This study was designed to explore the differences between locus of control (LOC) in children from civilian and military families and to investigate whether military deployment is associated with an external locus of control more than other family dynamics. The literature has focused on the negative implications of external LOC for children’s mental health and achievement as well as in childhood chronic illness, parental absence, and parental alcoholism. However, prior research regarding this construct related to children of military families is significantly lacking. In the present study, LOC was measured by the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale for Children, a 40 question scale designed for individuals within the range of 3rd to 12th grade. The 54 participants in this study ranged in age from 7 to 17 and came from either a military family with a deployed parent, a civilian family with two caregivers in the home, or a divorced - separated civilian family. A univariate one-way ANOVA was conducted on the data. It was found that children of deployed military families did not score significantly different for mean locus of control than civilian separated/divorced families, or civilian intact families. A correlation comparing age and LOC scores found no significant relationship. Limitations of this study included a small sample size due to time restrictions, and subsequently reduced statistical power. Future investigations into LOC should continue to explore its relationship with children in military families, as future studies correcting for sampling may obtain significant results. Further research should also probe more deeply into the negative and positive consequences that external and internal attributional tendencies may have for children’s development, academic performance, and overall well-being.

Les enfants constituent un groupe vulnérable de la société et à ce titre ils nécessitent une protection spécifique, en particulier en temps de conflits armés où leurs droits peuvent être violés, qu'ils appartiennent à la population civile ou qu’ils soient impliqués militairement dans des conflits. Cette protection relève d’une problématique récente et qui demeure plus que jamais actuelle. Elle pose la question de savoir quel est le but de la spécificité annoncée dans la mesure où existe déjà une protection générale des civils. Faut-il entendre alors que cette dernière est insuffisante à protéger les enfants dans les situations de guerre ? Également, la protection tant générale que spécifique appliquée aux enfants, varie-t-elle selon que le conflit armé est de type international ou non-international ? L’ensemble de ces questions fera l’objet de la première partie de la thèse, intitulée : « La protection des enfants civils en temps de conflits armés ». La seconde partie de la thèse portant sur « La protection des enfants soldats en temps de conflits armés » se penche sur les conséquences juridiques de la participation des enfants à des hostilités. Et, dans ce cadre, savoir si ces enfants capturés par l’ennemi obtiendront le statut de prisonnier de guerre et s’ils seront poursuivis pénalement en cas de commission de crimes de guerre. L’autre question soulevée dans cette partie est celle de la responsabilité de l’État, du groupe, de l’individu, qui recrute des enfants aux fins de les utiliser dans des conflits armés, en dépit de leur engagement à ne pas le faire. Le cas de la Libye apparaît ici le plus indiqué ; en effet, le pays a traité de ces questions dans sa législation qui présente cependant des failles que nous mettons en exergue, d’autant que dans cet État a éclaté en février 2011 une guerre où sont recrutés et utilisés des enfants. / The protection of children during armed conflict - Comparative study between international law and Libyan lawChildren are a vulnerable group in society and as such they require special protection, especially in times of armed conflict where their rights may be violated, whether they belong to the civilian population or they are militarily involved in armed conflict. This protection is a recent problem and remains more than ever current. It raises the question of what is the purpose of the specificity announced to the extent that there is already a general protection of civilians. Must we then understand that the latter is insufficient to protect children in war situations? Also, does the general as well as the specific protection applied to children vary according to whether the armed conflict is international or non-international? All of these questions will be the subject of the first part of the thesis entitled: « The protection of civilian children in times of armed conflict ».The second part of the thesis on « The protection of child soldiers in times of armed conflict » examines the legal consequences of the participation of children in hostilities. And in this context, whether these children captured by the enemy will get the status of prisoner of war and whether they will be criminally prosecuted in case of commission of war crimes. The other issue raised in this section is the responsibility of the State, the group, the individual, who recruits children for use in armed conflict, despite their commitment not to do so. . The case of Libya appears here the most indicated; indeed, the country has dealt with these issues in its legislation which however presents flaws that we highlight, especially since in that state broke out in February 2011 a war where are recruited and used children.