Issue 3/4 Vol. 34 1992

The influence of displacement on the relation of mothers to their children accommodated in host families

AJDUKOVIC, M., MILJEVIC, R., PECNIK, N.

Data on the influence of displacement on the relation of mothers (N=112) towards children and data on difficulties in psychosocial adjustment of displaced children (N=233) accommodated in host families were collected through structured interviews. The most frequent difficulties manifested by children on bodily level were appetite and sleeping disturbances, nightmares and increased sweating. As much as 173 of the children displayed separation fears, 1/4 of the children were despondent and 1/5 manifested general fearfulness. Although the relation of mothers to children in displacement generally improved or stayed the same, half of the mothers assessed that they had adjusted to displacement only moderately, and 174 of them was less patient with children. The paper emphasizes the importance of schools and pre-school institutions in identification of displaced children in host family accommodation who need help and support in the process of psychosocial adjustment.

Keywords: displaced children, war, wartime family

Short Title: Ajdukovic, M. et al. (1992) PsyBeit 3-4:199

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