Substance use, mental health and quality of life among beneficiaries of Uganda Youth Development Link

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between substance use, mental health and quality of life among youths of Uganda Youth Development Link. The objectives of the study were to determine the level of substance use, mental health and general quality of life among youths of UYDEL, to examine the relationship between substance use and quality of life, to establish the relationship between mental health and quality of life and to find out the relationship between substance use and mental health. The study was adopted using a correlational survey design and it involved a sample of 100 beneficiaries from UYDEL, both male and female. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires and later analyzed the data using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social scientists). The findings show that there is a weak relationship between substance use and quality of life (r=-352, p=.002), the study also found out that there was a weak relationship between mental health and quality of life ( r=-264, p=.01 ). Further more, the study discovered a strong relationship between substance use and mental health (r=.445 , p=.001 ). These findings provide a foundation for interventions to be created in order to facilitate better mental health and good quality of life among youths plus helping them overcome the use of substances.