War exposes adults to traumatic experiences and extreme stress, with negative consequences for their physical and mental health, particularly for those with caretaking responsibilities. Children and adolescents are affected both directly by war-related stressors and indirectly through the impact of war on their caregivers’ parenting abilities. Safe, stable, and shared care is essential for children, and families experiencing war require evidence-based social, therapeutic, and parenting support to achieve this. This book examines the consequences of war for children, parents, and family life, drawing extensively on findings from the protracted Russian war against Ukraine. Emphasizing attachment, trauma, support, and recovery, it offers a concise yet comprehensive perspective on families navigating war and the ways they can be supported. The book is distinguished by four features: grounding hypotheses and conclusions in meta-analyses or large studies; including case study intermezzi to illustrate scientific findings; reflecting a collaboration between developmental scientists and a child and adolescent psychiatrist with direct wartime experience; and using the Russian-Ukrainian war as a case study to highlight prevalence and risk factors for mental health problems in parents and children during armed conflicts.
