manas
manas

Life for "child soldiers" after involvement in the  Nepal People's War

Examining psychological wellbeing over time through a clinical ethnography

The research project focused on understanding the long-term effects of the experience of the so-called "child soldiers" or, rather, the active involvement in armed groups at an early age.  We wanted to understand the role of young people’s armed group experience during the Nepal People’s War compared with post-conflict stressors, as they return to strongly affected, politicised communities. We explored the way this experiences of war shaped intra-psychic impact and distress, and which processes enable well-being and resilient functioning.

Our team members, Émilie with the involvement of Himal and Gita, conducted a clinical ethnography where she lived for 18 months with 17 Nepalese young subjects to explore their daily lives after exiting the Maoist armed group and followed-up the same cohort 6 years later (10 years after the end of the war). The findings highlighted limited evidence for on-going intra-psychic impact and distress related directly to their armed group experience; when such distress occurred, it appeared to be generated more by the structural violence of their environments.

The project documented key constituents determining their well-being: a sense of closeness through emotional connectedness with their family, ideological proximity with the values of the armed group, closeness in their bond with the community, and the social-emotional-economic capital available to them to navigate the harsh structural constraints of post-conflict life. 

The findings further challenge the prevailing assumption that this war experience inevitably leads to psychological damage, and argues for the predominant role structural violence often plays in cases where psychological distress does arise. They have important implications in terms of policy for the CAAC population and for strategies of intervention. 

Find out more about our Action-Research Services and how we can support your work.

“Call for integrating the multiple layers of psychological and social influences that affect young people’s successful adjustment in the aftermath of armed group involvement.”

Life for "child soldiers" after involvement in the  Nepal People's War

Examining psychological wellbeing over time through a clinical ethnography

“Call for integrating the multiple layers of psychological and social influences that affect young people’s successful adjustment in the aftermath of armed group involvement.”

The research project focused on understanding the long-term effects of the experience of the so-called "child soldiers" or, rather, the active involvement in armed groups at an early age.  We wanted to understand the role of young people’s armed group experience during the Nepal People’s War compared with post-conflict stressors, as they return to strongly affected, politicised communities. We explored the way this experiences of war shaped intra-psychic impact and distress, and which processes enable well-being and resilient functioning.

Our team members, Émilie with the involvement of Himal and Gita, conducted a clinical ethnography where she lived for 18 months with 17 Nepalese young subjects to explore their daily lives after exiting the Maoist armed group and followed-up the same cohort 6 years later (10 years after the end of the war). The findings highlighted limited evidence for on-going intra-psychic impact and distress related directly to their armed group experience; when such distress occurred, it appeared to be generated more by the structural violence of their environments.

The project documented key constituents determining their well-being: a sense of closeness through emotional connectedness with their family, ideological proximity with the values of the armed group, closeness in their bond with the community, and the social-emotional-economic capital available to them to navigate the harsh structural constraints of post-conflict life. 

The findings further challenge the prevailing assumption that this war experience inevitably leads to psychological damage, and argues for the predominant role structural violence often plays in cases where psychological distress does arise. They have important implications in terms of policy for the CAAC population and for strategies of intervention. 

Find out more about our Action-Research Services and how we can support your work.