Betancourt, TheresaMcBain, RyanNewnham, ElizabethBrennan, Robert2017-04-212012Betancourt, Theresa S., Ryan McBain, Elizabeth A. Newnham, and Robert T. Brennan. 2012. “Trajectories of Internalizing Problems in War-Affected Sierra Leonean Youth: Examining Conflict and Postconflict Factors.” Child Development 84 (2) (September 24): 455–470. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2012.01861.x.0009-3920http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:32302964Three 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 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.en-USJournal Article2015-02-08Theresa S. Betancourt; Ryan McBain; Elizabeth A. Newnham; Robert T. Brennan2017-04-2110.1111/j.1467-8624.2012.01861.x