Adolescent Trauma and Psychosocial Wellbeing in Entebbe-Uganda

Abstract

The general objective of the study was to explore adolescent trauma and its effects on psychosocial wellbeing of adolescents so as to initiate an adolescent trauma intervention model relevant in Uganda. The research objectives were based on nature and effects of trauma, effects of trauma on psychosocial wellbeing of adolescents and the perceived relationship between trauma and adolescents psychosocial wellness. The researcher used exploratory case study design with 86 respondents obtained by simple random and purposive sampling techniques. The likert scale standardized questionnaire "The child and adolescent trauma screen (CATS)" was administered to adolescent in relation to objective one and objective two. In order to obtain more classified information regarding the study of the objective three, the study used focus group discussion and this was carried out with the parents, teachers and counselors/ social workers to collect data. The researcher used coding sheets and descriptive analysis (bar charts, pie charts and frequency tables). The study concluded that adolescent trauma is caused by multiple factors including physical causes with more males at 66%, as compared to females 54%, sexually related causes with 7(70%) females and 3(30%) males, being touched indecently at 58.8% females and 46.1% males, and trauma related with poverty with highest source of trauma at 27% followed by fear of failure especially failure to succeed in their studies at 26%. The study further revealed that trauma among adolescent affects them emotionally, academically and somatically manifested through bad feelings about one's body with 44% males and 56% of respondents being females leading to sleep related problems manifested more in males with 67.6% and less in females with 32.4%. The study thus concludes that there is a need for multiple psychosocial interventions for adolescents in form of talk and expressive therapies. The study recommended that parents, counselors or social workers and teachers need on job training on addressing psychosocial needs of adolescents at school, health centers and in families.