The Intergenerational Impact of War on Mental Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing: Lessons from the longitudinal study of war-affected youth in Sierra Leone

At the time of writing, approximately one in four children across the globe live in a country affected by armed conflict. These children often experience violent trauma and loss, which is likely to have a long-term impact on their mental health needs.

The Longitudinal Study of War-Affected Youth (LSWAY) in Sierra Leone was carried out over seventeen years and is based on interviews with former child soldiers. It studies the long-term effects of children’s experiences in the country’s civil war on their adult mental health and functioning. In addition to this, the study explores potential mechanisms by which intergenerational transmission of emotional and behavioral disruptions due to trauma may operate.