Exploring Psychosocial Well-being and Social Connectedness in Northern Uganda

This paper describes research conducted as the first stage in the process of developing a structured interview schedule to assess psychological distress, empowerment, social connectedness, economic well-being, and other variables among women in the Acholi region of Uganda. An interview schedule was developed following a review of the literature, individual interviews with women in northern Uganda, and group discussions with community members, members of women's groups, and community leaders. Following initial testing of the entire interview schedule, the reliability and validity of two sections-measures of psychological distress and social connectedness, were explored in more detail. Initial analysis suggests that both are potentially useful with this population. However, the measure of psychological distress did not distinguish clearly between a group of women identified by a local community-based organization (CBO) as showing signs of psychological distress and a group of women showing no such signs. Additional work is required to confirm the validity of the psychological distress scale used. It was found that psychological well-being was more closely associated with the amount of social support a woman receives than with how many social activities or groups she is involved with. Involvement in groups may not, in itself, alleviate psychological distress, but the practical and emotional support provided by friends, neighbors, and relatives is likely to have a positive effect. Some evidence was found that there is a relationship between involvement in religious activities and psychological well-being. Psychological distress is often accompanied by poor physical health. Although further research is required to clarify the nature of these relationships, initial findings suggest that organizations that aim to improve psychological well-being would do well to address physical health problems as a priority, and may wish to explore ways in which women experiencing psychological distress could link with religious organizations.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Horn, Rebecca
Language:English
en_US
Published: World Bank, Washington, DC 2013-04
Subjects:ADOLESCENTS, ANXIETY, ARMED CONFLICT, BULLETIN, CAPACITY BUILDING, CHILD PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, CRISIS SUPPORT, CULTURAL VALUES, DEPRESSION, DEPRESSIVE, DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS, DESCRIPTION, DISTRICTS, DOCTORS, ECONOMIC RESOURCES, EMERGENCIES, EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, EMOTIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES, EPIDEMIOLOGY, ETHNIC GROUPS, FAMILIES, FAMILY MEMBERS, FAMILY SUPPORT, FEMALE, GENDER, GENDER RELATIONS, GERONTOLOGY, HEALTH INTERVENTIONS, HEALTH OUTCOMES, HEALTH PROBLEMS, HIV, HOMELESS PEOPLE, HUMAN CAPACITY, HUTS, ILLNESS, ILLNESSES, IMMIGRATION, INFORMED CONSENT, INJURY, INTERVENTION, JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY, KINSHIP, KNOWLEDGE BASE, LIFE EVENTS, LIVING CONDITIONS, LOCAL COMMUNITY, LOCAL INPUT, MAJOR DEPRESSION, MEDICINE, MENTAL, MENTAL DISEASE, MENTAL DISTRESS, MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT, MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTIONS, MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES, MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, MENTAL PROBLEMS, MIGRATION, MOOD, MOTHERS, NATIONAL LEVELS, PATIENT, PATIENT EDUCATION, PEER GROUPS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, PHYSICAL HEALTH, PHYSICAL HEALTH OUTCOMES, PHYSICAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, POST-CONFLICT SETTINGS, PRACTITIONERS, PRIMARY CARE, PROGRESS, PSYCHIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY, PSYCHIATRISTS, PSYCHIATRY, PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS, PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, PSYCHOLOGY, PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTION, PSYCHOSOCIAL WORK, PUBLIC HEALTH, QUALITATIVE INFORMATION, QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH, REFUGEE, REFUGEES, RELIGIOUS LEADERS, RESEARCH PROGRAM, RESPECT, SCREENING, SELF-ESTEEM, SETTLEMENT, SHELTER, SOCIAL COHESION, SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS, SOCIAL ISOLATION, SOCIAL NETWORKS, SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY, SOCIAL SCIENCE, SOCIAL SCIENCES, SOCIAL STRUCTURES, SOCIAL SUPPORT, SUICIDE, TRAUMA, TRAUMATIC EVENTS, VICTIMS, VILLAGES, VIOLENCE, WAR, WOMAN, YOUTH,
