Mental Health among Former Child Soldiers and Never-Abducted Children in Northern Uganda
Table 2
Total scores of Ugandan youth on measures of PTSD, psychological distress, and emotional and behavioral problemsa.
Mental health problem and measure
Total ()
Former Child Soldiers ()
Never Abducted Children ()
Girls ()
Boys ()
Group Effectb
Gender Effectb
PTSD symptoms (IES-R)
51.5 (17.6) [0–88]
56 (15.2) [19–88]
45.7 (18.9) [0–84]
50.5 (17.6) [0–86]
52.5 (17.6) [0–88]
<.001
.425
Psychological distress (BSI-18)
40.9 (16.1) [0–72]
45.2 (14.6) [0–72]
35.3 (16.2) [0–72]
41.8 (16.0) [0–72]
40.2 (16.1) [0–72]
<.001
.396
Emotional and behavioral difficulties (SDQ)
16.5 (5.3) [4–29]
18.1 (5.0) [5–29]
14.4 (4.9) [4–26]
17.1 (5.2) [5–29]
15.8 (5.3) [4–28]
<.001
.018
Abbreviations: PTSD: posttraumatic stress disorder; IES-R: Impact of Events Scale Revised; BSI-18: Brief Symptom Inventory 18; SDQ: Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Interactions of group × gender were not statistically significant and thus are not reported.
aData are expressed as mean (SD) [range].
b value by ANCOVA (adjusting for age as covariate).
