Abstract

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The study design employed is a cross-sectional approach. Data was collected at a single point in time, providing insights into the students’ perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes regarding the subject matter. The area of study is imo state university, owerri. The population of study includes active students of imo state university, owerri above 18 years willing to participate. sample size of 424 was used and was determined using standard normal variate. The findings of this study revealed that. The students generally displayed good knowledge and positive attitudes toward mental disorders and their treatment. However, some of them maintained negative perceptions regarding how to approach an individual with a mental disorder, which resulted in doubt and fear. Differences in age, education level, and faculty affiliation were associated with knowledge of mental disorders. Based on the findings, recommendation were made, To increase university students’ awareness of their mental health, gaining insight into the gaps in perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes regarding mental health disorders and how they are treated is needed. Perceptions and attitudes are two factors that affect an individual’s everyday life. Awareness programs and campaigns focusing on mental health disorders and their treatment must be implemented to increase students’ perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes. Social media can also be considered to disseminate information on mental health as well as prevention efforts.

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Mental health disorders continue to be a significant global concern, affecting individuals of all ages and backgrounds. In recent years, there has been an increased focus on understanding and addressing mental health issues, particularly among university students. The transition to university life can be a period of significant change and stress, making students vulnerable to mental health challenges.

The Nigerian university student population is particularly vulnerable to mental health disorders due to the stress associated with academic work, social pressures, and financial constraints. Adeosun et al. (2018) conducted a study that found the prevalence of depressive symptoms among undergraduate students of a Nigerian university to be 49.3%, with anxiety being another prevalent disorder. The study also found that there was a lack of awareness and understanding of mental health disorders and their treatment options among the students.

The findings of this study highlight the urgent need for mental health awareness campaigns and interventions targeted towards Nigerian university students. Such interventions could include mental health education programs, counselling services, and support groups. By addressing the mental health needs of Nigerian university students, we can help create a healthier and more productive student population, which will ultimately contribute to the development of the country as a whole.

A mental health disorder, also referred to as a mental illness or psychiatric disorder, is a condition that affects a person’s thoughts, emotions, behaviour, and overall mental well-being (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). It involves disturbances in thinking, mood, perception, or behaviour that result in significant distress or impaired functioning in various areas of life, such as work, relationships, and daily activities.

Mental health disorders encompass a wide range of conditions, each with its unique symptoms, causes, and treatment approaches. Some common types of mental health disorders include depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and eating disorders, among others (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], n.d.). These conditions can vary in severity, duration, and impact on an individual’s life.

The etiology of mental health disorders is complex and involves a combination of genetic, biological, psychological, and environmental factors (APA, 2013). Biological factors may include imbalances in brain chemistry or changes in brain structure. Psychological factors can involve past traumas, unresolved conflicts, or maladaptive thought patterns. Environmental factors, such as traumatic events, chronic stress, or substance abuse, can also contribute to the development of mental health disorders.

It is important to note that mental health disorders are medical conditions that require appropriate diagnosis, treatment, and support (APA, 2013). They are not character flaws or signs of weakness. Seeking professional help from mental health practitioners, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, or counselors, can aid in understanding, managing, and treating mental health disorders effectively. With proper diagnosis and support, individuals with mental health disorders can lead fulfilling lives and achieve overall well-being.

In Nigeria, where mental health is often stigmatized and underprioritized, it is crucial to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and perception of mental health disorders and their treatment among university students. By understanding the perspectives and beliefs held by this specific demographic, effective strategies can be developed to promote mental health well-being and provide appropriate support.

Numerous studies have explored the knowledge, attitude, and perception of mental health disorders in various populations. A study by Atilola and Steyn (2012) revealed a lack of awareness and misconceptions about mental health issues among Nigerian undergraduate students. Similarly, a survey conducted by Abdulmalik et al. (2017) among Nigerian medical students found limited knowledge and negative attitudes towards mental health disorders.

However, the landscape of mental health awareness and support has evolved since these studies were conducted. With the growing recognition of mental health as a public health priority, it is essential to revisit and expand our understanding of the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions among university students in Imo state university.

With the advent of colonialism in Nigeria, Western medical practices and concepts began to influence the perception and management of mental health disorders. European medical professionals introduced the biomedical model, emphasizing biological causes and treatment of mental illnesses. Mental health institutions were established, primarily focusing on custodial care rather than therapeutic interventions.

• STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS

Despite the growing awareness of mental health disorders globally, there is limited understanding of the specific knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions towards mental health disorders and their treatment among students in Imo state University. This knowledge gap hinders the development and implementation of effective mental health support systems tailored to the unique needs of this student population. Understanding the specific challenges, misconceptions, and barriers that students in Imo state University face in relation to mental health disorders and their treatment is essential for designing targeted interventions and promoting a supportive campus environment.

Knowledge Gap: There is a lack of comprehensive knowledge about mental health disorders among students in Imo state University. Many students may have limited awareness of the various types of mental health disorders, their symptoms, and the available treatment options. This knowledge gap can contribute to stigma, misconceptions, and the underutilization of mental health services.

Attitudes and Perceptions: The attitudes and perceptions of students towards mental health disorders play a crucial role in determining help-seeking behaviours and the overall support provided to individuals experiencing mental health challenges. Negative attitudes, stereotypes, and a lack of empathy towards mental health disorders can create barriers to seeking help and hinder the establishment of a supportive campus culture.

Barriers to Treatment: Students in Imo state University may face specific barriers when accessing mental health treatment. These barriers can include financial constraints, lack of awareness about available services, stigma associated with seeking help, concerns about confidentiality, and a shortage of mental health professionals within university settings. Addressing these barriers is essential to ensure that students receive timely and appropriate care.

Campus Environment: The campus environment plays a crucial role in shaping the mental well-being of students. Factors such as academic pressure, social stressors, isolation, and inadequate support systems can contribute to the development or exacerbation of mental health disorders among students. Understanding the specific challenges within the Imo state University context is vital for creating a supportive environment that promotes positive mental health and well-being.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

1.3.1 Aim

The aim of the study is to comprehensively understand the perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes of Imo State University students toward mental health disorders. This study aims to contribute valuable insights that can inform targeted interventions and awareness programs, fostering a more informed and empathetic campus community with respect to mental health issues.

• SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE

1. To assess the level of knowledge of students in Imo State University towards mental health disorder,
2. To understand their attitudes and perceptions
3. To identify help-seeking behaviours, examine knowledge of available treatment options and Identify barriers to seeking treatment

1.4 HYPOTHESES

There is no significant difference in the level of awareness among Imo State University students regarding various mental health disorders across different demographic groups.

