Serially mediated effects of psychological inflexibility on quality of life of refugees in Uganda during coronavirus pandemic

This study examines how psychological inflexibility affected the quality of life of refugees in Uganda during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research tests whether psychological inflexibility lowered quality of life and whether these effects were serially mediated by avoidance coping, perceived threat, adherence to COVID-19 control measures, and general mental health states. Conducted among refugees in Kampala city suburbs and Bidibidi refugee settlement, the study involved 353 participants and used survey data collected during the partial reopening of the economy in mid-2020. Results revealed that psychological inflexibility was negatively associated with perceived threat, adherence, and quality of life, while being positively associated with avoidance coping and poor mental health. The findings suggest that psychological inflexibility is a maladaptive attribute that worsens mental health problems and quality of life, particularly among vulnerable populations like refugees in low-income countries.