UNDERSTANDING THE DETERMINANTS OF FLOURISHING AMONG ADOLESCENTS OF MAYUGE AND MPIGI DISTRICTS IN UGANDA: LINKING PHYSICAL, MENTAL, CULTURAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL DIMENSIONS THROUGH A GENDER-TRANSFORMATIVE LENS

Abstract

AbstractThe study sought to engage adolescents in Uganda to learn about their perspectives on the factors that enable or hinder their flourishing. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Mpigi and Mayuge districts in Uganda, using a survey with adolescent boys and girls aged 14-19 years. The survey examined seven aspects of human flourishing including: knowledge/education, emotional health, physical health, physical safety, financial security, social connectedness, and spiritual practices. The interpretation of scores and correlations was based on established classifications. Findings indicated that education, family, and community support were highly valued among participants. Among the respondents, eighty-five percent reported awareness of their right to education, and 79% expressed satisfaction with their access to primary or secondary education. Most respondents felt good about their emotional health (84%). Participants felt confidence in their decision-making abilities. Though the majority of respondents recognized the importance of a balanced diet to their own physical health, less than half reported being able to make decisions about what they eat. Most respondents reported feeling safe at home, with no significant differences by gender or region. Spiritual connectedness was also strong. Many reported that spirituality brought a sense of purpose, gratitude to their lives, and inner peace and harmony. Strong spiritual values within the communities were identified as important to their wellbeing; approximately seventy-seven percent expressed comfort in speaking to their faith leaders about their problems. Financial insecurity emerged as a significant obstacle (60%), however, eighty-four (84%) expressed confidence in finding work they liked, and most (88%) believed their future work would support them financially. Findings represent a first step in gaining a cross-cultural perspective of adolescent views on human flourishing. Findings may have implications for policymakers and decision-makers seeking to understand human flourishing among adolescents, and strategies to enable their flourishing.