@article{ref1,
title="Growing up in armed groups: trauma and aggression among child soldiers in DR Congo",
journal="European journal of psychotraumatology",
year="2013",
author="Elbert, Thomas and Schauer, Maggie and Maedl, Anna and Hecker, Tobias and Hermenau, Katharin",
volume="4",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Child soldiers are often both victims and perpetrators of horrendous acts of violence. Research with former child soldiers has consistently shown that exposure to violence is linked to trauma-related disorders and that living in a violent environment is correlated with enhanced levels of aggression. OBJECTIVE: To gain more insight into the experiences and the mental health status of former child soldiers, we conducted a survey with N=200 former child soldiers and adult combatants in the DR Congo. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews concerning military experiences, experienced and perpetrated violence, and mental health. RESULTS: Former child soldiers reported more experienced and perpetrated violence, a greater severity of trauma-related suffering, as well as higher appetitive aggression than adult ex-combatants. Appetitive aggression was related to more perpetrated violence, higher military ranks, voluntary recruitment and higher rates of reenlistments in former child soldiers. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that growing up in an armed group is related to higher levels of trauma-related disorders and aggressive behavior. This may explain the challenge of reintegrating former child soldiers. It is thus important to consider mental health problems, particularly trauma-related disorders and aggressive behavior, of former child soldiers for designing adequate reintegration programs.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2000-8198",
doi="10.3402/ejpt.v4i0.21408",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v4i0.21408"
}