IFE PsychologIA

COVID-19 lockdown diaries: a qualitative study of the mental health experiences of parents in Accra, Ghana

2023-11-28T11:27:54+00:00

Introduction: Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to multiple disruptions across the entire structure of society. This study was carried out to explore the mental health experiences of parents during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and how they coped with those experiences. There were reported increases in distress and depressive symptoms as parents had to handle multiple roles in a very uncertain and stressful environment as a result of emergency lockdowns and widespread school closures.
Methodology: The study used a qualitative design to explore the experiences of 15 parents during the 2021 COVID-19 lockdown period in Accra, Ghana. Interview transcripts were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) and themes reflecting the key concepts were constructed. Results: Three themes emerged; causes of mental health problems, experiences of mental health problems and coping as a mental health resource.
Conclusions: The study demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown took a heavy toll on parents and families in general in terms of their mental. The usefulness of findings from this study in developing social interventions for national emergencies and safeguarding the mental health and well-being of families are discussed. The present study calls for culturally appropriate and sustainable family-friendly policies that may prioritize the needs of parents during national disasters, pandemics, and beyond. The findings have important implications for public policy on healthcare especially in terms of mental health, social welfare, and education. Specifically, families would be helped by adequate planning and provision of institutionalized financial systems and reliefs in emergencies. Also, the use of telehealth to provide easy access to mental healthcare will provide access to support for families who need it and help prevent negative mental health consequences.

Predictive impacts of associative-stigma and duration of caregiving on anxiety disorder and depression levels of primary caregivers of patients with mental disorders in Nigeria

2023-11-28T11:49:08+00:00

Caregivers of patients with mental disorder come with different challenges. In this study, the impacts of associative stigma and duration of caregiving on anxiety disorder and depression levels of primary caregivers of patients with mental disorders in Nigeria were examined. 300 participants comprising of 95 males and 205 females, with age range of 18 to 64 years (M=44.47, SD= 4.25) years participated in the study. Participants were all caregivers to patients with notable or recognizable mental disorders at Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Uselu, Benin-City Edo State. Purposive sampling method was employed in the selection of the participants. Beck’s Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Brief-Stigma-By-Association Scale were instruments for data collection. Cross-Sectional Survey design was adopted, while data were analyzed using Pearson correlations and 2-step hierarchical multiple regression statistics. Results show that both associative stigma and duration of caregiving positively predicted anxiety disorder and depression among primary caregivers of patients with mental disorders (p<.01) respectively. The findings create the need for inclusion of stigma reduction programmes and support services for
caregivers as well as increased sensitization of the public in curbing stigmatization of caregivers of patients with
mental disorders.

Emotional intelligence, motivation to work and prevalence of work-related conflicts: a mixed method approach

2023-11-29T15:36:33+00:00

This study aimed to evaluate emotional intelligence (EI), motivation to work and prevalence of work-related conflicts among workers in a beverage manufacturing company. The study was enthused by the pertinence of EI, motivation to work and workplace conflicts in improving organizational performance. A mixed method approach was adopted, where employees participated in a mixed method survey. Construct measures for EI, motivation to work and workrelated conflicts were analyzed using Spearman's rank-order correlation, logistic regression and principal component analysis, respectively. Findings show that employees are more comfortable managing emotional challenges with colleagues and specialists. Statistically significant positive relationships exist in how employees perceived, understood, used and managed EI in the workplace. Motivation to work was significantly predicted by employee’s department and way of managing emotional challenges, χ2 (11) = 47.097, p < .000. Analysis of work-related conflicts identified two dimensions, aligning with Mayer and Salovey's model on using, managing, perceiving and understanding EI. The study provides an in-road towards understanding relationship among EI constructs, predicting motivation to work, ascertaining the dimensions of prevalent work-related conflicts. This is the first empirical evidence on organizational EI, motivation to work and prevalence of work-related conflicts in the beverage manufacturing industry. Organizations can increase productivity, motivate employees and reduce work-related conflicts by paying adequate attention to their psychosocial wellbeing at work and outside the workplace. Also, recognizing the relationship between different EI constructs makes it easier for organizations to deploy mechanisms that enhance motivation to work, while effectively dealing with work-related conflicts.

Psychological ownership and job security as predictors of work engagement among bank employees

2023-11-28T16:20:08+00:00

Failure of employees to understand that certain psychological factors plays important role in their ability to adapt and cope with the dynamic change inherent in the banking business environment can affect their levels of engagement in the job. Based on this and other reasons, the study investigated psychological ownership and perceived job security as predictors of work engagement among bank workers. Ex-post facto research design was adopted and purposive sampling technique was used to select 333 bank employees in Ibadan. Findings revealed that job security was a significant determinant of work engagement and its dimensions. Further, dimensions of psychological ownership and job security had significant influence on work engagement and its dimensions (vigor, dedication and absorption) (p < .05). Based on the findings, conclusions and recommendations were made. For instance, it was recommended that bank employees be allowed to take ownership and control of their jobs, broaden their understanding about the job, carefully communicating negative feedback (if any), providing support and reassurance of the continuity of the job.

