29 females assessed depression anxiety using hopkins symptoms checklist hostility confidence prosocial attitudes using instrument developed use sierra leonean child soldiers results former child soldiers witnessed perpetrated violence largely comparable rates although females experienced higher rates rape p 0001 females scored within clinical ranges depression p 008 anxiety p 0001 multiple regression analyses female gender significant predictor lower levels confidence mental health problems children perpetrated injury killing reported greater levels depression p 0001 anxiety p 0001 hostility p 0001 surviving rape associated increased anxiety p 05 hostility p 05 males surviving rape also related higher confidence levels p 05 prosocial attitudes p 05 male former child soldiers lost caregivers also vulnerable depression p 05 anxiety p 05 strong significant effects noted among male child soldiers conclusions sample female male child soldiers experienced comparable levels war exposures female soldiers reported higher rates rape lower levels adaptive outcomes toxic forms violence killing injuring rape associated particularly poor outcomes although boys girls experience rape loss caregivers generally risk mental health problems boys sample demonstrated increased vulnerability findings indicate need inclusive mental health services