1.5 JUSTIFICATION OF STUDY

Mental health disorders are a significant concern among university students globally, and Nigeria is no exception. Research suggests that students often face unique stressors related to academic pressure, social adjustment, and personal challenges, which can contribute to the development or exacerbation of mental health disorders. Understanding the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of students towards mental health is crucial for addressing these concerns effectively. There is a lack of comprehensive understanding and awareness of mental health disorders among students in Nigerian universities. This knowledge gap may perpetuate stigma, lead to misconceptions, and hinder help-seeking behaviours. By conducting research on the topic, we can identify specific areas of knowledge that need improvement and work towards reducing the stigma associated with mental health disorders. Early identification and intervention are key factors in managing mental health disorders effectively. By studying the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of students, we can identify barriers that prevent early intervention and explore strategies to overcome them. This can lead to timely support and treatment, potentially reducing the negative impact of mental health disorders on students’ academic performance, personal lives, and overall well-being. Imo state university can benefit from having targeted interventions and support systems that address the specific needs and challenges faced by students regarding mental health. Understanding students’ attitudes and perceptions can guide the development of initiatives such as mental health awareness campaigns, counselling services, peer support programs, and resource allocation to enhance mental health support within the university settings.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This research work covered a vital contribute to the creation of a supportive campus environment that promotes positive mental health and well-being among students using a cross-sectional study which measures perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes of Imo State university students using convenience sampling through a self-administered questionnaire.

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Pages:  55

Category: Project

Format:  Word & PDF               

Chapters: 1-5                                          

Source: Imsuinfo

Material contains Table of Content, Abstract and References.

ABSTRACT

This study examined the influence of Gender And Locus of Control on the Psychological Well-Being Among Distance Learner’s in Owerri, a total of two hundred and thirty six (236) undergraduates were drawn for this study. Thr participants comprised of 118 male and 118 females, within the age range of 17-30 years and a mean age of 23.5. They were drawn from Imo State University Owerri. The participants were drawn using convenient sampling technique. The participants were administered with the internal Locus of Control Scale (LCS) and Symptom Distress Checklist 90 (SCL-90). Three hypotheses were postulated and tested and 2-Way ANOVA was used to analyze the data generated. Result showed that gender has significant influence on psychological well being, locus of control does not have significant influence on psychological wellbeing. Despite the findings of this study, it was recommended that further research should be carried out on the moderating effects of distant learners to cub the psychological distress they face.

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CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

 

Background to the Study

According to Huppert (2009), “Psychological well-being is about lives going well. It is the combination of feeling good and functioning effectively.” An individual with high psychological well-being is happy, capable, well-supported, satisfied with professional and personal life. Psychological well-being indicates physical and mental wellness. Singh (1990) has stated that psychological well-being is difficult to define. It has been taken to consist of discomfort or desirability and from any disturbance of mental functions. It bothers on people’s feelings, such feelings may range from negative mental states or psychological strains such as anxiety, depression, frustration, emotional exhaustion, unhappiness, dissatisfaction to a state which has been identified as positive mental health (Jahoda, 1958; Warr, 1974).

Psychological wellbeing refers to how life goes for a particular person. It is a cognitive judgmental process which gives an evaluation of a person’s life satisfaction according to his chosen criteria (Shin, 2012). This judgment of how satisfied an individual is with his state of affairs is based on comparison with a standard he sets for himself (Diener, 1984).

Scholars like Nevetuah (2008) opined that although everyone has an opinion about their psychological wellbeing but no one knows precisely what it means in general. In consonance with this, Shin (2012) added that this individualistic opinion of psychological wellbeing might even be an “idiosyncratic mysteries” which is conditioned in levels of variability in individuals. The concept was further corroborated by Lawton (1990), as involving a multi-dimensional evaluation of both intrapersonal and social normative criteria of an individual in the past, current and anticipated which he concluded is ultimately decided by his objective and subjective dimensions of his psychological well-being.

Early researchers inferred the psychological wellbeing of individuals through objective and subjective indicators with specific socially desirable responses to assess living conditions which may be in respect of the percentage of the unemployed labour force and crime rates. It may also be in terms of material well-being, health, productivity, intimacy, safety and emotional wellbeing. These indicators are satisfaction weighted by their importance to the individuals and also normative to a population or group (Cummins, 1997). Thus, where one individual may access his life as a whole by focusing on his employment status, another individual may focus his assessment on his relationships with family and friends.

The position of Cummins (1997) was supported by Bouchey, etal (2010) who proposed that the individual conceptualization of the psychological wellbeing depends on subjective evaluation, functional expression and emotional evaluation. Further related contributions by Swart (2004) who added as basic material needs are met, individuals move to a materialistic phase in which they are concerned with self-fulfillment and more attainment and concluded that psychological wellbeing should be considered on the basis of positive indicators like “ a basic satisfaction with oneself and one’s existence or life satisfaction”.

Psychological well-being is viewed in different ways. One views it according to the hedonic and eudaimonic approaches of early philosophers. Subjective well-being was coined by Ryan and Deci (2001) as composed of perception of pleasure, displeasure, satisfaction and happiness which runs along the hedonic approach. Another way is the eudaimonic approach or the psychological well-being model that takes into account the mechanisms of healthy functioning and adjustment. Psychological well-being (PWB) is said to be more stable than subjective well-being which could fluctuate with life experiences. It is also argued that PWB could lead to adaptive human functioning and positive life experiences. Other recent proposal take on the existential approach of psychological well-being that argues that the good life is not being free of pain and difficulties but one that is lived in spite of it. More recent model of psychological well-being is that of Carol Ryff (Ryff & Singer, 1998) that proposes a sixfactor model of psychological well-being. Ryff used the various views such as the developmental approach of Erikson, Buhler’s basic life tendencies, Neurgarten’s personality changes, Maslow’s conception of selfactualization, Allport’s conception of maturity, Roger’s conceptualization of fully-functioning person and Jung’s description of individuation to come up with her integrated model of psychological well-being.

