Historical Interventions on the Psychological Well-being of Adolescents in Uganda using a Socio Cultural Approach

Abstract

Internationally, the boundaries of cities have expanded, leading to an increase in the adolescent population residing and studying there, mainly due to the interconnectedness of the world as a global village. Adolescence, characterised by rapid change and various challenges, exposes young individuals to a myriad of psychosocial demands. In Uganda, as in many other African countries, adolescents from different regions often belong to vulnerable social categories and face risks such as forced migration, various forms of violence, early pregnancies, rape, sexual abuse, and genital mutilation, among others. These risks raise concerns about the mental well-being and thriving of adolescents in the region. Furthermore, there is interest in understanding how adolescents were mentally healthy in traditional settings in the past. This study aimed to investigate how adolescents in traditional communities maintained their mental well-being. A transdisciplinary participatory research approach was employed, involving the preparation of transcripts for all Focus Group Discussion (FGD) data and the development of qualitative data codes based on ancient and optimistic mental involvements from each region. Additionally, qualitative data themes were developed to explore the fundamental principles guiding the study