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Journal of Modern Foreign Psychology
2025. Vol. 14, no. 4, 116–125
doi:10.17759/jmfp.2025140412
ISSN: 2304-4977 (online)

Characteristics of children's experience of direct and indirect traumatic events related to hostilities, violence, and forced migration

 
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Abstract

Context and relevance. In modern conditions of war, violence and migration, the problem of the impact of traumatic experiences on children's mental health is acute. The research is aimed at analyzing the mechanisms of formation and overcoming of childhood trauma, including both direct and indirect forms of exposure. Objective. To analyze recent international studies on the characteristics of children's experience of direct and indirect traumatic events related to hostilities, violence, and forced migration. Hypothesis. Traumatic experience, regardless of the form of exposure (direct or indirect), has a significant impact on the mental health of children, while the nature of the consequences is determined by a complex of age, individual and socio-cultural factors. Methods and materials. A comprehensive analysis of scientific papers has been carried out, including national and foreign publications relevant to the issue under study. Results. The different effects of direct and indirect traumatic experiences have been revealed: the former more often leads to clinical post–traumatic stress disorder, the latter to subclinical manifestations, the critical role of age and individual characteristics in the formation of a response to trauma has been established, the importance of the socio-cultural context in the process of providing assistance has been determined, effective methods of dealing with childhood trauma have been identified, and prospects for further research have been identified. Conclusions. The need for a comprehensive monitoring and assistance system for children affected by direct and indirect traumatic experiences related to armed conflict, violence and forced migration, taking into account age, gender, personality and cultural characteristics, is shown.

General Information

Keywords: direct and indirect traumatic experiences, children, mechanisms of post-traumatic stress disorder, resilience factors, hostilities, migration, violence

Journal rubric: Medical Psychology

Article type: review article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/jmfp.2025140412

Funding. The study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project number 25-28-01370, https://rscf.ru/project/25-28-01370/.

Received 26.08.2025

Revised 25.11.2025

Accepted

Published

For citation: Ulyanina, O.A., Nikiforova, E.A., Aleksandrova, L.A. (2025). Characteristics of children's experience of direct and indirect traumatic events related to hostilities, violence, and forced migration. Journal of Modern Foreign Psychology, 14(4), 116–125. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/jmfp.2025140412

© Ulyanina O.A., Nikiforova E.A., Aleksandrova L.A., 2025

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

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Information About the Authors

Olga A. Ulyanina, Doctor of Psychology, Associate Professor, Head of the Federal Coordination Center for Provision the Development of Psychological and Pedagogical Assistance in the Education System of the Russian Federation, Moscow State University of Psychology & Education, Corresponding member of the RAE, Chief Researcher of the Research Center, Academy of Management of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia; Professor of Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Psychology at National Research University “Higher School of Economics”, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9300-4825, e-mail: ulyaninaoa@mgppu.ru

Ekaterina A. Nikiforova, Head of the Department of Scientific and Methodological Support at the Federal Coordination Center for the Provision of Psychological Services in the Education System of the Russian Federation, Moscow State University of psychology and education, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0488-6497, e-mail: k.Nikiforova.2014@yandex.ru

Lada A. Aleksandrova, Candidate of Science (Psychology), Leading Analyst of the Federal Coordination Center for Provision the Development of Psychological and Pedagogical Assistance in the Education System of the Russian Federation, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology & Pedagogy of Distance Learning, Moscow State University of psychology and education, Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Psychology at National Research University “Higher School of Economics”, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3539-8058, e-mail: ladaleksandrova@mail.ru

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