Those models of psychological wellbeing are; (a) Autonomy is the regulation of one’s own behaviour through an internal locus of control (Ryff, 1989; Ryff & Keyes, 1995). A fully-functioning person has a high level of internal evaluation, assessing the self on personal standards and achievements while not relying on the standards of others. (b) Personal growth is the ability to develop and expand the self, to become a fully functioning person, to self-actualize and accomplish goals (Ryff, 1989; Ryff & Keyes, 1995). To achieve peak psychological functioning one must continue to develop the self through growth in various facets of life (Ryff, 1989). (c) Environmental mastery refers to choosing and controlling the surrounding and imagined environment through physical and/or mental actions (Ryff & Keyes, 1995). While a high level of environmental mastery reflects control over one’s context, a low level is related to inability to successful control one’s environment (Ryff, 1989). (d) Purpose in life refers to the perceived significance of one’s existence and involves the setting and reaching of goals, which contribute to the appreciation of life (Ryff, 1989; Ryff & Keyes, 1995). (e) Positive relation with others is an essential component in the development of trusting and lasting relationships as well as belonging to a network of communication and support (Ryff, 1989; Ryff & Keyes, 1995). (f) Self-acceptance is the most recurring aspect of psychological well-being. It is a fundamental feature of mental health and an element of optimal functioning (Ryff, 1989; Ryff & Keyes, 1995).

A gender difference is a distinction of biological and/or physiological characteristics typically associated with either male or female or species in general. While the social sciences sometimes approaches gender as a social construct and gender studies particularly do , research in the natural sciences investigates whether biological differences in males and females influences the development of gender in humans. Gender is the characteristics, whether biological or socially influenced, by which people are defined as male and female.

Gender differences in psychological well-being are important because of the many efforts being made in contemporary society to empower all individuals to achieve self-actualization and utilize their full potential. In a post feminist context this incorporates the idea of an “equal opportunities” society; yet social stereotypes still remain Perez (2012). All people are equal but not identical, and the possible differences between people need to be considered in order to empower all individuals to achieve self-actualization and to fulfill their potential (thereby promoting optimal psychological well-being), Whilst being offered equal opportunities

Investigating gender differences in psychological well-being is important as not all people are identical. Considering differences among them will help in the effort to empower individuals to achieve their full-potential and self-actualization. Recent studies on gender differences in psychological well-being have yielded contradictory findings (Ryff & Singer, 1998; Abbu-Rayya, 2005; Roothman et al., 2003) which underscores the need to study more on the impact of gender on important well-being outcomes.

Current studies on the existence of gender differences, including those related to psychological wellbeing reflect contradictory result and a distinct lack of consensus (Ryff and Singer, 1998; Strumpfer, 1995). Gender differences in psychological wellbeing are important because of the many efforts being made in contemporary society to empower all individuals to achieve self-actualization and utilize their full potential. In a post-feminist context this incorporates the idea of an “equal opportunities” society; yet social stereotypes still remain (Connors, 1990; Eagly,1987; Turner and Sterk, 1994). All people are but not identical, and the possible differences between need to be considered in order to empower all individuals to achieve self-actualization and to fulfill their potential (thereby promoting optimal psychological wellbeing), whilst being offered equal opportunities.

Based on previous studies and qualitative experiences, (Crose, Nicholas, Gobble and Frank, 1992) believe that gender differences do exist in almost every aspect of health and health care. In a Taiwanese study, Lu (2000) discovered gender differences while examining conjugal congruence on role experiences and psychological wellbeing, while (Stephens, Dulberg and Joubert, 1999) found gender differences in a study examining mental health in the Canadian population. Marks (1996) also found differences in her Wisconsin study, but ascribed these primary to marital status, which interacts with gender, rather than to gender differences

Locus of control is a personality construct developed by Julian B. Rotter in 1966, which refers to an individual’s perception of the locus of events as determined internally by his or her behaviour versus fate, luck or external circumstances (Ziegler, 2006). It is a belief about whether the outcomes of individual’s action are contingent on what we do or on events outside our personal control. Locus of control is equally the degree to which individuals believe that things that happen to them are due to internal versus external factors. These beliefs are rooted in individual’s actions and behavior.

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Locus of control plays a major role in one’s perception of situation and possible reactions on what is happening or should be happening. This has the ability of influencing one’s reactions to situations that are considered unacceptable. Individuals with internal locus of control believe that they can influence the outcomes of their lives. They also attribute their achievements in life to their skills, abilities and knowledge. They take pride in good outcomes and feel disappointed in bad outcomes (Bassey & Ezeh, 2005). A person with dominant external locus of control is convinced that anything that happens is the result of fate, luck or external powers and these believe often cause feelings of anger, frustration, depression and aggression (Swart, 2004).

Statement of the Problem

For long, attention of researchers, psychotherapist, psychologists, clinicians and social workers have focused more on psychological wellbeing of individuals thereby paying less attention to its vital definite determinants such as locus of control and gender-related factors. This has however created a big service information gap on the psychological wellbeing experienced by individuals most especially students. However, very few researchers have evaluated the effect of gender and locus of control as predictors of psychological wellbeing of individuals. This problem necessitates the need for the study.

Purpose of the Study

The researcher intends to know;

1. If gender will influence psychological well being among distant learners in Owerri
2. If locus of control will influence psychological wellbeing among distant learners in Owerri
3. If there will be an interactive effect of gender and locus of control on psychological wellbeing among distant learners in Owerri,

Operational Definition of Terms

Gender:  it is referred to as the biological sex of an individual usually male or female.

Locus of Control:   This refers to the degree to which people believe that they have control over the outcome of events in their lives, as opposed to external forces beyond their control. It is measured with Internal-External Locus of Control (I-ELCS) developed by Rotter (1966, 1975)

Psychological Wellbeing:  May be defined as one’s emotional and cognitive evaluations of his or her own life. It is measured using Symptom Distress Checklist 90 (SCL-90) developed by Derogatis, Lipman & Covi (1977).

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Pages:  53

Category: Project

Format:  Word & PDF         

Chapters: 1-5                                 

Material contains Table of Content, Abstract and References.

 

ABSTRACT

The study is on “Investigation of the Influence of Bystander Effect, Personality and Gender as Predictors of Prosocial Behavior among Undergraduates in Owerri”. The study has three specific objectives. Cross sectional Survey research design was used for the study. The population was two hundred and fifty (250) students whom were selected using convenient sampling technique due to the large population and the nature of the sampling (sampling size). The participants comprised of 144 females and 106 males. The age of the participants ranged from 18-31 years (M=24.5 SD=0.95) A questionnaire was used for data collection. The dividing of the study confirmed seven (7) hypotheses: the first null hypothesis which stated that bystander effect will not predict prosocial behaviour was rejected. This shows that bystander effect significantly predict prosocial behaviour. The second to sixth null hypotheses which stated that the Big five personality model (ie extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness to experience) were all accepted. This result implies that personality does not predict prosocial behaviour. And lastly the seventh null hypothesis which stated that gender will not significantly predict prosocial behaviour was accepted. This result shows that gender does not significantly predict prosocial behaviour. The study therefore recommended among others that People should change that mindset of “You must know someone” before you can help the person and the individual shouldn’t make it mandatory that a reward/incentive must be given first before rendering help to another. Individuals should try to help others without waiting for other bystanders to initiate help first before they can do so. People should not always wait to help others when only it’s an emergency or serious situation.

