Perspectives of adolescent and young adults on poverty-related stressors: a qualitative study in Ghana, Malawi and Tanzania.

Journal: BMJ open

Volume: 9

Issue: 10

Year of Publication: 2020

Affiliated Institutions:  Global and Community Mental Health Research Group, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Macau, Zhuhai, China brianhall@um.edu.mo. Ateneo de Manila, Quezon City, Philippines. UNICEF Office of Research Innocenti, Florence, Toscana, Italy.

Abstract summary 

To define key stressors experienced and coping behaviours within poor agrarian communities in sub-Saharan Africa.Descriptive qualitative study incorporating inductive thematic analysis.81 participants purposely sampled, stratified by age (adolescents and young adults) and sex SETTING: The study was conducted in villages in Ghana, Malawi, and Tanzania.Stressors were thematically grouped into those directly related to poverty and the lack of basic necessities (eg, food insecurity), and additional stressors (eg, drought) that worsen poverty-related stress. Impacts on functioning, health and well-being and key coping behaviours, both positive and negative, were identified. The findings together inform a more nuanced view of stress within these contexts.Although participants were asked to provide general reflections about stress in their community, the salience of poverty-related stressors was ubiquitously reflected in respondents' responses. Poverty-related stressors affect development, well-being and gender-based violence. Future research should focus on interventions to alleviate poverty-related stress to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Authors & Co-authors:  Hall Brian J BJ Garabiles Melissa R MR de Hoop Jacobus J Pereira Audrey A Prencipe Leah L Palermo Tia M TM

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  Marmot M. Social determinants of health inequalities. Lancet 2005;365:1099–104. 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)74234-3
Authors :  6
Identifiers
Doi : e027047
SSN : 2044-6055
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Adaptation, Psychological
Other Terms
Coping;Mental Health;Poverty;Stress;Sub-Saharan Africa
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Qualitative
Country of Study
Tanzania
Publication Country
England