Children and Youth Witnessing In-Person Violence During War and Terrorism: A Scoping Review

Abstract

In-person acts of violence, such as shooting, rape, and abduction, are unfortunately commonplace in the contexts of war and terrorism. Recent global incidents have underscored the pervasive and disturbing nature of this violence, which children and youth often witness directly, with potentially harmful effects. Despite its significance, this issue remains underexplored, often addressed tangentially or within broader topics, without a dedicated research focus. To address this gap, this study conducted an international scoping review to map and analyze the experiences of children and youth witnessing in-person violence during war and terrorism. This scoping review adhered to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and used defined criteria to search through three main databases for relevant, empirical, peer-reviewed studies between November 2023 and February 2024: PubMed, Science Direct, and PsycNet. Twenty-eight studies were found suitable for inclusion and were examined using inductive thematic analysis. Two main themes were identified: (a) peritraumatic and delayed traumatic responses to witnessing in-person violence and (b) mental health impacts of witnessing in-person violence. Findings highlight the profound trauma experienced by children and youth who witness in-person violence in these contexts and show that it can affect them similarly to undergoing violence directly. This review reveals several research gaps, underscoring the need for further study into these experiences and their impacts, as well as the influence of individual differences (e.g., age) in this context. An enhanced understanding of these topics can inform international efforts to protect children and youth during conflict and advance their rights.