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

Background to the study

Prosocial behavior is a behavior that primarily benefits another, rather than oneself (Batson & Powell, 2013). Humans are inordinately helpful, not only do we help our kin and friends, we sometimes even help complete strangers. There are good reasons for this, first by helping someone; we increase the chances that we will be helped later, either by that person (direct reciprocity, Fehr, Gachter & Kirchsteiger 1997) or by others (indirect reciprocity, Seinen & Schram 2015). Thus, helping can enhance our reputations (Milinski, Semmann, & Krambeck 2013). Secondly, helping social partners we are dependesnt on benefiting in the long run, as it means that they are likely to be available as cooperative partners in the future (a phenomenon known as Mutualism, Tomasello, Melis, Tennie, Wyman & Hermann 2015).

Prosocial behavior can also be referred to as a broad category of  behaviours that includes any action that provides benefit to others like charitable, donations, community service, teamwork behavior etc. These actions may be motivated by empathy and by concern about the welfare and rights of others as well as for egoistic or practical concerns (Eisenberg, Fabes and Spinrad 2010).

Helping is the function of either relatively selfish or relatively unselfish motives (Baron & Byrne 2012). For centuries, it was assumed that all human behavior including the helping of others is egoistically motivated. The term egoism refers to selfish motive to pursue some sort of personal gain or benefits through targeted behavior such as helping others. But all the times, under some circumstances, the egoism motives account for the helping. On the other hand, empathy is an emotional response that refers to feelings of compassion, sympathy, tenderness and the like or to perceive plight of another person without any selfish motives.

Prosocial behavior is a conducted or planned action to help others, disregarding the helper’s motives. It involves sincere assistance (Altruism) which is entirely motivated by self interest.

It activities implies to attention and assistance towards other people, or devotion (love, loyalty, service) which are rendered to others without any expectation to get something in return (Myers, 2014).

The purest forms of prosocial behavior might be motivated by altruism, an unselfish interest in helping another person. According to Sanstock (2007), the circumstances most likely to evoke altruism are empathy for an individual in need or a close relationship between the benefactor and the recipient. However, striking findings from social psychology have demonstrated that sometimes we fail to help, particularly in the presence of others. Darley and Latane (1968, 1970, Latane & Darley, 1968) were the first to assess the so-called bystander effect experimentally. They found that the presence of other potential helpers decreased participant’s likelihood of helping. Although there are many influences on prosocial behavior of particular interest to many researchers is the number of other people present who could act prosocially, but likely won’t. The probability of the bystander helping someone in need is inversely related to the number of bystanders present (Aronson, Wilson, Akert & Sommers, 2016).

In 1964, the story surrounding Kitty Genovese’s murder was shocking enough to receive national media coverage. Kitty Genovese was attacked by a stranger and in the process of the attack thirty–eight (38) of her neighbors heard her screams and witnessed her murder from their windows, but none called the police, much less intervened (Rosenthal, 1964/1999).

It would be nice to believe that this was an isolated incident, but less extreme examples happens every day. Essentially, the bystander effect suggests that individuals are less likely to offer assistance in an emergency and are generally slower to respond when other witnesses are around. It’s not that people are primarily apathetic or that they fear reprisal, rather the presence of a group actively inhibits an individual from acting in an emergency situation (Latane & Darley 1970). A number of studies by Latane, Darley and their students have been carried out for this effect. For example, one such study examined how people react to ambiguous but potentially dangerous situations (Latane & Darley 1968).  In this study the participants were male college students who believed that they were waiting to be interviewed about problems with urban life. While the student was filling out the preliminary forms, the room began to fill with acrid smoke. Participants who waited alone generally reported the smoke calmly almost as soon as they noticed it. When the participants were waited with two confederates who were trained not to respond to the smoke, only 10% reported the problem before the designated 6 minutes stopping point. Surprisingly, however, when the participants waited with two other naive participants, response rates were still low. When all three students were completely free to respond, the inaction of one inhibited the action of the other two. Latane & Darley (1968) suggested that the reason this happens is that each individual attempts to determine the danger present in the situation simultaneously.

Through these and other studies (e.g Darley & Latene 1968, Darley & Latene 1969, Latene &  Darley 1970) built a model of the stages of decisions that must be made before bystanders will intervene in an emergency.

First, bystanders need to notice the emergency. Bystanders then need to interpret the situation as one in which action is necessary and then further interpret it as one in which they specifically should react. Next, bystanders need to determine what form the action should take. Finally, they must actually act. The longer bystanders wait to respond, the less likely they are to even actually respond.

However, there are many other variables that may influence bystander intervention, including whether or not the situation is an emergency (a danger is posed to a victim or situations in which a villain has infringed upon the rights of others and prompt action is necessary).

Personality is one of the main concerns contributing to prosocial behaviors. It refers to an enduring system of characteristics that individual carry from one situation to another, which affects their behavior across these contexts (Caplan, 2013). Personality traits are dimension of individual differences in tendencies to show consistent patterns of thoughts, feelings and actions, these traits shape how individuals direct their attention and activate specific goals (McCrae & Costa, 2014).  Certain traits direct attention outwardly towards others, leading to individuals to pay attention to others need and recognize opportunities to help others. Some personality traits, such as anger and aggression result in disengagement of prosocial behavior.

The relationship of individual personality traits and specific criteria has been great when traits are linked to theoretically relevant variables described in the Five Factor Model (FFM) of personality consisting of extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness to experience (Furnham, Treglown, Hyde & Trickey, 2016).

THE FIVE FACTOR MODEL OF PERSONALITY

Extraversion

Extraversion is characterized by excitability, sociability, talkativeness, assertiveness and high amounts of emotional expressiveness. Extraverts are energetic and optimistic while the introverts tend to be more reserved and have less energy to expend in social settings. Extraverts commonly render help towards both their family members, friends and strangers.

