Guilt and depression in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda

Abstract

After the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, hundreds of thousands of people were convicted and sentenced for genocide-related crimes. Many are now being released from prisons and community service camps. This study evaluates the mental health of 168 Rwandans nearing release and at two points after, focusing on the relative significance of the circumstances surrounding their crime, the procedures used in their conviction, the characteristics of their sentence, and the conditions tied to reentry and reintegration. Results indicate that the most important determinant of emotional well-being is acceptance of guilt for participating in genocide, a paradoxical finding given the otherwise strong positive association between guilt and depression. In our models, accepting guilt in genocide improves mental health more than factors related to the administration of justice, such as confession or perceived procedural fairness, the characteristics of the crime, and the conditions surrounding confinement. Additional analyses show that guilt enhances mental health in part through social acceptance and better relationships. Although the circumstances surrounding genocide and the transitional justice period that followed are unique, the results speak to the potentially important role of the meaning of conviction, culpability, and acceptance in understanding the long-term emotional consequences of crime and punishment.