TY - JOUR
T1 - COVID-19-Related Experiences and the Psychological Wellbeing of Adolescent Girls in Uganda
T2 - A Cross-sectional Study
AU - Ssentumbwe, Vicent
AU - Namuli, Florence
AU - Kizito, Samuel
AU - Namuwonge, Flavia
AU - Namatovu, Phionah
AU - Nabunya, Proscovia
AU - Nabayinda, Josephine
AU - Kiyingi, Joshua
AU - Brathwaite, Rachel
AU - Magorokosho, Natasha
AU - Bahar, Ozge Sensoy
AU - Ssewamala, Fred M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.
PY - 2024/12
Y1 - 2024/12
N2 - Purpose: This study examined the association between COVID-19-related experiences and the psychological wellbeing of school-going adolescent girls in Uganda. Methods: We utilized cross-sectional data collected from 1165 adolescent girls (14–17 years), participating in a longitudinal randomized clinical trial (2017–2022). Due to social distancing and mitigation measures, data were collected using telephone interviewer-administered surveys. We fitted hierarchical regression models to assess the association between COVID-19-related experiences (such as resource changes and disruptions, and access to medical care), and two aspects of psychological wellbeing (emotional and cognitive wellbeing). Results: Resource changes and disruptions due to the pandemic were negatively associated with adolescents’ emotional (β = − 0.68, 95% CI = − 0.83, − 0.53, p < 0.001) and cognitive aspects of psychological wellbeing (β = − 0.38, 95% CI = − 0.47, − 0.29, p < 0.001). On the other hand, adhering to COVID-19 rules was positively associated with cognitive wellbeing (β = 2.18, 95% CI = 0.93, 3.44, p = 0.001). Conclusion: The pandemic significantly impacted adolescents’ psychological wellbeing. Our study findings contribute to the limited literature focused on the impact of COVID-19 on the psychological wellbeing of adolescent girls. Findings support efforts to address the psychological needs of adolescent girls, specifically, interventions to alleviate the negative effects of the pandemic.
AB - Purpose: This study examined the association between COVID-19-related experiences and the psychological wellbeing of school-going adolescent girls in Uganda. Methods: We utilized cross-sectional data collected from 1165 adolescent girls (14–17 years), participating in a longitudinal randomized clinical trial (2017–2022). Due to social distancing and mitigation measures, data were collected using telephone interviewer-administered surveys. We fitted hierarchical regression models to assess the association between COVID-19-related experiences (such as resource changes and disruptions, and access to medical care), and two aspects of psychological wellbeing (emotional and cognitive wellbeing). Results: Resource changes and disruptions due to the pandemic were negatively associated with adolescents’ emotional (β = − 0.68, 95% CI = − 0.83, − 0.53, p < 0.001) and cognitive aspects of psychological wellbeing (β = − 0.38, 95% CI = − 0.47, − 0.29, p < 0.001). On the other hand, adhering to COVID-19 rules was positively associated with cognitive wellbeing (β = 2.18, 95% CI = 0.93, 3.44, p = 0.001). Conclusion: The pandemic significantly impacted adolescents’ psychological wellbeing. Our study findings contribute to the limited literature focused on the impact of COVID-19 on the psychological wellbeing of adolescent girls. Findings support efforts to address the psychological needs of adolescent girls, specifically, interventions to alleviate the negative effects of the pandemic.
KW - Adolescent girls
KW - COVID-19
KW - Psychological wellbeing
KW - Uganda
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85202895520&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s40609-024-00350-w
DO - 10.1007/s40609-024-00350-w
M3 - Article
C2 - 40376193
AN - SCOPUS:85202895520
SN - 2196-8799
VL - 11
SP - 371
EP - 379
JO - Global Social Welfare
JF - Global Social Welfare
IS - 4
M1 - 101665
ER -