Influence of Posttraumatic Growth on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder among Refugees in Nairobi County, Kenya

Henrietta Amen Usunobun, Dr. Stephen Asatsa & Dr. Elijah Macharia
The Catholic University of Eastern Africa
Corresponding author: hettyamen@gmail.com

Abstract: Most refugees have frequently been subjected to a variety of potentially traumatic events, which have a wide range of negative consequences for their mental health and quality of life. However, some have also reported positive personal changes, and post-traumatic growth related to these potentially distressing events. This study was restricted only to Nairobi County, which accommodates most of the urban refugees in Kenya (UNHCR, 2020). The study used a simple random sampling technique for the quantitative strand and purposive/convenient sampling technique for the qualitative strand to select respondents. A sample of 133 respondents, which was determined using Yamane’s formula, was selected. Quantitative data were collected using standardized questionnaires; the 21-item posttraumatic growth inventory (PTGI) and 20-item Posttraumatic stress disorder checklist (PCL-5). This study adopted the embedded mixed method research design by combining correlational and phenomenological research design. The study revealed a weak negative relationship between Posttraumatic stress disorder and posttraumatic growth (p˂ 0.01, r = -.319).This implies, as individual who had gone through traumatizing experience progress in posttraumatic growth, the level of post-traumatic stress disorder decreases with time. This indicates that continuous psychological and psychosocial assistance are considered as coping skills that facilitate posttraumatic growth.