Conrad Murendo

Save the Children, Afghanistan

Title: Climate change effects on depressive symptomology among adolescents in rural areas of Afghanistan

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Biography

Conrad Murendo (PhD) is a Research, Evidence and Learning Manager with Save the Children, Afghanistan. Previous was a Strategic Learning Advisor at Mercy Corps and CARE International, Zimbabwe. He holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of Goettingen, Germany. His research experiences are in food security, nutrition, resilience, child poverty, child education, protection and mental health.

Abstract

Background: The mental health of populations in a humanitarian crisis is shaped by the climatic, economic, social and physical environment. Climate change effects on mental health problems among adolescents have been identified in very few isolated studies. Research into how climate change can affect mental health of adolescents affected by humanitarian crises, is still in its infancy. This study analyzes the influence of climate change on depressive symptomology among adolescents in Afghanistan.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1416 adolescents and 1416 parents and/or caregivers in seven provinces of Afghanistan. Climate change induced food shortages and exposure to environmental hazards are the two dummy variables used to denote climate change effects. Mental health was measured by the occurrence of depression. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the association between climate change effects on mental health.

Results: The multivariate logistic regression results revealed that adolescents suffering from climate change induced food insecurity were 1.97 times more likely to exhibit symptoms of depression (OR = 1.97; p < 0.000). Adolescents exposed to environmental hazards were 3.12 times more likely to exhibit depressive behavior (OR = 3.12; p < 0.000). In addition, we found that climate change effects on mental health were more pronounced among girls than boys.

Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that climate change induced food insecurity and environmental hazards increased depressive symptomology among adolescents. Interventions that promote climate change mitigation and adaptations are needed to reduce mental health problems among adolescents.