Trauma, Anxiety and Social Well-being among IDPs Adolescent in Conflict Hit Manipur

Abstract

This research explores the mental health challenges faced by adolescents who have been displaced as a result of ethnic conflict in the Imphal Valley of Manipur, India. The study focuses on a group whose psychological well-being is often overlooked internally displaced adolescents living in temporary relief camps following the violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities. Adopting a cross-sectional framework, the study assessed 75 participants aged 13 to 18 using three validated tools: the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) to assess psychological distress, the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ) to measure trauma-related symptoms, and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) to evaluate anxiety levels. The results demonstrated strong positive associations among all three variables. While both trauma and psychological distress were correlated with anxiety, only trauma significantly predicted anxiety when controlling for other variables. These findings highlight the enduring psychological effects of conflict and displacement and emphasize the need for comprehensive, trauma-informed interventions. Addressing both immediate trauma and the continuing stress of displacement is crucial for fostering resilience and improving the mental health outcomes of conflict-affected youth.