The role of cumulative risk and armed conflict exposure in adolescent psychological symptoms in Turkey

Abstract

Exposure to risk factors and adversity may cause immediate, and sometimes prolonged, psychological symptoms in adolescents. Identifying universal and specific risk factors in a particular context and examining their cumulative effects is crucial for understanding the mechanisms underlying psychological symptoms and informing about strategies for intervention. Using concurrent measures, the current study aimed to examine the role of armed conflict experiences and cumulation of other risk factors (e.g., maternal psychological symptoms, socioeconomic indicators) in predicting adolescent psychological symptoms in an underresearched community. The sample included 161 adolescents (54.7% female) aged 11–14 years (M = 12.36, SD = 1.27) and their mothers living in the east of Turkey. The cumulative risk index was calculated by summing the standardized scores of the corresponding factors. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to predict internalizing and externalizing symptoms among adolescents by introducing demographic variables (age, gender) in the first step, armed conflict experiences and cumulative risk in the second step, and their interaction in the final step. Results showed that the levels of internalizing and externalizing symptoms were predicted by gender, armed conflict experience and cumulative risk. Being a girl was associated with higher levels of internalizing symptoms and lower levels of externalizing symptoms. Higher levels of internalizing and externalizing symptoms were predicted by exposure to armed and cumulative risk. After controlling for other factors, the interaction of armed conflict experience and cumulative risk significantly predicted externalizing, but not internalizing symptoms. These findings suggested that cumulative risk was a stronger predictor of psychological symptoms, and further amplified the strength of the association between armed conflict experiences and externalizing symptoms. These findings can be used in the formulation of intervention strategies and policies to promote psychological well‐being in adolescents living in armed conflict zones under multiple risks.

Towards a decolonial developmental science: Adolescent development in the Majority World taking center stage

“…Appachu and Singh (2024) explore social identity of youth in an indigenous community in South India that is typically not included in psychological research. Kara and Selcuk (2024) examine cumulative risk and armed conflict exposure among adolescents from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds in Eastern Turkey. These articles highlight the ways in which coloniality is re-enacted through excluding communities within the Majority World that experience further disadvantages within their local contexts and advocate for focusing research attention on adolescents from marginalized communities in the Majority World.…”

“…Singh, 2024), health (e.g., body image, Mahama et al, 2024), and well-being (Zambrano et al, 2024). Some studies focus on highly relevant and challenging life experiences such as cumulative risk and armed conflict exposure (Kara & Selcuk, 2024), ethnic and national discrimination (Zhao et al, 2024), substance use (Shaikh & Sarin, 2024), and interventions to promote positive bystander behaviors in intergroup conflict (Brenick et al, 2024). Studies also investigate family processes including family obligation (Yang et al, 2024), role of family in adolescents' occupational choices (Pease Dreibelbis et al, 2024), grandparenting (Tan et al, 2024), and parental socialization of adolescent emotions (Shi et al, 2024).…”

Toward a decolonial developmental science in Asia: Exploring adolescent development in communities from the majority world

“…Shaikh & Sarin (2024) expose exploitative systemic forces that induce inhalant abuse among street-involved children in Western India, describing the levers of "exclusion from potentially protective institutions," "vulnerabilities of living environments," and "dismal economics." Exposures to structural risk factors such as armed violence are explored in the article by Kara & Selcuk (2024), which describes the role of cumulative risk on psychological symptoms in adolescents in East Turkey. The authors highlight the complex dynamics of engagement between policymakers, practitioners, and communities to support the well-being of adolescents living in conflict-affected regions.…”