Self-Reported Mental Health Benefits and Impacts of Vocational Skills Training in a Low-Resource Setting
The Lived Experience of Young Women Residing in the Urban Slums of Kampala, Uganda
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15514930 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Monica H Swahn (0000-0002-6663-3885, Virginia Commonwealth University, corresponding author), Matthew J Lyons (0000-0002-2112-3371, Kennesaw State University), Jennifer A Wade-Berg (0000-0003-2744-1087, Kennesaw State University), Jane Palmier (Kennesaw State University), Rachel E Culbreth (0009-0000-7463-3490, Kennesaw State University), Anna Nabulya (0000-0001-7572-8731, Uganda Youth Development Link, Kampala P.O. Box 12659, Uganda), Rogers Kasirye (0000-0003-0365-4379, Uganda Youth Development Link, Kampala P.O. Box 12659, Uganda) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue | 11 |
| Pages | 1698-1698 |
| Publication date | 2025-11-11 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601 |
| Publisher | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3390/ijerph22111698 |
| PMID | 41302644 |
| OpenAlex | W4416101652 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 21 |
Vocational training can lead to higher employment rates and improved incomes, particularly for young women in low-resource settings like Kampala's slums. Despite these benefits, further research is needed to understand the full impact and mechanisms of vocational training on youth in low-resource environments. In 2022, a focus group project, part of a larger study, involved 60 women aged 18 to 24, recruited from three Youth Support Centers operated by the Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDEL) in Kampala. Six focus groups (about 10 women in each group) were held to explore urban stress and how vocational training might mitigate social and environmental stressors and improve mental health. Data analysis conducted using NVivo software identified five key themes: economic benefits, skill development, building confidence and self-esteem, improved social and behavioral well-being, and enhanced lifestyle and quality of life. This formative research underscores that vocational training benefits young women, highlighting outcomes such as job acquisition, financial empowerment, and skill development. Additionally, self-esteem and confidence development emphasize the training's role in fostering mental health and agency and addressing gender inequality. These findings underscore the value of vocational training in enhancing the mental health and overall well-being of young women and suggest areas for future research for how to best optimize and scale these programs in low-resource settings
Agency (philosophy · Focus group · Formative assessment · Mental health · Scale (ratio · Stressor · Training (meteorology · Vocational education · Career Development and Diversity · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare · Sociopolitical Dynamics in Nepal
Systematic review exploring time trends in the association between educational attainment and risk of HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa
Comprehensive School and Vocational Training in Spain. A Longitudinal Approach from the Transition from Lower to Upper Secondary Education
A Qualitative Assessment of Place and Mental Health
Risky behaviors of youth living in the slums of Kampala
Safe spaces, vocational training, and prevention programs protect young Ugandan women
A Vocational Recovery Model for Young People With Mental Illness
Youth poverty, employment and livelihoods
To vocationalise or not to vocationalise? Perspectives on current trends and issues in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Africa
Using thematic analysis in psychology
A Road Map to Vocational Education and Training in Industrialized Countries
| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |