The psychological effects of war and armed conflict on children and adolescents: A meta-analysis of 16 studies using artificial intelligence

Abstract

The current study aimed to identify the psychological effects of wars and armed conflicts on children and adolescents. The descriptive-analytic approach (content analysis) was used for 16 studies conducted in different countries affected by wars, including: Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon, Sudan, Syria and Yemen: Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

The study questions were divided into two parts, the first of which included the following questions: What is the sample size used in the studies? What is the age group studied? What are the variables studied? The second section includes the following: What are the psychological effects of war on children and adolescents? Are there any differences in the effects of war on children and adolescents due to the variables of age and gender? It used artificial intelligence and relied on the Scopus search engine, which deals with the references carried by the researcher and makes selection and summarization. The study found that the sample size is diverse and can be counted between 4 and 1140. The studies were divided in terms of the age group studied between studies that focused on the child only, studies that focused on the adolescent only, and others that combined the two. Regarding the variables studied: Most of the studies focused on measuring traumatic experience and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as depression, anxiety, bedwetting, etc. Regarding the results of studies on the impact of war on children and adolescents: most of them found the emergence of psychological disorders, primarily war trauma and PTSD, in addition to other disorders, on the other hand, studies found the presence of less serious psychological issues such as stubbornness, aggressive behavior, sleep disturbances, isolation, etc. In addition to studies that combined psychological and behavioral disorders and issues. As for differences in terms of age and gender: Some studies were interested in measuring them and the results were different.