Agreeableness

This personality dimension includes attributes such as trust, altruism, kindness, affection and other prosocial behaviors. People who are high in agreeableness tend to be more cooperative while those disagreeable person’s tend to be more competitive, egocentric and sometimes even manipulative. Wilkowski, Robinson and Meier (2016) claimed that the individuals with high agreeableness have a tendency to perform prosocial behaviors towards their family members, friends/acquaintances and strangers.

Conscientiousness

Conscientious refers to self-control and the active process of planning, organizing and carrying out tasks (Barrick & Mount 2014). The conscientious person is purposeful, strong willed and determined. He plan ahead, think about how his behavior affects others, and are mindful of deadlines. High conscientious people tend to be organized and mindful of details; they plan ahead of time while low conscientious people fail to plan ahead and fail to organize things. Conscientious individuals render prosocial behavior only toward their family members.

Neuroticism

Neuroticism is a personality trait characterized by sadness, fear, emotional instability, anger, disgust, guilt, and embarrassment. Neurotic individuals tend to experience mood swings, anxiety and sadness. Individuals with this personality trait tends to be less prosocial and altruistic, people who are high in this trait experience mood swings, irritability and sadness while those low in this trait may be too pessimistic and self-obsessed to be able to regularly offer help to others.

Openness to experience

This trait features characteristics such as imagination, curiosity, attentiveness to inner feelings and insight. People with this trait render help mostly towards strangers, people who are high in this trait tend to have a broad range of interests, adventurous and creative while people low in this trait are often much more traditional and may struggle with abstract thinking.

Most psychologist agree that gender is one of the most important social categories (Weatherall and Gallois, 2014) and it is probably one of the first thing we notice when we meet a new person. Eagly (1987) supports the argument that women are more altruistic in their helping. Women tend to provide emotional support and counseling and they also show more compassion towards those in need of help. They are more likely than men to display a care moral orientation in which moral dilemmas are resolved with a focus on a desire to maintain relationships and a responsibility not to cause hurt. Consistent with gender roles, men more than women tend to report higher levels of agenetic attributes.

Meta-analyses investigating sex differences in helping behavior find that men help more often than women (Fischer et al, Eagly & Crowey 2011). However, this may be more particularly true when the situation is defined as an emergency, allowing men to act in more heroic ways (Eagly & Crowlely, 1986). On the other hand, in everyday situations, gender differences in helping behavior may be less likely, if men exhibit heroic and chivalrous helping behavior according to the social- role theory of gender and helping, then one would think that women are more likely to receive help in emergency situations (likely from male bystanders) but, similarly gender differences in receiving help may disappear in non-emergency situations.

Eagly (1987) suggest that male predominance in heroism is in part due to the requirements for the rewards which state that the act must be an attempt to save another life that puts the actor’s own life at risks and occurs outside of the individuals occupational role. These awards often involve emergency rescues of strangers and thus draw on qualities of physical strength and risk –taking that are central to the male gender role. The idea that others expectations reinforce gendered notions of helping is consistent with the finding that men tend to help more than women particularly when the helping request is witnessed by an audience.

Statement of the problem    

Prosocial behavior which is characterized by a concern about the rights, feelings and welfare of others has been in existence among undergraduates, males and females inclusive in various institutions. This helping behavior noticed among undergraduates has also been proven to be both theoretical and practical because it tends to have substantial influence on students irrespective of their gender role, age, and personality. Bystander effect, gender and personality have been noted among various factors which influence prosocial behavior. However, the researcher wonder how these variables “Bystanders effect”, “Gender” and “Personality” can influence prosocial behavior of undergraduates in Imo State University and also to see if the research results will correspond with previous researches that employed experimental method.

Purpose of the study

This study is generally aimed at ascertaining the influence of bystander effect, gender and personality on prosocial behavior among undergraduates in Owerri.

The specific objectives of the study are:

1. To investigate the influence of bystander effect on prosocial behavior among undergraduates.
2. To investigate the influence of gender on prosocial behavior among undergraduates.
3. To investigate the influence of personality trait (ie Big Five Model) on prosocial behavior among undergraduates.

Operational definitions of terms

Bystander effect:- This is a phenomenon which suggests that individuals/ people are less likely to offer assistance or render help in an emergency situation when others  are present. It is measured in this study using the Bystander Intervention Inventory (BII). The BII scale was created by Ekezie (2021) for this study. It was modeled after the Bowes-Sperry and O’ Leary-Kelly (2006) observer intervention behavior typology.

Gender:- This refers to a socio-cultural dimension of being either a male or a female.

Personality trait:- This refers to relatively enduring characteristics that influence an individual’s behavior across many situations. This is measured using the Big Five personality dimension.

Big Five Inventory (BFI):- This is an instrument developed by John O.P (1990). The 44 item inventory is one of the six psychological instruments which assess personality which are; Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Openness to experience, Neuroticism, and Extroversion.

Agreeableness:- This personality dimension is characterized by being compassionate, trust, altruism, kindness, affection and other prosocial behavior. People who are high in this trait tend to show altruistic behavior towards their family members, friends and strangers.

Conscientiousness:- This trait is characterized by self-disciplined, good impulse control, being organized and goal directed. Conscientious individuals tend to render help only to their family members.

Extraversion:- This trait is characterized by excitability, sociability, talkativeness, assertiveness and high amount of emotional expressiveness. Extroversion individuals commonly render help to their family members, friends, or acquaintances and strangers.

Neuroticism:- This trait is characterized by sadness, moodiness, and  emotional instability. People with this trait are less altruistic towards others.

Openness to experience:- This personality dimensions is characterized with traits such as imagination and insight. Individuals who possess this trait render help mostly to strangers.

Prosocial behavior:- It is a behavior that primarily benefit others without  the intention or interest of being rewarded. This is measured in this study using Altruistic Behavior Scale (ABS) developed by Baston and Week (1996).

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Pages:  48

Category: Project

Format:  Word & PDF         

Chapters: 1-5                                 

Material contains Table of Content, Abstract and References.

