Contribution of community-based sociotherapy interventions for the psychological well-being of Rwandan youths born to genocide perpetrators and survivors: analysis of the stories telling of a sociotherapy approach

Abstract

Background Psychological well-being (PWB) refers to inter- and intra-individual levels of positive functioning that include one’s relatedness with others and self-referent attitudes that include one’s sense of mastery and personal growth. PWB consists of hedonism and eudaimonia building on thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Sociotherapy is a community-based health intervention that contributes to the promotion of PWB worldwide. Starting from an analysis of trauma transmitted from the perpetrators and survivors of the Rwandan genocide to their descendants, this article is aimed at exploring the contribution of therapeutic sessions to PWB among youth. Method A qualitative study design based on shared testimonies was carried out. Field reports from the sociotherapists, written texts, and testimonies of changes presented in the conviviality meetings were analyzed using transactional analysis. We included 24 reflexive texts upon completion of 8 months of the therapeutic program. Results Results indicated that before sociotherapy sessions, youth born to genocide survivors and perpetrators had psychosocial distress, including low self-esteem, hopelessness, anxiety, stigma, thoughts of revenge, shame, depression, and antisocial behaviors. Sociotherapy significantly contributed to the reduction of these psychosocial problems. Participating youth reported feeling safe, trusted, respected, and healthier than before the sociotherapy. This intervention created inner healing, social cohesion, alleviated their sufferings of trauma, restored their families and contributed to community resilience. Results revealed that youth developed PWB, helping them to what appeared to be psychosocial problems as being potentially healthy, enhancing self-acceptance, and respecting humanity. Youth also became the vector for the reconciliation and reconstruction of their humanity. Conclusion Sociotherapy is a community health intervention that has an effective outcome on the personal well-being of of youth. This therapy impacted the individual, social, and familial resilience of youth who developed their capacity to regain and maintain health. The intervention restored their PWB, characterized by increased positive functioning specifically in the areas of autonomy, ecological mastery, individual growth, purpose in life, good relationships with others, and improved self-esteem.

A Refugee Rose of competencies and capabilities for mental healthcare of refugees

“…Such interventions necessarily must work at the complex intersections of multiple adversities, socioeconomic adversity, and isolation and victimisation. 47 , 48 Only through such innovations will we address the complexity of need among those facing historical and contemporary adversity while continuing to live in positions of marginalisation and exclusion. Unpacking the institutional and societal drivers of such intersectional inequalities, including discrimination and racism, have been exposed by the recent COVID0-19 pandemic, 49 , 50 showing that social and health systems reforms are needed.…”

Purpose in Life

“…Several novel approaches incorporating cognitive behavioral and positive psychology techniques include “Taking a Chance on Change” (Folk et al, 2016), “Changing Lives and Changing Outcomes” (Lester et al, 2022), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy–oriented interventions (Zarling and Russell, 2022). Finally, 20–30-year-old Rwandan participants in a demonstration sociotherapy project for highly traumatized youth (born to genocide perpetrators and survivors) marked by stigma, thoughts of revenge, shame, depression, and antisocial behaviors reported improved purpose in life, good relationships with others, and self-esteem, in addition to improvements in other aspects of psychological well-being (Biracyaza and Habimana, 2020). This program utilized a variety of group education and discussion techniques along the lines of massive social reeducation programs used historically in attempts to change perspectives and attitudes.…”

Designing Knowledge Economies for Disaster Resilience

“…The approach of socio-therapy as a clinical eff ort was adapted to the Rwandan context for dealing with the eff ects of the genocide among the genocide survivors and their descendants, and genocide prisoners and ex-prisoners and their descendants. The approach aimed at promoting an eff ective reintegration, reduction of transgenerational legacies of genocide, and empowerment of local leaders, teachers, and church leaders to fi nd solutions to problems associated with the eff ects of genocide (Biracyaza and Habimana 2020). Often, families entered the therapeutic setting, in socio-therapy, with complex trauma histories and intergenerational trauma that may persist for a long time when not addressed using the appropriate interventions such as community-parent-based and community-youth-based interventions.…”