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2013/04/19253703/exploring-psychosocial-well-being-social-connectedness-northern-uganda
https://hdl.handle.net/10986/17861
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libraryname Biblioteca del Banco Mundial
language English
en_US
topic ADOLESCENTS
ANXIETY
ARMED CONFLICT
BULLETIN
CAPACITY BUILDING
CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
COMMUNITIES
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
CRISIS SUPPORT
CULTURAL VALUES
DEPRESSION
DEPRESSIVE
DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS
DESCRIPTION
DISTRICTS
DOCTORS
ECONOMIC RESOURCES
EMERGENCIES
EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
EMOTIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
EPIDEMIOLOGY
ETHNIC GROUPS
FAMILIES
FAMILY MEMBERS
FAMILY SUPPORT
FEMALE
GENDER
GENDER RELATIONS
GERONTOLOGY
HEALTH INTERVENTIONS
HEALTH OUTCOMES
HEALTH PROBLEMS
HIV
HOMELESS PEOPLE
HUMAN CAPACITY
HUTS
ILLNESS
ILLNESSES
IMMIGRATION
INFORMED CONSENT
INJURY
INTERVENTION
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
KINSHIP
KNOWLEDGE BASE
LIFE EVENTS
LIVING CONDITIONS
LOCAL COMMUNITY
LOCAL INPUT
MAJOR DEPRESSION
MEDICINE
MENTAL
MENTAL DISEASE
MENTAL DISTRESS
MENTAL HEALTH
MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT
MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTIONS
MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS
MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES
MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS
MENTAL PROBLEMS
MIGRATION
MOOD
MOTHERS
NATIONAL LEVELS
PATIENT
PATIENT EDUCATION
PEER GROUPS
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
PHYSICAL HEALTH
PHYSICAL HEALTH OUTCOMES
PHYSICAL HEALTH PROBLEMS
POST-CONFLICT SETTINGS
PRACTITIONERS
PRIMARY CARE
PROGRESS
PSYCHIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY
PSYCHIATRISTS
PSYCHIATRY
PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS
PSYCHOLOGISTS
PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTION
PSYCHOSOCIAL WORK
PUBLIC HEALTH
QUALITATIVE INFORMATION
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
REFUGEE
REFUGEES
RELIGIOUS LEADERS
RESEARCH PROGRAM
RESPECT
SCREENING
SELF-ESTEEM
SETTLEMENT
SHELTER
SOCIAL COHESION
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
SOCIAL ISOLATION
SOCIAL NETWORKS
SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY
SOCIAL SCIENCE
SOCIAL SCIENCES
SOCIAL STRUCTURES
SOCIAL SUPPORT
SUICIDE
TRAUMA
TRAUMATIC EVENTS
VICTIMS
VILLAGES
VIOLENCE
WAR
WOMAN
YOUTH
ADOLESCENTS
ANXIETY
ARMED CONFLICT
BULLETIN
CAPACITY BUILDING
CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
COMMUNITIES
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
CRISIS SUPPORT
CULTURAL VALUES
DEPRESSION
DEPRESSIVE
DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS
DESCRIPTION
DISTRICTS
DOCTORS
ECONOMIC RESOURCES
EMERGENCIES
EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
EMOTIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
EPIDEMIOLOGY
ETHNIC GROUPS
FAMILIES
FAMILY MEMBERS
FAMILY SUPPORT
FEMALE
GENDER
GENDER RELATIONS
GERONTOLOGY
HEALTH INTERVENTIONS
HEALTH OUTCOMES
HEALTH PROBLEMS
HIV
HOMELESS PEOPLE
HUMAN CAPACITY
HUTS
ILLNESS
ILLNESSES
IMMIGRATION
INFORMED CONSENT
INJURY
INTERVENTION
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
KINSHIP
KNOWLEDGE BASE
LIFE EVENTS
LIVING CONDITIONS
LOCAL COMMUNITY
LOCAL INPUT
