Theresa S. Betancourt|Ivelina Borisova|Timothy P. Williams|Sarah Meyers-Ohki|Julia Rubin-Smith|Jeannie Annan|Brandon A. Kohrt
Research Review: Psychosocial adjustment and mental health in former child soldiers – a systematic review of the literature and recommendations for future research
Harvard Global Health Institute|Save the Children|University of Bath|Ben-Gurion University of the Negev|International Rescue Committee|George Washington University
aims scope article reviews available quantitative research psychosocial adjustment mental health among children age lt18 years associated armed forces armed groups caafag commonly referred child soldiers methods prisma standards systematic reviews used search pubmed psycinfo jstor sociological abstracts february 2012 articles former child soldiers caafag twentyone quantitative studies 10 countries analyzed author year publication journal objectives design selection population setting instruments prevalence estimates associations war experiences opinion pieces editorials qualitative studies deemed beyond scope study quality evidence rated according systematic assessment quality observational research saqor findings according saqor criteria among available published studies eight studies high quality four moderate quality remaining nine low quality common limitations lack validated mental health measures unclear methodology including undefined sampling approaches failure report missing data five studies included comparison group youth involved armed forcesarmed groups five studies assessed mental health one point time across studies number risk protective factors associated postconflict psychosocial adjustment social reintegration caafag abduction age conscription exposure violence gender community stigma associated increased internalizing externalizing mental health problems family acceptance social support educationaleconomic opportunities associated improved psychosocial adjustment conclusions research social reintegration psychosocial adjustment former child soldiers nascent number gaps available literature warrant future study recommendations bolster evidence base psychosocial adjustment former child soldiers waraffected youth include studies comprising longitudinal study designs validated crosscultural instruments assessing mental health well integrated communitybased approaches study design research monitoring