Growing up amid conflict: Implications of the Developmental Peacebuilding Model

Adv Child Dev Behav. 2023:65:199-234. doi: 10.1016/bs.acdb.2023.05.001. Epub 2023 Jul 7.

Abstract

Worldwide, 420 million children are affected by conflict and over half of all children experience violence every year. Thus, youth are unarguably affected by war and settings of persisting societal violence. Despite often being conceptualized as either powerless victims or violent perpetrators, recent advances in research and international policy recognize young people as key change agents in transforming adverse settings into positive environments. Framed by the Developmental Peacebuilding Model, this paper focuses on predictors, outcomes and intervention points within the family for youth peacebuilding. Recent advances of family-based interventions in diverse, non-WEIRD samples will be highlighted. Rooted in existing knowledge, we conclude with concrete suggestions on how to use secondary data to investigate youth peacebuilding across the globe.

Keywords: Children’s peacebuilding; Developmental Peacebuilding Model; Family; Positive youth development; Secondary data analysis.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Aggression*
  • Child
  • Emotions
  • Humans
  • Public Policy
  • Violence*