Psychological well-being of orphans in orphanage homes: examining the effectiveness of trauma-focused training

ABSTRACT Objective Orphanhood can be traumatic and detrimental to adolescents' psychological well-being. This study examined the effectiveness of Trauma-Focused Training (TFT) in improving psychological well-being among orphans in orphanage homes. Methods A pretest-posttest randomised control group design was employed. Fifty-two adolescents from an orphanage in Ibadan, Nigeria, were randomly assigned to a TFT group (n = 26) or a supportive counselling control group (n = 26). The Brief Scale Psychological Well-being - Adolescents (α = 0.89) was administered at pretest and three months post-intervention. Results Groups had comparable baseline well-being (t(50) = 1.12, p = .268). The TFT group showed a significant improvement from pretest (M = 37.53, SD = 6.98) to posttest (M = 71.08, SD = 24.73), whereas the control group showed no change. Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed a significant Time × Treatment interaction (F(1, 50) = 44.01, p < .001, η²p = .468), indicating TFT was associated with significantly greater improvement than control. Both effect sizes were large (η²p = .498 and .468). Conclusion TFT was associated with significantly greater psychological well-being among orphans, with large effect sizes indicating practical significance. Adopting TFT interventions is recommended for mental health practitioners working with vulnerable adolescents in orphanage settings. Future research should examine long-term sustainability and cross-cultural effectiveness.