Psychological Effects:
Children exposed to war often experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and other emotional disturbances. These children may witness violence, displacement, and loss of loved ones, leading to severe emotional trauma. Symptoms of PTSD include nightmares, flashbacks, emotional numbness, and hyperarousal, with children often displaying aggressive or withdrawn behaviors in response to their experiences (Miller & Rasmussen, 2010).
Additionally, war disrupts normal childhood development, impacting children's ability to form secure attachments and trust others, potentially resulting in lifelong psychological challenges. Prolonged exposure to violence can cause a desensitization to aggression and may affect their ability to regulate emotions or empathize with others, further complicating social interactions (Betancourt et al., 2013).
Moral Effects:
Morally, children in war zones may struggle to differentiate between right and wrong due to the chaotic environment in which violence is normalized. Their moral development can be stunted or distorted, as they may internalize the violent behavior they observe around them, seeing it as a means of survival or acceptable conflict resolution. Exposure to moral dilemmas, such as witnessing or being forced to participate in violent acts, can lead to feelings of guilt, shame, or confusion about their moral beliefs (Wessells, 2016).
War can also foster a sense of hopelessness and fatalism, as children may lose faith in societal structures, leading to disengagement from social norms and ethical values. This can have far-reaching effects on their identity formation, self-esteem, and their ability to function as empathetic, morally grounded adults.
References:
- Betancourt, T. S., et al. (2013). The mental health of children affected by armed conflict: Protective processes and pathways to resilience. International Review of Psychiatry, 25(6), 317-329.
- Miller, K. E., & Rasmussen, A. (2010). War exposure, daily stressors, and mental health in conflict and post-conflict settings: Bridging the divide between trauma-focused and psychosocial frameworks. Social Science & Medicine, 70(1), 7-16.
- Wessells, M. (2016). Children and armed conflict: Interventions for supporting war-affected children. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 22(3), 193-199.
The psychological and moral effects of war on children are devastating and long-lasting. Psychologically, they develop disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression, along with emotional regression and cognitive difficulties that affect their learning. Morally, they normalise violence, face existential crises and lose trust in the adult world, which can lead to polarisation or alienation. Socially, they suffer isolation and alterations in their ability to bond, reproducing cycles of aggression or submission. These impacts are exacerbated by factors such as direct exposure to violence or lack of support, but can be mitigated by psychosocial interventions, peace education and stable environments.
In the long term, the aftermath transcends the individual: entire societies are left with generations scarred by trauma, making post-conflict reconstruction difficult. However, strategies such as transitional justice, art-based therapies and reintegration programmes demonstrate that resilience is possible when children's well-being is prioritised. The text underscores the urgency of addressing these effects not only as medical emergencies, but as global ethical failures that demand historical redress and political commitment.