Physical Activity Reduces Anxiety and Depression in Youth Affected by Displacement: a Randomized Controlled Trial of the Game Connect Program in Uganda

In 2020, the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) initiated Game Connect, a sport-for-protection project in Uganda. The current study lasted from September 2022 to August 2023. The project was executed by a consortium led by non-governmental organizations including AVSI Foundation, Right to Play, Youth Sport Uganda, the Uganda Olympic Committee, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Included districts were Kampala, Rwamwanja, Palabek, Adjumani, and Kyangwali as they host the largest refugee settlements. Also the surrounding host communities were included. A total of 1,912 potential villages that could be targeted were identified, some of which were grouped in clusters. The decision to cluster villages was influenced by factors such as the limited number of young people in some villages and proximity of households to each other despite living in different villages. In total, 869 villages out of the 1,912 were at random selected for inclusion in the program. Block randomization was applied to ensure equal representation across the targeted districts. Following selection of the villages, all youth in selected villages were identified. Eligible participants in the selected 869 villages of the five catchment areas were: (a) young displaced or host-community adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 24 years, and (b) at least mild symptoms of anxiety and/ or depression, defined as a Patient Health Questionnaire -9, adolescent version (PHQ-9-A) (Spitzer et al., 1999) and / or the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) (Spitzer et al., 2006) score of 5 or higher. Those with severe depression (PHQ-9-A≥20) and / or anxiety (GAD-7≥15) were eligible to participate, but additionally referred to local services for specialized support. Eligible young people were at random allocated to either 12 weeks of physical activity or to 12 weeks in a waiting control condition. All participants completed at baseline and immediately post-intervention the interviewer-administered PHQ-9-A (Spitzer et al., 1999) and GAD-7 (Spitzer et al., 2006). An independent team of well-trained research assistants performed the interviews to minimize potential bias. The research assistants were recruited locally from refugee settlements and surrounding host communities. Data collection tools were pretested to ensure coherence and understandability of questions before the actual data collection commenced. Ethical approval was obtained from the Makerere University School of Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee and the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology. Informed written assent was obtained from all participants. Consent was secured from the current caregivers of youths aged 15-17 years.