Child Development in War Zones

Imagine the tension of hearing bombs go off at night, not knowing whether they are going to hit you or your loved ones. Imagine not being able to walk down the road you live on because of military blockades. Imagine seeing people die in front of your eyes. Now imagine that you are a child. Children growing up in environments such as these, war torn areas, are far more likely to develop psychological problems.

In a cross sectional study of emotional problems of children living in a war zone, researchers found that children exposed to war zones had a much higher increase in post-traumatic stress and fear than children living in peaceful areas. Fifty-nine percent of those children suffering from post-traumatic stress required clinical help. Children living directly in a war zone will suffer from post-traumatic stress, while children hearing about the war zones or exposed to media about the war suffer from more anxiety and expressions of distress (Abet 1802). Clearly war affects children who are exposed to it, whether they are exposed directly or indirectly.

Although children exposed to the violence of war zones suffer from psychological problems, the types and severity of problems they suffer differ based on the level of active war around them. In a study done in Croatia, researchers found that compared to children before the war, the Croatian children had much higher levels of depression. Also, between the children who were displaced and the children who remained in their home, the displaced children showed higher levels of fear and sadness (Zivcic 710). Although all of the children suffered emotional impacts from the war, the displaced children suffered more.

Can children living in war zones ever actually adapt and function normally? In a recent study of victims of war, researchers found that massive exposure to trauma during wartime can prevent a child from developing normally. They have a harder time adapting and maturing than children living in war-free areas. However, when these children are removed from the intense war zone, after acclimating to the new environment they begin to function normally but they still tend to remain very self-protective (Jensen 700). When these children are living in a war zone they cannot develop normally, but when they are removed and feel safe, they can.

As one can easily see, children growing up in war areas are far more likely to develop psychological problems. Even children indirectly exposed to war have a higher risk of developing problems. Depending on the levels of how affected children are by war, they develop different problems. However, when children are removed from these high risk areas they are much more capable to adapt and one day lead a normal life.

Works Cited

Abed, Y., A. Thabet, P. Vostanis. "Emotional problems in Palestinian children living in a war zone: a cross-sectional study." The Lancet Volume 359 , Issue 932025 May 2002 1801-1804. 15 Oct 2008 .

Jensen, Peter, Jon Shaw. "Children as Victims of War: Current Knowledge and Future Research Needs." Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 1993 697-708. 15 Oct 2008 .

Zivcic, Ivanka. "Emotional Reactions of Children to War Stress in Croatia." The Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 1993 709-713. 15 Oct 2008 .