MAJOR DEPRESSION
MEDICINE
MENTAL
MENTAL DISEASE
MENTAL DISTRESS
MENTAL HEALTH
MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT
MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTIONS
MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS
MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES
MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS
MENTAL PROBLEMS
MIGRATION
MOOD
MOTHERS
NATIONAL LEVELS
PATIENT
PATIENT EDUCATION
PEER GROUPS
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
PHYSICAL HEALTH
PHYSICAL HEALTH OUTCOMES
PHYSICAL HEALTH PROBLEMS
POST-CONFLICT SETTINGS
PRACTITIONERS
PRIMARY CARE
PROGRESS
PSYCHIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY
PSYCHIATRISTS
PSYCHIATRY
PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS
PSYCHOLOGISTS
PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTION
PSYCHOSOCIAL WORK
PUBLIC HEALTH
QUALITATIVE INFORMATION
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
REFUGEE
REFUGEES
RELIGIOUS LEADERS
RESEARCH PROGRAM
RESPECT
SCREENING
SELF-ESTEEM
SETTLEMENT
SHELTER
SOCIAL COHESION
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
SOCIAL ISOLATION
SOCIAL NETWORKS
SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY
SOCIAL SCIENCE
SOCIAL SCIENCES
SOCIAL STRUCTURES
SOCIAL SUPPORT
SUICIDE
TRAUMA
TRAUMATIC EVENTS
VICTIMS
VILLAGES
VIOLENCE
WAR
WOMAN
YOUTH
spellingShingle ADOLESCENTS
ANXIETY
ARMED CONFLICT
BULLETIN
CAPACITY BUILDING
CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
COMMUNITIES
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
CRISIS SUPPORT
CULTURAL VALUES
DEPRESSION
DEPRESSIVE
DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS
DESCRIPTION
DISTRICTS
DOCTORS
ECONOMIC RESOURCES
EMERGENCIES
EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
EMOTIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
EPIDEMIOLOGY
ETHNIC GROUPS
FAMILIES
FAMILY MEMBERS
FAMILY SUPPORT
FEMALE
GENDER
GENDER RELATIONS
GERONTOLOGY
HEALTH INTERVENTIONS
HEALTH OUTCOMES
HEALTH PROBLEMS
HIV
HOMELESS PEOPLE
HUMAN CAPACITY
HUTS
ILLNESS
ILLNESSES
IMMIGRATION
INFORMED CONSENT
INJURY
INTERVENTION
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
KINSHIP
KNOWLEDGE BASE
LIFE EVENTS
LIVING CONDITIONS
LOCAL COMMUNITY
LOCAL INPUT
MAJOR DEPRESSION
MEDICINE
MENTAL
MENTAL DISEASE
MENTAL DISTRESS
MENTAL HEALTH
MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT
MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTIONS
MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS
MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES
MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS
MENTAL PROBLEMS
MIGRATION
MOOD
MOTHERS
NATIONAL LEVELS
PATIENT
PATIENT EDUCATION
PEER GROUPS
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
PHYSICAL HEALTH
PHYSICAL HEALTH OUTCOMES
PHYSICAL HEALTH PROBLEMS
POST-CONFLICT SETTINGS
PRACTITIONERS
PRIMARY CARE
PROGRESS
PSYCHIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY
PSYCHIATRISTS
PSYCHIATRY
PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS
PSYCHOLOGISTS
PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTION
PSYCHOSOCIAL WORK
PUBLIC HEALTH
QUALITATIVE INFORMATION
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
REFUGEE
REFUGEES
RELIGIOUS LEADERS
RESEARCH PROGRAM
RESPECT
SCREENING
SELF-ESTEEM
SETTLEMENT
SHELTER
SOCIAL COHESION
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
SOCIAL ISOLATION
SOCIAL NETWORKS
SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY
SOCIAL SCIENCE
SOCIAL SCIENCES
SOCIAL STRUCTURES
SOCIAL SUPPORT
SUICIDE
TRAUMA
TRAUMATIC EVENTS
VICTIMS
VILLAGES
VIOLENCE
WAR
WOMAN
YOUTH
ADOLESCENTS
ANXIETY
ARMED CONFLICT
BULLETIN
CAPACITY BUILDING
CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
COMMUNITIES
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
CRISIS SUPPORT
CULTURAL VALUES
DEPRESSION
DEPRESSIVE
DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS
DESCRIPTION
DISTRICTS
DOCTORS
ECONOMIC RESOURCES
EMERGENCIES
EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
EMOTIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
EPIDEMIOLOGY
ETHNIC GROUPS
FAMILIES
FAMILY MEMBERS
FAMILY SUPPORT
FEMALE
GENDER
GENDER RELATIONS
GERONTOLOGY
HEALTH INTERVENTIONS
HEALTH OUTCOMES
HEALTH PROBLEMS
HIV
HOMELESS PEOPLE
HUMAN CAPACITY
HUTS
ILLNESS
ILLNESSES
IMMIGRATION
INFORMED CONSENT
INJURY
INTERVENTION
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
KINSHIP
KNOWLEDGE BASE
LIFE EVENTS
LIVING CONDITIONS
LOCAL COMMUNITY
LOCAL INPUT
MAJOR DEPRESSION
MEDICINE
MENTAL
MENTAL DISEASE
MENTAL DISTRESS
MENTAL HEALTH
MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT
MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTIONS
MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS
MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES
MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS
MENTAL PROBLEMS
MIGRATION
MOOD
MOTHERS
NATIONAL LEVELS
PATIENT
PATIENT EDUCATION
PEER GROUPS
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
PHYSICAL HEALTH
PHYSICAL HEALTH OUTCOMES
PHYSICAL HEALTH PROBLEMS
POST-CONFLICT SETTINGS
PRACTITIONERS
PRIMARY CARE
PROGRESS
PSYCHIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY
PSYCHIATRISTS
PSYCHIATRY
PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS
PSYCHOLOGISTS
PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTION
PSYCHOSOCIAL WORK
PUBLIC HEALTH
QUALITATIVE INFORMATION
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
REFUGEE
REFUGEES
RELIGIOUS LEADERS
RESEARCH PROGRAM
RESPECT
SCREENING
SELF-ESTEEM
SETTLEMENT
SHELTER
SOCIAL COHESION
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
SOCIAL ISOLATION
SOCIAL NETWORKS
SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY
SOCIAL SCIENCE
SOCIAL SCIENCES
SOCIAL STRUCTURES
SOCIAL SUPPORT
SUICIDE
TRAUMA
TRAUMATIC EVENTS
VICTIMS
VILLAGES
VIOLENCE
WAR
WOMAN
YOUTH
Horn, Rebecca
Exploring Psychosocial Well-being and Social Connectedness in Northern Uganda
description This paper describes research conducted as the first stage in the process of developing a structured interview schedule to assess psychological distress, empowerment, social connectedness, economic well-being, and other variables among women in the Acholi region of Uganda. An interview schedule was developed following a review of the literature, individual interviews with women in northern Uganda, and group discussions with community members, members of women's groups, and community leaders. Following initial testing of the entire interview schedule, the reliability and validity of two sections-measures of psychological distress and social connectedness, were explored in more detail. Initial analysis suggests that both are potentially useful with this population. However, the measure of psychological distress did not distinguish clearly between a group of women identified by a local community-based organization (CBO) as showing signs of psychological distress and a group of women showing no such signs. Additional work is required to confirm the validity of the psychological distress scale used. It was found that psychological well-being was more closely associated with the amount of social support a woman receives than with how many social activities or groups she is involved with. Involvement in groups may not, in itself, alleviate psychological distress, but the practical and emotional support provided by friends, neighbors, and relatives is likely to have a positive effect. Some evidence was found that there is a relationship between involvement in religious activities and psychological well-being. Psychological distress is often accompanied by poor physical health. Although further research is required to clarify the nature of these relationships, initial findings suggest that organizations that aim to improve psychological well-being would do well to address physical health problems as a priority, and may wish to explore ways in which women experiencing psychological distress could link with religious organizations.