ABSTRACT

The study investigated personality and gender as predictors of coping behavior among suspects in the police custody in Imo State. Two hundred participants were selected through a convenient sampling technique. The participants were between ages 22 to 46 with a mean age of 34.22. Six hypotheses were postulated and tested. Two instruments were used in the study; Brief COPE Inventory and Big Five Personality Inventory (BFI). A cross sectional survey design was adopted; One Way ANOVA and multiple regressions were used in analyzing the data. Results showed that of all the five dimensions of the Big Five only conscientiousness had influence on coping behavior among suspects in the police custody. Result also revealed that gender had no significant influence on coping behavior among suspects in the police custody. Suspects in the police suffer due to the condition of the Nigerian police cell, some suspects contact deadly diseases before the end of their stay in the police cell, however, the government should try and improve the structure of the police cells. All suspects in the police custody are not taken care of, they are not well fed and as such, most of them are suffering from malnutrition. From the findings, the study recommended that; the abovementioned issues should be looked into, taking cognizance of the fact that they are Nigerian citizens. Nigerian Police officers on their own part should try to use humanistic approach in dealing with suspects knowing that they are humans, and Nigerian citizens.

 

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

The psychology of personality is a very broad topic, to which people have taken diverse theoretical approaches (Adams & Olson 2010) personality is easy to observe but hard to pin down. According to Allport (1961), personality is the dynamic organization within the person of the psychological and physical systems that underlie that person’s pattern of actions, thoughts, and feelings, what dynamics are assumed, however and what systems are proposed to underlie those dynamics vary greatly across theoretical viewpoints. According to researchers at the personality project, personality is the coherent pattern of affect, cognition and desires (goals) as they lead to behavior (Revelle, 2013). Meanwhile, the American Psychology Association (APA) defines personality as individual differences in characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving (APA, 2017). However you define personality, its an important part of who you are. In fact, personality shows a positive correlation with life satisfaction (Boyce, Wood, & Powdthavee, 2013). With personality having such a large impact on our lives, its important to have a reliable way to conceptualize and measure it.

The most prevalent personality framework is the Big Five, also known as the five factor model of personality. Not only does this theory of personality apply to people in many countries and cultures around the world (Schmitt et al., 2007), it provides a reliable assessment scale for measuring personality.

The factors of personality traits are neuroticism, agreeableness, extroversion, openness to experience and conscientiousness. These five factors do not provide completely exhaustive explanations of personality, but they are known as the Big Five because they encompass a large portion of personality related terms. The five factors are not necessarily traits in and of themselves, but factors in which many related traits and characteristics fit. Openness to experience has been described as the depth and complexity of an individual’s mental life and experiences (John & Srivastava, 1999). It is also sometimes called intellect or imagination. It concerns people’s willingness to try new things, their ability to be vulnerable, and their capability to think outside the box. An individual who is high in openness to experience is likely someone who has a love of learning, enjoys the arts, engages in a creative career or hobby, and likes meeting new people (Lebowitz, 2016). Conscientiousness is a trait that can be described as the tendency to control impulses and act in socially acceptable ways, behaviours that facilitate goal directed behavior (John and Srivastava, 1999). Conscientious people excel in their ability to delay gratification, work within the rules, and plan and organize effectively. People high in conscientiousness are likely to be successful in school and in their careers, to excel in leadership positions, and to doggedly pursue their goals with determination and forethought. While people low on conscientiousness are much more likely to procrastinate and to be flighty, impetuous, and impulsive (Lebowitz, 2016). People high in extroversion tend to seek out opportunities for social interaction, where they are often the”life of the party.” They are comfortable with others, are gregarious, and are prone to action rather than contemplation (Lebowitz, 2016). People high in agreeableness tend to be well liked, respected, and sensitive to the needs of others. They likely have few enemies and are affectionate to their friends and loved ones, as well as sympathetic to the plights of strangers (Lebowitz, 2016). Those high in neuroticism are generally prone to anxiety, sadness, worry, and low self esteem. They may be temperamental or easily angered, and they tend to be self conscious and unsure of themselves (Lebowitz, 2016).

Broadly speaking, personality and temperament all refers to characteristics   patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviours over time and across situations. Although temperament often refers to traits reflecting  predominantly biological predispositions. Coping has also been described as “personality in action under stress” (Bolger, 1990, P.525). Therefore, personality and gender coping among suspects is the ability of male and female suspects to cope under stress when in police custody. Numerous models have been used to describe the structure of coping, with distinctions between problem and emotion-focused coping, engagement (approach, active) and disengagement (avoidant) coping, and primary (assimilative) and secondary (accommodative), control coping is the most widely used (Compass, Connor-smith, Saltzman, Thomsen & wardsworth,2001 and Skinner, Edge, Altman & Sherwood 2003). Coping means to invest ones conscious effort, to solve personal and interpersonal problems, in other to try to master, minimize or tolerate stress and conflict Weiten, W. & Lloyd, M.A. (2008).

The psychological coping mechanisms are commonly termed coping strategies or coping skills. The terms coping generally refers to adaptive (constructive) coping strategies. That is strategies which reduce stress. The effectiveness of the coping effort depends on the type of stress, the individual and the circumstances. Coping responses are partly controlled by personality (habitual traits), but also partly by the environment, particularly the nature of the stressful environment Carver, Charles, S.: CornorSmith, Jennifer (2010). Research like Weiten (2008), for instance, identifies four types of coping strategies:, W. & Lloyd, M.A. (2008). Like Appraisal focused (adaptive cognitive), Problem focused (adaptive behavioural), Emotion focused, Occupation focused W. & Lloyd, M.A. (2008).

Appraisal focused strategies occur when the person modifies the way they think for example: employing denial, or distancing oneself from the problem. People may alter the way they think about a problem by altering their goals and values, such as by seeing the humor in a situation: some have suggested that humor may play a greater role as a stress moderator among women than men J. Worell (2001). People using problem focused strategies try to deal with the cause of their problem. They do this by finding out information on the problem and learning new skills to manage the problem. Problem focused coping is aimed at changing or eliminating the source of the stress. However, problem focused coping may not be necessarily adaptive, but backfire, especially in the uncontrollable case that one cannot make the problem go away Harrington & Rick (2013). Emotion focused strategies involve: releasing pent up emotions, distracting oneself, managing hostile feelings, meditating, using systematic relaxation procedures. Emotion focused coping is oriented toward managing the emotions that accompany the perception of stress Brannon, Linda, Feist, & Jess (2009). The focus of this coping mechanism is to change the meaning of the stressor or transfer attention away from it. Example, reappraising tries to find a more positive meaning of the cause of the stress in order to reduce the emotional component of the stressor. Emotion focused coping is well suited for stressors that seem uncontrollable (ex. a terminal illness diagnosis, or the loss of a loved one) Carver, C.S. (2011).

Evidence has shown that those in police custody face challenges of not being well fed, restricted movement and lack of enough space in their various prison cell during their custody in the hands of the police force. These challenges have made it so difficult for suspects to really cope while in police custody. It is on this note that this study seeks to investigate the influence of gender and personality on coping of suspects in police custody in Imo State.

