Authors: Araya, Mesfin; Chotai, Jayanti; Komproe, Ivan; Jong, Joop

Source: Quality of Life Research, Volume 16, Number 6, August 2007 , pp. 915-927(13)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

An understanding of how quality of life is affected by severe trauma and mental distress may facilitate better intervention strategies for postconflict internally displaced persons, by identifying mediators, moderators, and independent risk factors. We investigate the pathways involved in this process and also study the moderating roles of coping strategies and perceived social support.

A random sample of 1193 (62% women) internally displaced Ethiopian adults living in shelters in Addis Ababa were interviewed with instruments capturing the relevant concepts, including SCL-90-R and WHOQOL-BREF. Path analysis was employed to elaborate the mediating and moderating effects. Self-reported living conditions were also assessed.

Mental distress increased and quality of life decreased with age. Mental distress mediated the effects of trauma in reducing the quality of life, and some trauma also reduced quality of life directly. These effects remained after adjusting for living conditions. Living conditions were related to quality of life also on their own. Coping strategies and perceived social support influenced mental distress and quality of life directly as well as indirectly by moderation, in part gender specific.

Intervention strategies aimed at reducing mental distress, modifying coping strategies, and encouraging social support may turn out to be useful in increasing the overall quality of life in postconflict situations, and are worth considering as complements to strategies that improve the living conditions.

Keywords: Coping strategies; Mental distress; Postconflict displaced persons; Quality of life; Traumatic life events; Social support

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11136-007-9201-9

Affiliations: 1: Email: jayanti.chotai@vll.se

Publication date: 2007-08-01

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Psychology
• By this author: Araya, Mesfin ;  Chotai, Jayanti ;  Komproe, Ivan ;  Jong, Joop

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers