Evaluating a Movement-Based Mental Health Promotion Intervention for Refugee Children in Uganda: A Quasi-Experimental Study.
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| Title: | Evaluating a Movement-Based Mental Health Promotion Intervention for Refugee Children in Uganda: A Quasi-Experimental Study. |
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| Authors: | Bleile, Alexandra C. E. (AUTHOR), Koppenol-Gonzalez, Gabriela V. (AUTHOR), Orech, Bruce (AUTHOR), Verreault, Katia (AUTHOR), Jordans, Mark J. D. (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology. Sep/Oct2025, Vol. 54 Issue 5, p592-607. 16p. |
| Subjects: | Mental health, Refugee children, Field research, Well-being, Treatment effectiveness, Countries, Traumatism, Collective action |
| Geographic Terms: | Uganda |
| Abstract: | Objective: Mental health promotion interventions are widely implemented in humanitarian settings and low- and middle-income contexts (LMICs), yet evidence on effectiveness is scarce and mixed. This study evaluated the movement-based mental health promotion intervention "TeamUp" in Bidibidi refugee settlement, in Northern Uganda. Method: A quasi-experimental study including four schools (two per arm) assessed the outcomes of 10- to 15-year-old South Sudanese and Ugandan children (n = 549). Randomly allocated, they either participated in up to 11 TeamUp sessions (n = 265) provided by trained facilitators; or belonged to a control group, which continued care as usual (n = 284). Primary outcomes measured psychosocial wellbeing, friendships and attitude to school; secondary outcomes included traumatic distress, depressive symptoms, quality of life, physical health, bullying, interoceptive awareness, and irritability. Data were collected at baseline and endline. Results: Children joining TeamUp, showed significantly more improvements on primary outcomes: emotional and psychosocial wellbeing (Mdiff = −1.49, SE = 0.6, p =.01), satisfaction with and attitude toward school (−0.57, SE = 0.2, p =.004); and secondary outcomes: traumatic stress (2.64, SE = 0.8, p <.001), health-related quality of life (−1.56, SE = 0.4, p =.001), physical health (−0.78, SE = 0.3, p =.014) and the TeamUp mechanisms of action scale (−3.34, SE = 0.9, p <.001), specifically the subscales social connectedness (−0.74, SE = 0.3, p =.007) and sense of agency (−0.91, SE = 0.3, p =.005), compared to the control group. No significant differences were found on bullying, interoceptive awareness, irritability and depressive symptoms. Conclusion: The results are promising for TeamUp as a mental health promotion intervention for children affected by armed-conflict, displacement and on-going adversity. Further research will need to assess the intervention's effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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