Children’s reactions to their father’s internment

Abstract

The tests show what children experienced during the time their fathers were interned under martial law in December 1981. Such children numbered in Poland ca. 20.000. The tests were conducted among 30 mothers who talked about the reactions of 54 children aged 1 to 18. They reported on the changes in their children’s behaviour. What their children said in projective tests was coherent with mothers’ reports. The children, irrespective of their age, yearned after their fathers. At the same time they lived under threat, manifested a heightened level of anxiety and fear. Therefore they wanted to sleep with their mothers and be always close to them. Their fear was associated with numerous psychosomatic symptoms and a fall of general immunity. In younger children there was in most cases a regression in self-service activities, their sleeping patterns were disturbed, they were afraid of darkness, often woke up and screamed, disturbance of mood, grimaces, and weepiness. In older children their anxiety considerably increased, but at the same time there were other changes. Their fear was more concrete (fear of militiamen, fear of necessity of emigration). At the same time they were proud of their fathers, and in many cases sought to take on some roles, took care of their mothers or younger brothers and sisters. Some of the reported patterns of behaviour were similar to those in other situations when children are separated from their fathers, but in total the changes in question constitute a different syndrome.