Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Family Functioning Among Internally Displaced Persons in Bor Town, South Sudan
Abstract
This embedded mixed-methods study examined the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and family functioning among 384 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Bor Town, South Sudan, using the PTSD Checklist-5 (PCL-5) and the McMaster Family Assessment Device. Findings revealed an alarmingly high PTSD prevalence, with 55.2% of participants scoring between 50 and 75 on the PCL-5, indicating significant symptom severity. Gender differences in symptom presentation were notable, with men exhibiting externalizing behaviors such as hypervigilance and aggression, while women displayed internalizing symptoms, including emotional numbing and dissociation. Family functioning was distributed across three categories: 13.3% of families exhibited severe dysfunction, 63.3% demonstrated moderate functioning, and 23.4% were classified as healthy. A significant positive correlation was found between PTSD severity and family dysfunction (r = 0.216, p < 0.01), supporting Bowen’s Family Systems Theory. Qualitative interviews with 10 participants revealed cultural preservation as a key resilience factor, with 50.8% expressing satisfaction in maintaining traditions despite displacement. Conversely, economic deprivation was a major stressor, with 46.6% reporting dissatisfaction due to financial instability. The study recommends integrated interventions that combine trauma- informed family therapy with economic empowerment, tailored to the cultural context of South Sudanese IDPs.
Keywords
Posttraumatic stress, family functioning, internally displaced persons, South Sudan, humanitarian crisis.
Citation
Agoth, E.J.D., Muasa, W.P., & Gichimu, L.W. (2025). Posttraumatic stress disorder and family functioning among internally displaced persons in Bor Town, South Sudan. Journal of Africana Articles, 3(23), 1-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15373383
