Life Satisfaction Factors, Stress, and Depressive Symptoms among Young Women Living in Urban Kampala: Findings from the TOPOWA Project Pilot Studies

• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21020184
• Publication Date: 2024-02-06T10:36:43Z
• Authors: Rachel E. Culbreth; Karen E. Nielsen; Kate Mobley; Jane Palmier; Paul Bukuluki; Monica H. Swahn
• Keywords: Stressor

Young women living in Kampala, Uganda, often face adversities related to Social Determinants of Mental Health (SDoMH) including poverty, food scarcity, environmental stressors such as high levels community violence, and lack adequate healthcare access. Two consecutive pilot studies were conducted assess the feasibility acceptability survey questions, wearable fitness trackers, daily diaries before launching a larger prospective cohort study. Preliminary associations between SDoMH factors with depressive symptoms, stress levels, life satisfaction examined among total sample 60 across two studies. A 32.2% respondents (out n = 59) reported being depressed most or all time past 30 days. Frequent symptoms correlated insecurity (χ2 5.38, df 1, p 0.02). Higher significantly associated lower overall scores (t 2.74, 6.20, 0.03). Additionally, frequent conditions lifestyle domain 2.22, 36.18, However, other domains (social relationships personal independence) not statistically symptoms. Identifying impactful young Kampala can inform targeted approaches improve mental health outcomes.