Multiple trauma and mental health in former Ugandan child soldiers

The present study examines the effect of war and domestic violence on the mental health of child soldiers in a sample consisting of 330 former Ugandan child soldiers (age: 11–17 years, female: 49%). All children had experienced at least 1 war-related event and 78% were additionally exposed to at least 1 incident of domestic violence. Prevalences of posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder were 33%, and 36%, respectively. Behavioral and emotional problems above clinical cutoff were measured in 61%. No gender differences were found regarding mental health outcomes. War experience and domestic violence were significantly associated with all mental health outcomes. The authors’ findings point to the detrimental effects of domestic violence in addition to traumatizing war experiences in child soldiers. Currently, 250,000 children are serving as child soldiers in armed conflicts around the globe, forced to witness and often also to commit atrocities, including rape and murder (Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, 2006). According to the Paris Principles, the term child soldier refers to any person below 18 years of age who is or has been associated with an armed force or armed group (United