Trajectories of Internalizing Problems in War‐Affected Sierra Leonean Youth: Examining Conflict and Postconflict Factors |
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Authors: | Theresa S Betancourt Ryan McBain Elizabeth A Newnham Robert T Brennan |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health;2. FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard University;3. School of Psychology, The University of Western Australia |
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Abstract: | Three waves of data from a prospective longitudinal study in Sierra Leone were used to examine internalizing trajectories in 529 war‐affected youth (ages 10–17 at baseline; 25% female). Latent class growth analyses identified 4 trajectories: A large majority of youth maintained lower levels of internalizing problems (41.4%) or significantly improved over time (47.6%) despite very limited access to care, but smaller proportions continued to report severe difficulties 6 years postwar (4.5%) or their symptoms worsened (6.4%). Continued internalizing problems were associated with loss of a caregiver, family abuse and neglect, and community stigma. Despite the comparative resilience of most war‐affected youth in the face of extreme adversity, there remains a compelling need for interventions that address family‐ and community‐level stressors. |
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