THE EFFECT OF DOCUDRAMA FILMS ON PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AMONG URBAN WOMEN REFUGEES IN NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA. BY ELIUD K. SITUMA M88/10932/2008 A RESEARCH THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF CREATIVE ARTS, FILM AND MEDIA STUDIES IN FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (FILM TECHNOLOGY) OF KENYATTA UNIVERSITY MARCH 2018 i DECLARATION I declare that this Thesis is my original work and has not been submitted to any other higher institution of learning for academic credit Signed Date Eliud K Situma (B.Ed , M.A, MBA) M88/10932/2008 Supervisors This thesis has been submitted for review with our approval as university supervisors Signature Date Dr. John Mugubi (Department of Film and Theatre Arts, Kenyatta University) Signature_____________________________________Date___________________ Dr Christine Wasanga (Department of Psychology, Kenyatta University) ii DEDICATION This research is dedicated to my family. You have been a pillar to my success. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I sincerely acknowledge my two supervisors: Dr John Mugubi and Dr Christine Wasanga for the tireless effort of shaping my research. Your timely feedback and moral support was invaluable. I thank Kenyatta University for the scholarship and conducive environment to study. Dr Oliver Mbayi, thanks for being the therapist. You made all therapy sessions interesting. Much appreciation to Kayole Catholic church for offering a venue where the therapy sessions were conducted. My research could have been incomplete without the support of my research assistants who helped me in data collection and analysis. Thanks a million, Norman Shitote, Brian Meche, Nancy Kobado, Phylis Wanjiru, Paul Patrick Kariuki, Vigilance Atieno, Alice Kombani, Carolyne Khakasa, Evelyne Kamau and Evans Mbogai. I am happy you volunteered to work with me. I extend my gratitude to Chepng‟eno Mutai, Racheal Wanjiru and all graduate school staff who supported me. I also acknowledge Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK), UNHCR Department of Public Communication and Film Aid. Without your kind guidance and coordination, I would have never succeeded in getting the respondents for this study. To my church members and Pastor, your fervent prayers have been answered. Finally, may God richly bless all the participants who volunteered to be part of this study. Every Wednesday you were there waiting for me. You never gave up amidst many challenges. , iv ABSTRACT The study sought to investigate how docudrama film could be used as a psychotherapeutic tool among traumatized women refugees. The objectives of the study were: to establish the levels of psychological distress, establish whether cinematic techniques affect psychological distress, and investigate the effectiveness of docudrama films on the levels of psychological distress among urban women refugees. The study employed mixed method research design which covered both qualitative and quantitative approaches. A population of 48 participants was purposively sampled for this study. Participatory action approach, observation and Interview methods were used in data collection. The study used questionnaires, psychological distress scale, Beck‟s depression inventory, interview guide, observation guide and content analysis guide as research instruments. Paired T-test was conducted in order to establish the significance of relationship between the two groups. The major findings resulting from the analysis show that cinematic techniques and enactment greatly play a role in reducing psychological distress levels as well depression. Also, the study establishes that docudrama films help to reduce both psychological distress and depression levels among female refugees. Consequently, the study concludes that protagonists, if portrayed positively, help the viewers recover from their psychological distress and depression. It also concludes that cinematography techniques hold healing and therapeutic value if utilized in psychosocial supportive environment. In its recommendations, the study points towards further research on using docudrama film on male refugees and use of other genre of films, besides docudrama, as a therapeutic tool on traumatized groups. The study also recommends use of comparative analysis to determine how film impacts differently on other groups of refugees like Somalis and those who stay in camps. On the industry, it further recommends film to be used together with other traditional methods in helping recover traumatized refugees. Finally, it recommends that film makers and institutions offering film studies should train their students‟ crew on the correct choice of cinematography when making docudramas meant for therapeutic use. v ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS EMDR Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing FGD Focus Group Discussion UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder NACOSTI National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation vi DEFINITIONS OF KEY TERMS Attitude change - Change in behaviour based on consequences. The alteration in the strength on content of an attitude. Docudrama - Is a genre of film which features dramatized re-enactments of actual events. Perception - The way we think about or understand someone or something. Psychotherapy - The treatment of a behaviour disorders, mental illness, or any other condition by psychological means. Psychotherapeutic - The treatment of mental and emotional disorders through the use of psychological techniques designed to encourage communication of conflicts and insight into problems, with the goal being relief of symptoms, changes in behaviour leading to improved social and vocational functioning, and personality growth. Psychotherapeutic tool - Assortment of techniques focusing on assisting the client in having a healthier mental and emotional life. Refugee - A person who flees to a foreign country or power to escape danger or persecution. Trauma - An emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape or natural disaster. Traumatic experience - Emotional and psychological trauma as a result of extraordinary stressful events that shatters ones sense of security making one feel helpless and vulnerable in a dangerous environment. Trauma treatment - Strategies and support that can speed up a client‟s recovery. vii TABLE OF CONTENT DECLARATION........................................................................................................ ii DEDICATION........................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.........................................................................................iv ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................v ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ..................................................................vi DEFINITIONS OF KEY TERMS.......................................................................... vii LIST OF TABLES .....................................................................................................xi LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................. xii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION .......................................................................1 1.0 Background ...................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................... 4 1.3 Research Goal ................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Objectives of the Study ...................................................................................... 5 1.5 Research Questions ............................................................................................ 5 1.6 Justification and Significance of the Study........................................................... 5 1.7 Scope, Limitations and Delimitations .................................................................. 6 1.8 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 7 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ..........................................................9 2.0 Introduction....................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Review of Film as Therapeutic Tool.................................................................... 9 2.1.2 A Review of Trauma, Psychological Distress and Depression ...................... 20 2.1.3 Docudrama Elements ............................................................................... 24 2.1.3 Refugee Environment and Women Psychosocial Status ............................. 27 viii 2.1.4 Synopsis of Live and Become and The Good Lie ........................................ 31 2.2: Theoretical Framework ......................................................................................... 34 2.2.1: Psychoanalytic Film Theory........................................................................... 35 2.2.2: Psycho Dramatic Theory ................................................................................ 36 2.2.3: The Trauma Theory........................................................................................ 39 2. 3 Conceptual Framework .................................................................................... 41 2.4 Conclusion