Statement of the Problem

The bulk of the literature on relations between personality and coping is based on broad, dispositional measures of coping, which are prone to repointing biases and do not reflect the transactional nature of stress and coping. The police have a key role to play in protecting and respecting individuals’ rights, especially as regards persons considered to be in situations of vulnerability because of the interplay between their status in a particular society and the social context in which they find themselves (e.g. children, women, sexual minorities, disabled people and migrants). When members of vulnerable groups are arrested and detained by the police, particular care is required; steps may need to be taken to address their particular requirements and needs. For example, the police may need to make allowances for physically disabled persons to keep their crutches at all times in order to maintain their mobility, even when officers are concerned that this may pose a risk to security. In some countries it is common that, instead of protecting people in situations of vulnerability, the police participate in the prevailing stigmatization processes. For example, migrants and foreigners in xenophobic societies, populations in homophobic societies, and those with mental illness or intellectual impairment in confession-led legal systems may be more at risk of ill-treatment by the police; such persons should be given particular attention by monitoring bodies. The additional needs and protection required by socially marginalized groups in no way implies that detainees representative of the ‘majority’ should be discriminated against; instead, reasonable adjustments should be made to standard practices and/or structures in order to respect the rights of detainees who would otherwise be disadvantaged or placed at risk.

Persons in police custody may be at risk of abuse from other detainees. If detainees are brought to cells without previous risk assessment by the police, it may result in fights, rapes, and other types of violence or even death. Racial and ethnic issues, as well as sexual orientation, are among the key factors that contribute to violence in police cells. Police acquiescence in detainees’ detrimental conduct to each other is unacceptable. Therefore, monitors should pay particularly attention to situations in which the police have, or might, ‘turn a blind eye’ to inter-detainee violence. It is the police’s duty to ensure that there is no violence among detainees. As far as persons with disabilities are concerned, the police must adapt to their needs through instituting “reasonable accommodation”.

According to Bishop et al., (2001), problems inherent to retrospective self report of coping may partly explain why the direct effects of personality on coping and the differences between effects for dispositional and situation specifically.

Most suspects in custody of the police have faced a lot of stressful condition such as unkept cell condition, inadequate feeding, inhuman torture and restriction of their freedom are various areas which suspects in the police custody face difficulties. Some of the suspects may cope by keeping to themselves, being open and keeping their minds away from the situation is a means which is used to enable suspects endeavor to cope. Some researchers have failed to adequately ascertain the nature of suspects coping personality and how gender predicts coping among suspects. Based on this, the study tends to examine the influence of gender and personality on coping behaviour of suspects in police custody in Imo State.

Purpose of the Study

The major purpose of this study is to investigate gender and personality as predictors of coping behaviors of suspects in police custody in Imo State. Specifically, the objectives of this study are:

1. To determine whether personality will predict coping among suspects in police custody.
2. To determine whether gender will predict coping among suspects in police custody.
3. To determine whether personality and gender will jointly interact to predict coping among suspects in police custody.

Operational definition of terms

Personality: This can be defined as the characteristics sets of behaviors, cognitions, and emotional patterns that evolve from biological and environmental factors. This refers to extraversion, openness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and agreeableness. Personality will be measured using Big Five Inventory (BFI) by John, Donnahue & Kentle (1991).

Gender: This refers to sets of characteristics or traits that are associated with certain biological sex of being male or female.

Coping Behaviour: Coping behavior is often defined as efforts to prevent or diminish threat, harm and loss to reduce associated distress as measured by BRIEF COPE Inventory (BCI) by Carver, Scheier & Weintraub (1989).

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Pages:  50

Category: Project

Format:  Word & PDF        

Chapters: 1-5

Material contains Table of Content, Abstract and References.

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the influence of Stress and Body Mass on Psychological Health of Ageing People in Imo State. Two hypotheses were postulated and tested. One hundred and eighty three (183) participants were selected through convenience sampling technique, from Ojiama-Okwellw in Onuimo Local Government of Imo State. They comprised of One hundred  and four (104) males and seventy nine (79) females with age ranged from 50-67 years and a mean age of 43.16 years. The participants were administered with psychophysiological symptom checklist (PSC) developed by Omoluabi, (1987). Psychach Scale (PAS) developed by Holden et al. (2001). Cross section survey design was adopted. Multiple regression statistics was used to analyse data. Result revealed that stress and body mass had no significant influence on psychological health of ageing people in Imo state. Recommendations and suggestions were made based on the implications of the findings.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the study

The problem of psychological health is important with respect to how we function and adapt and with respect to whether our lives are satisfying and productive. Indeed, throughout the world, psychological health and wellbeing basically has to do with question: how are you? Or how is your mood?

Because of the constraints of the environment sturctues, psychological health, psychologists have found that it actually involves two separate issues. There is an upside and downside, both of which needs to be considered.

The upside involves two factors; your mood either positive or negative and your relationship “positive emotional ties” it entails if you are happy and if you do have a friend? In addition to feelings of emotional satisfaction, a positive mood also depends whether you generally feel calm and peaceful.

On the  downside, emotional wellbeing involves three factors; do you suffer anxiety? Are you depressed? And do you feel like you have lost control and can’t do anything about your feelings. This is the experience of psychological distress. Although there are two parts of the equation for general purposes, it can usually  be said that distress and happiness are two sides of a coin, usually, people are either happy or sad, and if their mood is not good they are often distressed to some extent.

It is also important to know that psychological health is an issue is different  from mental or emotional disorder.

Psychological health concerns itself with how we cope, how you are doing in response and whether you find life to be interesting  and enjoyable. Although life is better when there will be up’s and down’s.

Psychological health involves a normal emotional, behavioural, and social maturity to the every dayexistence of individuals.

According to Diener and Seligman (2002), there are so many reasons why one has to take his psychological health more important than just living a normal life. He went further to say that every individual who is been loved or hated will eventually develop a positive or negative impression about themselves. Therefore, he explained that psychological health refers to how individuals of different classes, social status and personality passive their emotional and physical state to be in accordance with how they want their lives to be and the level they want to attain in life.

More so, he said  there are some factors  which influences psychological health of an individual , these are self-esteem, feeling loved, confidence, family break up or loss, physical ill health etc.

Self-esteem is said to be the value we place on ourselves, our positive self-image and sense of self-worth. People  with high  self-esteem generally have positive out look and are satisfied with themselves most of the time.

