PSYCHOSOCIAL WELLBEING OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS IN DEDER AND GORO GUTU WOREDAS OF EAST HARARGE ZONE; OROMIYA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the psychosocial well-being of protracted internally displaced people (IDPs) residing in collective centers in Deder and Goro Gutu woredas of East Hararge Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. A descriptive research design was employed with 279 randomly selected IDPs displaced from the Somali Regional State and currently living in 10 collective shelters. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires and analyzed through descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics, specifically independent sample t-tests. Results revealed poor psychological well-being, particularly in environmental mastery (M = 1.73, SD = 0.90) and personal growth (M = 1.81, SD = 0.97), alongside generally low social well-being (M = 1.90, SD = 0.65), with social acceptance (M = 1.75, SD = 0.97) and social contribution (M = 1.81, SD = 0.90) scoring lowest. Purpose in life scored highest (M = 4.08, SD = 1.08), indicating that respondents retained a sense of meaning despite adverse conditions. Comparisons across gender and marital status showed slight differences, but none were statistically significant, suggesting that demographic variables exert minimal influence on psychosocial outcomes. In conclusion, the findings demonstrate that psychosocial well-being among protracted IDPs is shaped far more by common displacement-related stressors such as confinement in collective shelters, disrupted livelihoods and social networks, loss of property, and inadequate services than by demographic characteristics. This aligns with previous studies emphasizing that trauma exposure, coping strategies, and the quality of community integration are stronger determinants of well-being than socio-demographic factors. The study recommends that government institutions, NGOs, and other stakeholders prioritize interventions that strengthen social support networks, promote psychological empowerment, facilitate reintegration and rehabilitation, and expand access to mental health services to enhance resilience and community integration among displaced populations.