Serially mediated effects of psychological inflexibility on quality of life of refugees in Uganda during coronavirus pandemic.
The unexpected outbreak and rapid spread of COVID-19 necessitated radical and stringent control measures, consequently changing how people live globally. To vulnerable populations like refugees, who were already living a disrupted life, the outbreak of COVID-19 and accompanying control measures comp...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2023-01-01
|
| Series: | PLOS Global Public Health |
| Online Access: | https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0002450&type=printable |
| _version_ | 1797647748172873728 |
|---|---|
| author | Martin Mabunda Baluku Stewart Ssebagala Hilary Mugabo Mukula Khamisi Musanje |
| author_facet | Martin Mabunda Baluku Stewart Ssebagala Hilary Mugabo Mukula Khamisi Musanje |
| author_sort | Martin Mabunda Baluku |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The unexpected outbreak and rapid spread of COVID-19 necessitated radical and stringent control measures, consequently changing how people live globally. To vulnerable populations like refugees, who were already living a disrupted life, the outbreak of COVID-19 and accompanying control measures complicated their living conditions and drastically affected their mental health and, consequently, their quality of life. The current study aimed to test whether psychological inflexibility was a factor in lowering the quality of life of refugees in Uganda during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study further examines whether the effects of psychological inflexibility on quality of life were serially mediated by avoidance coping, perceived threat, adherence to COVID-19 control measures, and general mental health states. The study was conducted among refugees living in Kampala city suburbs and Bidibidi refugee settlement in Uganda. Data was collected using a survey questionnaire during the partial reopening of the economy in mid-2020, after the first lockdown. The analysis assesses a serial mediation model of the effects of psychological inflexibility on the quality of life of refugees through avoidance coping, perceived threat, adherence to COVID-19 control measures, and mental health using PROCESS Macro. The study involved 353 participants. Our analyses revealed that psychological inflexibility was negatively associated with the perceived threat, adherence, and quality of life. Psychological inflexibility was positively associated with avoidance coping and poor mental health. The data supported all hypothesized mediation paths. These findings support literature suggesting that psychological inflexibility is a maladaptive attribute that thwarts positive coping and behavior adjustment in times of crisis. Consequently, psychological inflexibility can worsen mental health problems and quality of life, especially in populations such as refugees in low-income countries who live in precarious conditions. Incorporating interventions that reduce psychological inflexibility in crisis management efforts can help refugees maintain good psychological functioning and quality of life. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T15:20:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5489bf57ae724f73bce2df6c8184081b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2767-3375 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T15:20:59Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLOS Global Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-5489bf57ae724f73bce2df6c8184081b2023-10-28T05:56:04ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLOS Global Public Health2767-33752023-01-01310e000245010.1371/journal.pgph.0002450Serially mediated effects of psychological inflexibility on quality of life of refugees in Uganda during coronavirus pandemic.Martin Mabunda BalukuStewart SsebagalaHilary Mugabo MukulaKhamisi MusanjeThe unexpected outbreak and rapid spread of COVID-19 necessitated radical and stringent control measures, consequently changing how people live globally. To vulnerable populations like refugees, who were already living a disrupted life, the outbreak of COVID-19 and accompanying control measures complicated their living conditions and drastically affected their mental health and, consequently, their quality of life. The current study aimed to test whether psychological inflexibility was a factor in lowering the quality of life of refugees in Uganda during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study further examines whether the effects of psychological inflexibility on quality of life were serially mediated by avoidance coping, perceived threat, adherence to COVID-19 control measures, and general mental health states. The study was conducted among refugees living in Kampala city suburbs and Bidibidi refugee settlement in Uganda. Data was collected using a survey questionnaire during the partial reopening of the economy in mid-2020, after the first lockdown. The analysis assesses a serial mediation model of the effects of psychological inflexibility on the quality of life of refugees through avoidance coping, perceived threat, adherence to COVID-19 control measures, and mental health using PROCESS Macro. The study involved 353 participants. Our analyses revealed that psychological inflexibility was negatively associated with the perceived threat, adherence, and quality of life. Psychological inflexibility was positively associated with avoidance coping and poor mental health. The data supported all hypothesized mediation paths. These findings support literature suggesting that psychological inflexibility is a maladaptive attribute that thwarts positive coping and behavior adjustment in times of crisis. Consequently, psychological inflexibility can worsen mental health problems and quality of life, especially in populations such as refugees in low-income countries who live in precarious conditions. Incorporating interventions that reduce psychological inflexibility in crisis management efforts can help refugees maintain good psychological functioning and quality of life.https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0002450&type=printable |
| spellingShingle | Martin Mabunda Baluku Stewart Ssebagala Hilary Mugabo Mukula Khamisi Musanje Serially mediated effects of psychological inflexibility on quality of life of refugees in Uganda during coronavirus pandemic. PLOS Global Public Health |
| title | Serially mediated effects of psychological inflexibility on quality of life of refugees in Uganda during coronavirus pandemic. |
| title_full | Serially mediated effects of psychological inflexibility on quality of life of refugees in Uganda during coronavirus pandemic. |
| title_fullStr | Serially mediated effects of psychological inflexibility on quality of life of refugees in Uganda during coronavirus pandemic. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Serially mediated effects of psychological inflexibility on quality of life of refugees in Uganda during coronavirus pandemic. |
| title_short | Serially mediated effects of psychological inflexibility on quality of life of refugees in Uganda during coronavirus pandemic. |
| title_sort | serially mediated effects of psychological inflexibility on quality of life of refugees in uganda during coronavirus pandemic |
| url | https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0002450&type=printable |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT martinmabundabaluku seriallymediatedeffectsofpsychologicalinflexibilityonqualityoflifeofrefugeesinugandaduringcoronaviruspandemic AT stewartssebagala seriallymediatedeffectsofpsychologicalinflexibilityonqualityoflifeofrefugeesinugandaduringcoronaviruspandemic AT hilarymugabomukula seriallymediatedeffectsofpsychologicalinflexibilityonqualityoflifeofrefugeesinugandaduringcoronaviruspandemic AT khamisimusanje seriallymediatedeffectsofpsychologicalinflexibilityonqualityoflifeofrefugeesinugandaduringcoronaviruspandemic |