topic_facet ADOLESCENTS
ANXIETY
ARMED CONFLICT
BULLETIN
CAPACITY BUILDING
CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
COMMUNITIES
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
CRISIS SUPPORT
CULTURAL VALUES
DEPRESSION
DEPRESSIVE
DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS
DESCRIPTION
DISTRICTS
DOCTORS
ECONOMIC RESOURCES
EMERGENCIES
EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
EMOTIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
EPIDEMIOLOGY
ETHNIC GROUPS
FAMILIES
FAMILY MEMBERS
FAMILY SUPPORT
FEMALE
GENDER
GENDER RELATIONS
GERONTOLOGY
HEALTH INTERVENTIONS
HEALTH OUTCOMES
HEALTH PROBLEMS
HIV
HOMELESS PEOPLE
HUMAN CAPACITY
HUTS
ILLNESS
ILLNESSES
IMMIGRATION
INFORMED CONSENT
INJURY
INTERVENTION
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
KINSHIP
KNOWLEDGE BASE
LIFE EVENTS
LIVING CONDITIONS
LOCAL COMMUNITY
LOCAL INPUT
MAJOR DEPRESSION
MEDICINE
MENTAL
MENTAL DISEASE
MENTAL DISTRESS
MENTAL HEALTH
MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT
MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTIONS
MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS
MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES
MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS
MENTAL PROBLEMS
MIGRATION
MOOD
MOTHERS
NATIONAL LEVELS
PATIENT
PATIENT EDUCATION
PEER GROUPS
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
PHYSICAL HEALTH
PHYSICAL HEALTH OUTCOMES
PHYSICAL HEALTH PROBLEMS
POST-CONFLICT SETTINGS
PRACTITIONERS
PRIMARY CARE
PROGRESS
PSYCHIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY
PSYCHIATRISTS
PSYCHIATRY
PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS
PSYCHOLOGISTS
PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTION
PSYCHOSOCIAL WORK
PUBLIC HEALTH
QUALITATIVE INFORMATION
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
REFUGEE
REFUGEES
RELIGIOUS LEADERS
RESEARCH PROGRAM
RESPECT
SCREENING
SELF-ESTEEM
SETTLEMENT
SHELTER
SOCIAL COHESION
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
SOCIAL ISOLATION
SOCIAL NETWORKS
SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY
SOCIAL SCIENCE
SOCIAL SCIENCES
SOCIAL STRUCTURES
SOCIAL SUPPORT
SUICIDE
TRAUMA
TRAUMATIC EVENTS
VICTIMS
VILLAGES
VIOLENCE
WAR
WOMAN
YOUTH
author Horn, Rebecca
author_facet Horn, Rebecca
author_sort Horn, Rebecca
title Exploring Psychosocial Well-being and Social Connectedness in Northern Uganda
title_short Exploring Psychosocial Well-being and Social Connectedness in Northern Uganda
title_full Exploring Psychosocial Well-being and Social Connectedness in Northern Uganda
title_fullStr Exploring Psychosocial Well-being and Social Connectedness in Northern Uganda
title_full_unstemmed Exploring Psychosocial Well-being and Social Connectedness in Northern Uganda
title_sort exploring psychosocial well-being and social connectedness in northern uganda
publisher World Bank, Washington, DC
publishDate 2013-04
url http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2013/04/19253703/exploring-psychosocial-well-being-social-connectedness-northern-uganda
https://hdl.handle.net/10986/17861
work_keys_str_mv AT hornrebecca exploringpsychosocialwellbeingandsocialconnectednessinnorthernuganda
_version_ 1807158720629571584
spelling dig-okr-10986178612024-08-08T14:07:27Z Exploring Psychosocial Well-being and Social Connectedness in Northern Uganda Horn, Rebecca ADOLESCENTS ANXIETY ARMED CONFLICT BULLETIN CAPACITY BUILDING CHILD PSYCHOLOGY CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY COMMUNITIES COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES CRISIS SUPPORT CULTURAL VALUES DEPRESSION DEPRESSIVE DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS DESCRIPTION DISTRICTS DOCTORS ECONOMIC RESOURCES EMERGENCIES EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT EMOTIONS ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES EPIDEMIOLOGY ETHNIC GROUPS FAMILIES FAMILY MEMBERS FAMILY SUPPORT FEMALE GENDER GENDER