Abstract
BackgroundEastern Democratic Republic of Congo has endured decades of conflict resulting in widespread experiences of conflict related trauma and destruction to health and social infrastructure. The aim of this qualitative study was to provide a context specific understanding of youth exposure to violence (ages 10–15 years) and use of cognitive and behavioral coping strategies.MethodsA purposive sampling strategy based on age, gender and exposure to traumatic events was used to identify eligible youth in an ongoing parent study from four villages in the Walungu Territory, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. These four villages were selected from a total of 10 participating in the parent study because of the reported high exposure to conflict-related trauma. The interview guide consisted of broad open-ended questions related to the following topics, 1) identification of traumatic experiences, 2) methods for coping and changes in coping behavior 3) gender and age differences in coping, 4) sources of psychosocial support. A grounded theory approach was used to identify emergent themes.ResultsOf the 48 eligible participants identified, 30 youth completed the interview, 53 % were female (n = 16) and 47 % were male (n = 14). Youth ranged in age from 10–15 (mean age = 13.07). Exposures to different forms of violence and stress were reported among youth participants. Exposures to traumatic stressors occur at the individual, family and community level. In response to traumatic stress, youth reported both cognitive and behavioral coping strategies. Cognitive coping strategies included trying to forget and praying. Behavioral coping strategies included social support seeking and risk-taking behavior. These strategies may be used in mutually reinforcing ways, with youth employing more than one coping strategy.ConclusionThis qualitative research provides important, culturally grounded information on coping strategies used by youth in rural post-conflict settings where limited psychosocial support services are available. Understanding use of cognitive and behaviors coping strategies may inform local community and international development programs to support youth mental health along adaptive trajectories resulting in promotion of well-being and reduced risk taking behaviors.
Highlights
Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has endured decades of conflict resulting in widespread experiences of conflict related trauma and destruction to health and social infrastructure
A cross-sectional study in the Ituri province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) investigated conflict-related traumatic events and found that among 477 girls and 569 boys ages 13–21, 95 % of the respondents reported at least one traumatic event; on average, adolescents were exposed to 4.7 traumatic events over their lifetime, and 52 % of adolescents met the criteria for PTSD [1]
Rabbits for Resilience (RFR) includes male and female youth ages 10–15 years living in 10 rural villages in the Walungu territory in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Summary
Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has endured decades of conflict resulting in widespread experiences of conflict related trauma and destruction to health and social infrastructure. The aim of this qualitative study was to provide a context specific understanding of youth exposure to violence (ages 10–15 years) and use of cognitive and behavioral coping strategies. A history of colonialism, theft of the DRC’s enormous mineral wealth and strategic ‘pitting’ of ethnic groups against one another set the stage for prolonged conflict including two conflicts with neighboring countries Within this context, families are striving to rebuild their households and communities and improve the life and livelihoods of future generations. Researchers report that children are aware of stress and their coping strategies due to psychological trauma and are able to identify stressors, describe coping strategies and evaluate the effectiveness of those strategies at ages as young as six years old [7]
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