Culture In Resilience Research

Research also indicates that promoting community acceptance is not only beneficial to former soldiers, but is also beneficial to the community itself. For example, higher community acceptance was associated with higher levels of prosocial behaviors exhibited by the children, which means that they were more likely to help out and contribute to the community (Betancourt et al., 2012). However, it can often be difficult to reintegrate children into their natal communities as they are often forced to commit atrocities against fellow villagers if they are abducted, which may cause the villagers to harbor resentment towards the children or feel distrustful of them (Hill & Langholtz, 2003). For children who join armed forces voluntarily, and even …show more content…
However, it is important to consider the cultural practices that may be protective for child soldiers, especially because research on child soldiers involves Western researchers who travel to work with foreign populations. One cultural practice that is often used with child soldiers is a traditional cleansing ritual, which often involves a theme of transformation in which the child is able to cast off their past behaviors and the ‘bad luck’ that they are seen to have brought back from the war, and allowed a fresh start within their communities (Granjo, 2007; Schultz, 2015). While the quantitative research on the effect of rituals on community reunification is limited, qualitative research indicates that the rituals facilitates community acceptance because the community views children who have been cleansed as no longer being a danger to the community and being free of evil spirits they may have brought back from the war (Granjo, 2007). Futhermore, the act of gathering as a community to witness and acknowledge the cleansing process represents a willingness for reconciliation, which is necessary for the successful reintegration of child soldiers (Granjo, …show more content…
For example, Kryger and Lindgren (2011) reported that child soldiers in Uganda identified religion as a source of support and empowerment. The youth in this study stated that their faith in God allowed them to make meaning out of their experience that allowed them to view their suffering and struggles as “parts of the believer’s road to greater insight in life.” (Kryger & Lindgren, 2011). Also, as Punamaki (1996) has found, religiosity can often offer a support network for children who have experienced trauma; therefore, religious participation may also be beneficial to child soldiers due to the feelings of support and acceptance that belonging to a religious community may