RELATIONS GERONTOLOGY HEALTH INTERVENTIONS HEALTH OUTCOMES HEALTH PROBLEMS HIV HOMELESS PEOPLE HUMAN CAPACITY HUTS ILLNESS ILLNESSES IMMIGRATION INFORMED CONSENT INJURY INTERVENTION JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY KINSHIP KNOWLEDGE BASE LIFE EVENTS LIVING CONDITIONS LOCAL COMMUNITY LOCAL INPUT MAJOR DEPRESSION MEDICINE MENTAL MENTAL DISEASE MENTAL DISTRESS MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTIONS MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS MENTAL PROBLEMS MIGRATION MOOD MOTHERS NATIONAL LEVELS PATIENT PATIENT EDUCATION PEER GROUPS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES PHYSICAL HEALTH PHYSICAL HEALTH OUTCOMES PHYSICAL HEALTH PROBLEMS POST-CONFLICT SETTINGS PRACTITIONERS PRIMARY CARE PROGRESS PSYCHIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY PSYCHIATRISTS PSYCHIATRY PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS PSYCHOLOGISTS PSYCHOLOGY PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTION PSYCHOSOCIAL WORK PUBLIC HEALTH QUALITATIVE INFORMATION QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH REFUGEE REFUGEES RELIGIOUS LEADERS RESEARCH PROGRAM RESPECT SCREENING SELF-ESTEEM SETTLEMENT SHELTER SOCIAL COHESION SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS SOCIAL ISOLATION SOCIAL NETWORKS SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY SOCIAL SCIENCE SOCIAL SCIENCES SOCIAL STRUCTURES SOCIAL SUPPORT SUICIDE TRAUMA TRAUMATIC EVENTS VICTIMS VILLAGES VIOLENCE WAR WOMAN YOUTH This paper describes research conducted as the first stage in the process of developing a structured interview schedule to assess psychological distress, empowerment, social connectedness, economic well-being, and other variables among women in the Acholi region of Uganda. An interview schedule was developed following a review of the literature, individual interviews with women in northern Uganda, and group discussions with community members, members of women's groups, and community leaders. Following initial testing of the entire interview schedule, the reliability and validity of two sections-measures of psychological distress and social connectedness, were explored in more detail. Initial analysis suggests that both are potentially useful with this population. However, the measure of psychological distress did not distinguish clearly between a group of women identified by a local community-based organization (CBO) as showing signs of psychological distress and a group of women showing no such signs. Additional work is required to confirm the validity of the psychological distress scale used. It was found that psychological well-being was more closely associated with the amount of social support a woman receives than with how many social activities or groups she is involved with. Involvement in groups may not, in itself, alleviate psychological distress, but the practical and emotional support provided by friends, neighbors, and relatives is likely to have a positive effect. Some evidence was found that there is a relationship between involvement in religious activities and psychological well-being. Psychological distress is often accompanied by poor physical health. Although further research is required to clarify the nature of these relationships, initial findings suggest that organizations that aim to improve psychological well-being would do well to address physical health problems as a priority, and may wish to explore ways in which women experiencing psychological distress could link with religious organizations. 2014-04-16T19:01:19Z 2014-04-16T19:01:19Z 2013-04 http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2013/04/19253703/exploring-psychosocial-well-being-social-connectedness-northern-uganda https://hdl.handle.net/10986/17861 English en_US Logica working paper series;no. 2 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ application/pdf text/plain World Bank, Washington, DC