Relationship Between Family Economic Resources, Psychosocial Well-being, and Educational Preferences of AIDS-Orphaned Children in Southern Uganda: Baseline Findings
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Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Global Social Welfare
Abstract
This study examines the relationship between economic
resources, psychosocial well-being, and educational
preferences of AIDS-orphaned children in southern Uganda.
We use baseline data from a sample of 1410 AIDS-orphaned
children (defined as children who have lost one or both biological
parents to AIDS) enrolled in the Bridges to the Future
study, a National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development (NICHD) funded study. Analyses from both
bivariate and multiple regression analyses indicate the following:
1) despite the well-documented economic and psychosocial
challenges AIDS-orphaned children face, many of these
children have high educational plans and aspirations; 2) educational
aspirations differ by orphanhood status (double orphan
vs. single orphan); 3) regardless of orphanhood status,
children report similar levels of psychosocial well-being; 4)
high levels of family cohesion, positive perceptions of the
future, school satisfaction, and lower levels of hopelessness
(hopefulness) are associated with high educational aspirations;
and 5) reported family economic resources at baseline,
all seem to play a role in predicting children’s educational
preferences and psychosocial well-being. These findings suggest
that the focus for care and support of orphaned children
should not be limited to addressing their psychosocial needs.
Addressing the economic needs of the households in which
orphaned children live is equally important. Indeed, in the
context of extreme poverty—in which most of the children
represented in this study live—addressing structural factors,
including poverty, may be a key driver in addressing their
psychosocial functioning.
Description
Keywords
HIV/AIDS, AIDS orphans, SuubiUganda projects, Bridges to the Future study, Uganda, Economic strengthening, Care and support, Orphaned and vulnerable children, Sub-Saharan Africa
Citation
Ssewamala, F. M., Nabunya, P., Ilic, V., Mukasa, M. N., & Ddamulira, C. (2015). Relationship between family economic resources, psychosocial well-being, and educational preferences of AIDS-orphaned children in southern Uganda: baseline findings. Global Social Welfare, 2(2), 75-86. DOI 10.1007/s40609-015-0027-z