Bereavement, Loss, and Grief in War-Exposed Children and Adolescents: A Review and Implications for Assessment, Intervention, and Policy

Objective: This literature review summarizes findings regarding the effects of war-related bereavement and other losses in children and adolescents—including both negative consequences and protective factors that may mitigate their effects. This review also explores strategies for improving mental health and developmental outcomes among youth experiencing war-related losses. Method: This literature review synthesizes research studies examining psychological and developmental consequences of war-related bereavement. These include studies assessing mental health risks, protective factors, and effective interventions for children and adolescents bereaved by the loss of family members due to war. Results: The literature consistently shows that children and adolescents who experience war-related bereavement are at a significantly higher risk for developing psychological disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, prolonged grief disorder, and suicidal ideation. The findings also highlight individual, family, and community factors—including self-esteem, self-efficacy, adaptive coping skills, social support, and cultural values—that may buffer these risks and enhance resilience. Conclusions: To mitigate the negative impact of war-related bereavement, early identification of grief reactions is critical. A developmentally-informed approach to assessment and intervention, involving mental health professionals, paraprofessionals, school personnel, and policymakers, is essential to support resilience and foster developmental recovery in bereaved youth. Research and intervention efforts should focus on enhancing protective factors and implementing flexibly-tailored strategies (including group, school-based, and telehealth) to aid children affected by war-related bereavement and other losses.