Abstract

Children of war tend to endure abuse, witness deaths, killings, and sexual violence, and are also often coerced into committing violent acts. They are subjected to exposure to war-related traumas and as a result often become displaced from their primary caregiver and attachment figure and this relationship is disrupted. The primary aim of this systematic review was to explore the negative mental health outcomes in children of war into adulthood following attachment disruption and exposure to war. It also aimed to examine what protective factors mitigated these negative mental health outcomes and whether outcomes and protective factors varied according to culture. This review posed the questions: (1) are exposures to war and disruptions in attachment among children of war related to adult mental health outcomes? (a) do these mental health outcomes vary by cultural orientation (collectivistic vs. individualistic)? (2) what are protective factors that mitigate negative adult mental health outcomes among children of war? (a) do these protective factors vary by culture (collectivistic vs. individualistic)? A textual narrative synthesis approach revealed that childhood exposure to war and disruptions in attachment are strongly associated with adverse adult mental health outcomes. Additionally, protective factors such as social support and positive attachment experiences can mitigate these negative effects. Psychopathology was a common outcome among children of war regardless of whether individuals came from collective cultures or individualistic cultures.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Children and war; War—Psychological aspects; Attachment disorder in children; Mental health

Date of Award

2025

School Affiliation

Graduate School of Education and Psychology

Department/Program

Psychology

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctorate

Faculty Advisor

Stephanie Woo

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