Family violence, depression and substance abuse among adolescents. A Case study of Kawempe high school

Abstract

The study was conducted at Kawempe High School, Kawempe Division, in Kampala Capital City Authority. The main objective of the study was to investigate the relationship between family violence, substance use, and depression among adolescents. The study adopted the use of correlational research design was used to investigate the relationship and sampled 50 senior students as study respondents. The study found a positive significant relationship between family violence and depression among adolescents since p-value = 0.038 was less than 0.05. The study findings also revealed that 86% of the respondents ever feel guilty of ever using drugs, 76% reported that drug abuse created problems between them and their parents. 56% of those using have ever lost friends because of your use of drugs. The study found a positive significant relationship between family violence and depression among adolescents (p-value < 0.05) and r = 0.127. All respondents had never had medical problems related to drug abuse, 90% had never gone anywhere to seek help for drug use problem. Study findings also revealed a significant positive relationship between Substance use and depression among adolescents (p-value<0.05) and r = 0.298 and those that have ever used drugs are more likely to be depressed. The study concluded that adolescents who are victims and witnesses of domestic violence also experience depressive symptoms and become depressed, these adolescents undergoing depression are unaware or lack access to appropriate mental health professionals and services, therefore, resort to self-medication, abusing a variety of substances as a means to cope with the depression. The study recommended that Secondary schools should employ mental health professionals, for example, a counselor or a psychologist among others who can educate adolescents about domestic violence and its effects such as depression which can lead to substance abuse and availing them with information on how to cope with these situations.