Assessment of self-reported relationship between trauma-informed approaches and mental health disorders among young adults: comparative study of Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates

The relationship between trauma-informed approaches and mental health disorders among youths remains underexplored in non-Western contexts in particular. This study aims to investigate the role of trauma-informed approaches in explaining the variance of mental health disorders among young adults across Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates. One thousand-eight hundred and 71 young adults from four countries completed the individual Trauma Identification and Management Scale and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale. The data were subjected to hierarchical multiple regression and moderation analyses. The findings of the study indicate that the identification of trauma contributes uniquely to the variance observed in anxiety and stress levels, while the implementation of trauma-informed practices serves as a significant predictor of depression. The study concludes by recommending targeted training initiatives and underscores the necessity for policymakers to collaborate with higher education institutions to formulate effective trauma and mental health policies.