Secondly, feeling loved can also influence psychological health as children who feel loved, trusted and accepted by their parents and others are far more likely to have good esteem.

They are also more likely to feel comfortable, safe, secure and are better able to communicate and develop positive relationships with others, this leads to positive psychological health.

Confidence can be seen as another factor  that influence  psychological health as  youth should be encourage to discover their own  unique qualities and have the zeal to face challenges and take risk. Young people who are brought

up to have confidence in themselves are more likely to have a positive attitude and to live a happy and productive life.

In addition to this, family break up or loss can influence psychological health. Separation or divorce or the loss of a parent or sibling is extremely painful as finding ways to cope and to adjust to the changes wrought by these events criticalforevery one but particularly for ageing people, how grief is handled can affect them negatively.

Lastly, physical ill health such as diseases, injuries and other physical problems contribute to poor psychological health. Some physical causes such as birth, trauma, brain injuries or drug abuse can directly affect brown chemistry and contribute to mental illness. More commonly, poor physical health can affect self esteem and people’s ability to meet their goals, which lead to depression or unhappiness and may affect psychological health of an individual.

It is further said to be the inability of our body to respond  to any present demand at a particular period of time.
Another variable of interest  is stress. Stress is generally said to be a feeling that people tend to have when they are overloaded and struggling to come out of it.

In small doses, stressors can help give us increased energy and alertness even help to keep us focused on the  problem at hand. This type of stress is good, people may refer to the experience of this type of stress as feeling “PUMPED” or “WIRED”.  As the  level of  pressure  gets too great, stress eventually surpass our ability to cope with it in a positive way. Often, people describe themselves as being stressed out, burned out or at whit end. At this point, it is important to find positive and productive ways to deal with the stress and more importantly to address the person or situation that is causing the stress.

The best treatment for stress is to prevent getting into situations that are likely to overwhelm your ability to cope with situations at hand. This is not always possible as the stressor’s  may often come from outside source that are beyond  your control, it is important to distinguish between our  response to usual stressor and other conditions that can feel like stress, such as panic disorders, anxiety disorder or depression.

In other words, stress can be caused by any type of physical or emotional stimulus or situation. Often,  people speak of different types of stress such as relationship stress, parenting stress. Some kind of stress may be related to specific stages of life such as ageing, pregnancy, the teen years, or the menopausal transition. Children can also be affected by stress.

The body reacts to these  changes with physical, mental and emotional responses, the body’s autonomic nervous system has built in stress response that causes physiological changes to allow the body to combat stressful situations , prolonged activation of the stress response causes

There are some factors which possibly affect uncontrolled stress, these are

• Social and financial problems
• Physical or mental illness
• Lack of social support network
• Family history of stress or family disorder

According to Longston (1994). There are four major types of stress which includes; Survival stress, internal stress, environment stress and fatigue and over worked stress

• Survival stress is a common response to danger in all people and animals. When being afraid of someone or something hurting you, your body naturally responds with a burst of energy so that you will be better and able to survive the dangerous situation or escape it all together
• Internal stress entails worrying so much especially of something you can’t really do little or no reason about for no reason at all. This is internal stress and it is one of the most important kind of stress to understand and manage
• Environmental stress simply means response to things around us that can cause stress for example; noise, crowd and much pressure from work  place or family. The awareness of the stress can go a long way  in helping to control or manage the stress level
• Fatigue and over labour stress is a kind of stress that builds up over a longtime and can take time out for relaxation at work.

Stress affect every make up of human which renders them unable to concentrate or think clearly, some times they may suffer a mental breakdown which will affect their psychological health negatively

Another variable that may influence psychological health is body mass index (BMI) when determining whether a patient underweight, healthy weight, overweight or clinically obese.

The body mass index or queletet index is measured of relative size based on the mass and height of an individual. The index was developed or devised by AdolphQueletet  during the causes of developing what he called “social physics” 1830-1850.

Body mass index for a person is defined as their body mass divided by the square of their weight with the value universally being given in units of kg/mR.

There are a wide variety of contents, where the BMI of an individual can be used as a simple method to assess how much the recorded body weight departs from what is healthy  or desirable for a person of that weight to squared heightowes its popularity to a paper published in July 1972 edition of the journal of chronic disease of Ancel keys.The body mass of an individual may also be determined using a chart which displays BMI as a function of mass & weight using contour lines or colons for different BMI categories and may use two different units of measurement.

This found BMI to be the best proxy for body fat percentage among ratios of weight and height. BMI provides a simple number, allowing health professionals to discuss weight problem more objectively with their patients.

When an individual is overweight or clinically obese, people tends to evaluate them negatively which affects their self-worth negatively and lowers their self-esteem. Clinically, obesity goes with sickness like diabetes, high blood pressure etc. when this happens, the individual’s psychological health may be affected negatively.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Therefore, this research want to look at some of the effects of stress and body mass as predictors of psychological health of ageing people.Over the years, stress and body mass are  predictors of psychological health particularly among ageing people was a thing known to the western countries as a result of excessive consumption of chemicals foods. But in recent times, there is a high record of such act amongst our aged ones or ageing parents in our Nigerian society especially among rural dwellers where the agencies responsible for healthy life style is situated only in the urban areas. Most ageing people today in the society are faced with a lot of ailment, which makes old age burdensome and accompanied with pain. Some of this are associated problems of psychological health of ageing people, such as, Arthritis, diabetes, eye problem, waist pain, high blood pressure, hypertitis etc.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The researcher wants to use this study to proffer solutions on how aged people could bettertheir life’s and to investigate if:

• Specifically, could stress predicts psychological health of ageing people
• Specifically, could body mass predict psychological health of ageing people
• Specifically, the research or intends to investigate the impact of stress and body on the psychological well being of the ageing ones

OPERATIONAL DEFINATION OF TERMS

Stress can be defined as a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances. This will be measured with a psychological symptom check list (PSC) developed by Omoluabi (1987).Psychological health simply refers to the absence of psychiatric symptoms such as depression, fear, anxiety and worry in any individual’s life. This will be assessed with a Psycheche scale developed by Holden, Mehta, Cunningham and Meleod, (2001).

Body mass can be defined as a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women. This will be measured using meters for height and kilogram for weight. Body mass index will be gotten by dividing the individual’s weight in kilogram by their height in meters squared.

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Pages:  53

Category: Project

Format:  Word & PDF        

Chapters: 1-5

Material contains Table of Content, Abstract and References.