War trauma and psychomotor developmental disorders in children aged 6-12 in Lubumbashi: a comparative study

Background: Persistent armed conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has resulted in large-scale population displacement, exposing many children to traumatic experiences. Although the psychological consequences of such exposure are well documented, its impact on psychomotor development remains insufficiently investigated, particularly in African settings affected by chronic violence.Objective: This study aimed to compare the psychomotor development of displaced children living in Lubumbashi according to their level of exposure to war-related trauma (direct, indirect, or none) and to examine the potential moderating role of school attendance and parental support.Method: The sample comprised 300 children aged 6-12 years (M = 9.55, SD = 2.06) living in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Participants were classified into direct exposure, indirect exposure, or no exposure groups based on structured interviews, caregiver reports, and contextual assessments consistent with DSM-5 trauma-exposure criteria. Post-traumatic symptoms were assessed using the French version of the Child Post-Traumatic Stress Reaction Index (CPTS-RI), and psychomotor development was evaluated using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition (MABC-2). Group differences were examined using robust ANOVA and Yuen's post hoc tests (Yuen, K. K. [1974]. The two-sample trimmed t for unequal population variances. Biometrika, 61(1), 165-170).Results: Trauma exposure significantly affected psychomotor performance, F(2, 111.89) = 458.90, p < .001, η² = .93. Children exposed to trauma, whether directly or indirectly, exhibited significantly lower psychomotor scores than unexposed children. No significant difference was observed between the direct and indirect exposure groups. Trauma exposure emerged as the strongest predictor of psychomotor outcomes, whereas age, school attendance, and parental support were not significant predictors (adjusted R² = .77).Conclusion: Exposure to war-related trauma was strongly associated with impaired psychomotor development in displaced children. Direct and indirect exposure were associated with comparable psychomotor vulnerabilities, underscoring the need for integrated psychosocial and developmental interventions in conflict-affected settings.