ABSTRACT
The investigation of children’s psychological reactions to living through war and political violence has shown a steady increase over the last decade or so (Cairns, 1996). Numerous studies, from differing cultures in different war zones around the world, have documented the effect on children of exposure to war atrocities (e.g. Dyregrov & Raundalen, 1992; Gupta, Dyregrov, Gjestad, & Mukanoheli, 1996; Kinzie, Sack, Angell, & Clarke, 1989; Kuterovac, Dyregrov, & Stuvland, 1994; Macksoud & Aber, 1996; Nader, Pynoos, Fairbanks, Al-Ajeel, & AlAsfour, 1993; Richman, Ratilal, & Aly, 1989; Saigh, 1991). The emerging consensus in the literature is that children show high levels of post-traumatic stress reactions after such experiences. Other outcomes have been studied less thoroughly, but there is also some evidence for an increase in rates of depression and anxiety among child survivors of war (e.g. Chimienti, Nasr, & Khalifehi, 1989; Mghir, Freed, Raskin, & Katon, 1995; Zivcic, 1993).
