University Students' Awareness and Perceptions Of Child Soldiering Practices in Lebanon

Child soldiering practices in Lebanon remain unreported to the concerned governmental authorities despite their existence throughout the years of war and their persistence to this day. Thus far, no research has been conducted to explore the awareness and attitudes of individuals in Lebanon towards these practices and how awareness relates to response. This grounded theory study examined the attitudes and awareness of child soldiering practices in Lebanon in a convenience sample of 106 Lebanese university students to explore for a theory of proximity and relatedness of awareness to the phenomenon and response. A questionnaire designed specifically for this study was used to gather qualitative data. Findings show discrepancies in the level of awareness among the respondents as well as an inconsistent attitude-behavior relationship in relation to the child soldiering practices occurring in Lebanon. More research in a larger sample of the population is needed to determine if these findings can be generalized. This study affects social change by providing a more detailed account of specific attitudes and beliefs about child soldiering. The results of the study may influence international policy, advocacy, and programs aimed at eradicating child soldiering practices and bring tangible improvements for the children, their communities, and societies that currently suffer from the negative impact of these practices.