When reintegration fails: Stigmatization drives the ongoing violence of ex ‐combatants in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

This article showed that stigmatization presents as additional burden for ex ‐combatants in Eastern DRC beyond posttraumatic experiences. Rejective attitudes toward ex‐combatants form the basis of stigmatization and by predicting both mental health problems and aggression present as social drivers of the cycles of violence. Our study demonstrates the importance for inter vention programming that combines individual treatment with interventions including ex‐combatants' social environment. AbstractReintegration of ex ‐combatants involves multiple challenges. In addition to the trauma‐related psychological sequelae, social obstacles in the community can aggravate psychopathological aggressive tendencies and lead to the continuation of violence in civilian life. However, the association between others’ negat ive attitudes and ex‐combatants’ ongoing perpetration of violence remains largely unexplored. Between September 2018 and May 2019, we assessed a representative community sample of adults in Eastern DR Congo (N = 1,058) and measured trauma exposure, perpetration, mental health problems (PTSD, depression, and appetitive aggression), perceived stigma (shame, perceived lack of social acknowledgement), experienced stigma, and skepticism toward reintegration with ex‐combatants. Male ex‐combatants (12%,n = 129) had more past trauma and violence perpetration than other community members and a greater number of recent conflicts (including both victimization and...
Source: Brain and Behavior - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL RESEARCH Source Type: research