Institutional care conditions, common mental disorders and academic performance among the children of music, life skills, and destitution alleviation (M-LISADA) organization in Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

The present study sought to examine the relationship between institutional care conditions, common mental disorders and academic performance of children in the “Music, Life Skills, and Destitution Alleviation” (M-LISADA) institution in Uganda. Objectives were: (1) to establish the relationship between institutional care conditions and common mental disorders; (2) to examine the relationship between common mental disorders and academic performance; (3) to explore the relationship between institutional care conditions and academic performance; and (4) to determine if common mental disorders mediate the relationship between institution care and academic performance. One hundred and one children in the institutional care were selected into the study using convenience sampling strategy. Pearson product moment correlation coefficient was used to test the relationship between the first three objectives. The conditions to analyze mediation were not met so it was determined that the common mental disorders did not have a mediating effect. Results: The finding indicated that there is significant relationship between ICC and AP; there is no significant relationship between common mental disorders and academic performance; there is no relationship between common mental disorders and institutional care conditions; and common mental disorders did not mediate the relationship between institutional care conditions and academic performance. Conclusively, stakeholders in institutional care should ensure the care conditions are maintained to high standards in order to promote good academic performance.