The effects of war on children, an ecological integration

grantor: University of TorontoThe purpose of this study was to extend Elbedour, Bensel & Bastien's (1993) model of development for children of war to an actual population. This research aimed at rectifying the lack of comparative analysis within war literature, constructing upon it through inclusion of the variable culture. The frequently overlooked Sri Lankan population was examined, investigating children exposed to various war traumas, including war orphans and refugees, children orphaned for reasons other than war and a comparison group. Measures of cognitive maturity, interviews and observations were used to understand the children's ecological environments and their role in mitigating effects of war. Results revealed that children who appeared most adjusted, performing more successfully on cognitive tests resided in ecologically stable environments, characterized by healthy, interactive relationships across all subsystems. This was in contrast to children who appeared maladjusted and unable to complete the cognitive tests, whose ecological environments reflected social insolation and impoverishment across all subsystems.M.A