Negative Mental Health Factors in Children Orphaned by AIDS: Natural Mentoring as a Palliative Care

Abstract
The study examined the psychosocial mental health of some children whose parents died of AIDS (n = 373) in Uganda and South Africa. The design had 2 control groups: other-causes orphaned (n = 287), and non-orphaned (n = 290) children (grand mean age = 13.59, SD = 2.34). We utilized a battery of standardized psychosocial measures to estimate mental health in the groups. Natural mentoring relationship was estimated with the Ragins and McFarlin (J Vocat Behav 37:321–339, 1990) Mentor Role Instrument. Results indicated that AIDS-orphaned children showed highest negative, and lowest positive mental health factors in the 3 groups. Children in a mentoring relationship showed better mental health factors than those without a mentor. We ascribed the AIDS-orphaned children’s highest negative mental health condition to the incidence of higher double parental loss in the group, and suggested natural mentorship as a palliative care against negative mental health.
Description
Keywords
Natural mentoring, Mental health, AIDS-orphaned children, Non-orphaned children
Citation
Onuoha, F. N., Munakata, T., Serumaga-Zake, P. A., Nyonyintono, R. M., & Bogere, S. M. (2009). Negative mental health factors in children orphaned by AIDS: natural mentoring as a palliative care. AIDS and Behavior, 13, 980-988.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-008-9459-0