Psychological and Social Impact of the Troubles on Young People Growing Up in Northern Ireland

• NCJ Number: 157272
• Journal: Lay Panel Magazine Volume: 34 Dated: (September 1995) Pages: 21-27
• Author(s): K Trew
• Date Published: 1995
• Length: 7 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: Paper presented to International Conference, Growing Through Conflict: The Impact of 25 Years of Violence on Young People Growing Up in Northern Ireland, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, April 3-7, 1995

Annotation

This analysis of the impact of the conflicts in Northern Ireland on children concludes that the data do not suggest the vast majority of the children have been deeply scarred by the conflict, but this does not mean that the conflict has had no impact on their lives.

Abstract

Surveys have indicated that most children have not become psychiatric casualties, while a small proportion have suffered terribly and a larger proportion have suffered less severely and for a much shorter time. Other studies that the conflicts have not affected children's ideas about the morality of violence and have not resulted in a decline in general moral attitudes and values. Moreover, juvenile delinquency rates have remained relatively low in Northern Ireland, despite the poverty and high youth unemployment. However, researchers may have been asking the wrong questions. In addition, the impact of conflict may be observed in subtle and important ways in the future. Figures, tables, and 7 references