Moscardino Ughetta, Scrimin Sara, Cadei Francesca, Altoè Gianmarco
Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy.
ScientificWorldJournal. 2012;2012:367545. doi: 10.1100/2012/367545. Epub 2012 Apr 30.
The present study aimed to evaluate posttraumatic stress symptoms, psychological distress, and emotional and behavioral problems in former Ugandan child soldiers in comparison with civilian children living in the same conflict setting. Participants included 133 former child soldiers and 101 never-abducted children in northern Uganda, who were interviewed about exposure to traumatic war-related experiences, posttraumatic stress symptoms, psychological distress, and emotional and behavioral problems. Results indicated that former child soldiers had experienced significantly more war-related traumatic events than nonabducted children, with 39.3% of girls having been forced to engage in sexual contact. Total scores on measures of PTSD symptoms, psychological distress, and emotional and behavioral problems were significantly higher among child soldiers compared to their never-abducted peers. Girls reported significantly more emotional and behavioral difficulties than boys. In never-abducted children, more mental health problems were associated with experiencing physical harm, witnessing the killings of other people, and being forced to engage in sexual contact.
本研究旨在评估乌干达前儿童兵的创伤后应激症状、心理困扰以及情绪和行为问题，并与生活在同一冲突环境中的平民儿童进行比较。研究对象包括乌干达北部的133名前儿童兵和101名从未被绑架的儿童，他们接受了关于接触与战争相关的创伤经历、创伤后应激症状、心理困扰以及情绪和行为问题的访谈。结果表明，前儿童兵经历的与战争相关的创伤事件比未被绑架的儿童多得多，39.3%的女孩曾被迫进行性接触。与从未被绑架的同龄人相比，儿童兵在创伤后应激障碍症状、心理困扰以及情绪和行为问题测量中的总分显著更高。女孩报告的情绪和行为困难比男孩多得多。在从未被绑架的儿童中，更多的心理健康问题与遭受身体伤害、目睹他人被杀以及被迫进行性接触有关。
