2025 IJRSE – Volume 14 Issue 6
Available Online: 10 April 2025
Author/s:
Ngwa, Irine Bih
The University of Bamenda, Cameroon (irinengwa57@gmail.com)
Lilian, Fai Wiysahnyuy*
The University of Bamenda, Cameroon (fai_lilian@yahoo.com)
Lum, Jacqueline Bobga
The University of Bamenda, Cameroon (Lumja6268@yahoo.com)
Abstract:
The socio-political crisis in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon has led to heightened insecurity and forced many to seek asylum in safer grounds. Mezam Division is one of those localities hosting Internally Displaced Students (IDS). These students face challenges that somehow impact on their psychological wellbeing. Some of them often exhibit symptoms of loneliness, low self-esteem, demonstrate lack of skills to engage with school and other related activities. This psychological exigency might require assistance from parents, school authorities or their peers. It is against this backdrop that this study aimed at examining the influence of instrumental support on the psychological wellbeing of internally displaced students in Mezam Division of Cameroon. An embedded mixed method research design was used combining simultaneous collection of both quantitative and qualitative data with the use of questionnaire and a focus group discussion guide from 331 IDS selected from 15 schools in Mezam Division. Quantitative data were analysed using percentages, frequencies, mean and standard deviation, while qualitative data was thematically analysed. The findings showed that the provision of instrumental support significantly influenced the psychological wellbeing of internally displaced students. This implies that IDS who constantly received support like books, fees and food, develop aspects of psychological wellbeing like; a sense of belonging, positive self-esteem and positive relationships. Based on these findings, it is recommended that school authorities and other stakeholders should offer practical assistance to IDS such as school supplies, learning materials, library services, educative websites and textbooks.
Keywords: instrumental support, internally displaced students, psychological wellbeing
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2025.25042
Cite this article:
Ngwa, I. B., Lilian, F. W., & Lum, J. B. (2025). Instrumental support and psychological wellbeing of internally displaced secondary school students in Mezam Division, North West Region of Cameroon. International Journal of Research Studies in Education, 14(6), 235-246. https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2025.25042
* Corresponding Author