Coping among trauma-affected youth: a qualitative study.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Public Health

Background:

• Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo faces protracted conflict, leading to widespread trauma and infrastructure damage.
• Youth (ages 10-15) in this region experience significant exposure to violence and traumatic stressors.
• Limited access to health and social infrastructure exacerbates the impact of conflict on young people.

Purpose of the Study:

• To qualitatively explore youth exposure to violence in a post-conflict setting.
• To understand the cognitive and behavioral coping strategies employed by adolescents aged 10-15 years.
• To provide context-specific insights into youth resilience and adaptation in rural Eastern DRC.

Main Methods:

• Purposive sampling of 30 youth (53% female) aged 10-15 from four high-trauma villages in Walungu Territory.
• Grounded theory approach utilizing open-ended interview questions on traumatic experiences, coping mechanisms, and support systems.
• Data collection focused on individual, family, and community levels of stress exposure and coping behaviors.

Main Results:

• Youth reported diverse exposures to individual, family, and community-level traumatic stressors.
• Cognitive coping strategies included attempts to forget and prayer.
• Behavioral coping strategies encompassed seeking social support and engaging in risk-taking behaviors, often used in combination.

Conclusions:

• This study offers culturally grounded insights into youth coping mechanisms in resource-limited, post-conflict environments.
• Understanding these coping strategies is vital for designing interventions that promote youth well-being.
• Findings can inform development programs aimed at supporting adaptive mental health trajectories and reducing risk-taking behaviors in vulnerable youth.