@article {271,
	title = {Trajectories of internalizing problems in war-affected Sierra Leonean youth: examining conflict and postconflict factors.},
	journal = {Child Dev},
	volume = {84},
	year = {2013},
	month = {2013 Mar-Apr},
	pages = {455-70},
	abstract = {<p>Three waves of data from a prospective longitudinal study in Sierra Leone were used to examine internalizing trajectories in 529 war-affected youth (ages 10-17 at baseline; 25\% female). Latent class growth analyses identified 4 trajectories: A large majority of youth maintained lower levels of internalizing problems (41.4\%) or significantly improved over time (47.6\%) despite very limited access to care, but smaller proportions continued to report severe difficulties 6\&nbsp;years postwar (4.5\%) or their symptoms worsened (6.4\%). Continued internalizing problems were associated with loss of a caregiver, family abuse and neglect, and community stigma. Despite the comparative resilience of most war-affected youth in the face of extreme adversity, there remains a compelling need for interventions that address family- and community-level stressors.</p>
},
	keywords = {Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Child, Female, Humans, Internal-External Control, Male, Mental Disorders, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Sierra Leone, War},
	issn = {1467-8624},
	doi = {10.1111/j.1467-8624.2012.01861.x},
	author = {Betancourt, T. S. and McBain, R. and Newnham, E. A. and Brennan, R. T.}
}
