PERSONAL FACTORS AS PREDICTORS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AMONG INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS

Victor Chidi Onyencho,Said Mohammed Jidda,Sadique Kwajaffa Pindar,Anthony Ali Mshelia,Abdu Wakawa Ibrahim,Linus Bagwai John

doi:10.37708/psyct.v13i1.391

Abstract

Displacement as a result of conflict or insurgency creates a permanent scar on the survivor with physical, psychological and social sequels; however personal factors play a significant role. Therefore, this study investigated personal factors as predictors of psychological distress among internally displaced persons in Maiduguri, Nigeria. In this cross-sectional study of survey type, the multi-stage sampling techniques were employed, and cluster sampling techniques were used to select two Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs) camps. Two hundred and one IDPs residing in the camps were selected using purposive sampling techniques. Their age ranged between 18 and 65 years (M = 37.2; SD = 1.6). The results of Multiple Regression analysis showed that personality traits and a demographic factor (sex) jointly predicted psychological distress among IDPs. The variables jointly accounted for 22% variation R2 = .215 on psychological distress. Regarding the individual contribution, neuroticism ß = .166; t = 2.34; p .05, conscientiousness ß = -.233; t = -3.36; p .05, openness to experience ß = -.169; t = -2.45; p .05 and sex ß = -.352; t = 5.17; p .05 made a significant prediction on IDPs psychological disturbances. The findings of this study revealed that the personal characteristics of an individual had a predictive influence on psychological distress among IDPs in Maiduguri, Nigeria.

Highlights

Displacement as a result of conflict or insurgency creates a permanent scar on the survivor with physical, psychological and social sequels; personal factors play a significant role
Conscientiousness negatively correlated with psychological distress r(199) = -.188, p < .05, this implies that the lower an Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs) conscientiousness the more prone to experience psychological distress
This study investigated the predictive role of personal factors on psychological distress among internally displaced persons in Maiduguri

Summary

Introduction

Displacement as a result of conflict or insurgency creates a permanent scar on the survivor with physical, psychological and social sequels; personal factors play a significant role. This study investigated personal factors as predictors of psychological distress among internally displaced persons in Maiduguri, Nigeria. In this cross-sectional study of survey type, the multi-stage sampling techniques were employed, and cluster sampling techniques were used to select two Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs) camps. The crisis has made 1.5 million Nigerians from North Eastern geopolitical zone flee to perceived safer parts of the country and neighboring countries, about 13,000 - 17, 500 death was recorded (International Displacement Monitoring Centre ‘’IDMC’’, 2014); Borno state was the most affected state in north-eastern Nigeria, with 1,439, 953 IDPs, followed by Adamawa state, with 178,977 IDPs, and Yobe state with 136,662 IDPs; in Taraba, Bauchi and Gombe states, 67,111 IDPs, 61,265 IDPs, and 34,540 IDPs were recorded respectively (International Organisational for MigrationDisplaced Tracking Matrix, 2018). Psychological distress is a state of mind in which an individual’s manifest

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Conclusion