Assessing Resilience in War-Affected Children and Adolescents: A Critical Review

Abstract

Resilience is a heterogeneous construct that has only recently begun to be explored in the context of complex emergencies. War-affected children and adolescents in developing countries represent a vulnera- ble group that has long been neglected in trauma research. The current review is a critical stage-by-stage assessment of the quantitative and qualitative methodologies in the field. Studies conducted in middle- or low-income countries and published between 2007 and 2013 were considered for inclusion. Conceptual and methodological discrepancies between the two research approaches were identified. Future stud- ies should examine the complexity and dynamics of resilience and apply theoretically informed rigorous assessment techniques. Above all, research should aim to understand the unique needs and experiences of war-affected individuals