Microinsurance accessibility and growth of female owned businesses In Lagos State, Nigeria

2023-11-28T16:47:58+00:00

Entrepreneurship or entrepreneurial activities are essential for economic development of any nation which is one of the crucial mechanisms for a nation’s sustainable economic development. It could be seen as a key engine that accelerates economic growth and employment opportunity creation. It is important to note that vulnerability to risk is a reoccurrence factor in the lives of the poor and a major cause of persistent poverty in developing countries like Nigeria, of which Lagos state with its high GDP is inclusive. The worst affected is the female entrepreneurs). Microinsurance is a form of insurance that protects the risks of the poor in the society and as such will be useful in protecting the risks of the female entrepreneurs who are still within the poverty margin. It is believed that micro insurance offers one major window to mitigate such risk in the society. Micro insurance is designed to cover the poor and the business activities hence, it is good for small scale enterprises, especially those being owned by women. The main objective of this study is to establish the role of micro insurance in the growth of female owned enterprises. Descriptive survey research design was used for this study to empirically investigate the impact of micro insurance on performance of female entrepreneurs in Lagos State using a total of 227 respondents for the study. The results from the study showed that Micro-insurance has a role to play in the management of female owed enterprises in Lagos, Nigeria; through this, women can use it to fight poverty. Hence, the microinsurance companies should create more awareness of their products for women entrepreneurs.

Sexual dysfunctions as correlates of marital satisfaction among couples in tertiary institutions in Benue State, Nigeria

2023-11-28T17:01:58+00:00

The study examined sexual Desire disorder and Arousal disorder as correlates of Sexual Satisfaction among couples in tertiary institutions in Benue State. Correlational survey design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 2626 academic staff while 322 married academic staff were sampled using multi-stage sampling technique for all the 9 tertiary institutions in Benue State for the study. The instruments for data collection used in the study were Couple Satisfaction Index (CSI) and Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (SFQ) with reliability coefficients of 0.793 for Couple Satisfaction Index (CSI) and 0.0675 for Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (SFQ) respectively. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC) was used to test hypotheses at 0.05 significance. The result showed that there is a significant relationship between sexual desire disorder, arousal disorder and marital satisfaction. Based on the findings, it was recommended that couples should seek counselling early when they discover they no longer have desire for sexual intercourse with their spouse. Counsellors should use both Mindfulness-Based approach and Cognitive Behavioral therapy for couples who are experiencing sexual desire disorder and arousal disorders. The study concluded that there is positive correlation between sexual dysfunctions and marital satisfaction of couples in tertiary institutions in Benue State.

Influence of leadership styles, incentives and psychological resilience on job effectiveness among lecturers of private universities in Southwest, Nigeria

2023-11-28T17:16:32+00:00

The issue of decline in the quality of lecturers' work has been a source of public concern in recent times. Empirical researches investigating influence of leadership styles, incentives and psychological resilience on job effectiveness of lecturers in private universities are scarce. This study, therefore, investigated leadership styles, incentives and psychological resilience as determinants of job effectiveness among lecturers of private universities in Southwest, Nigeria. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. 1205 lecturers of private universities in Southwest, Nigeria were selected using the Multistage sampling procedure. Data were generated with a questionnaire on Leadership Styles, Incentives, Psychological Resilience and Job Effectiveness (α =.81). Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics at 0.05 alpha level. The result showed that: there is a significant joint influence of leadership styles, incentives and psychological resilience on job effectiveness among lecturers of private universities in Southwest, Nigeria (R²=.946, F _(3,1201) =6952.522, p<.05), revealing that 94.6% of the observed variation is accounted for by the independent variables when considered together; there is a significant relative influence of psychological resilience (β= 0.030; t=106.743), leadership styles (β =0.074; t=10.108), and incentives (β= 0.145; t=5.895) on job effectiveness of lecturers in private universities in Southwest, Nigeria. Psychological resilience should be fostered among lecturers in private universities to ensure job effectiveness, among other recommendations.

Human personality dynamics as bane of domestic violence among couples in Nigeria: the counselling perspective

2023-11-28T17:26:37+00:00

The aim of the paper is to have an insight into the implication of human dynamics on the increase domestic violence in our society among couples. Human dynamics is the attitudinal change inherent in an individual with difference in their personality and behaviors towards each other. Marriage is a system that requires whole deep understanding of partners’ behaviour; the diversity in their Psychosocial and physical adjustment to help in averting domestic violence among the couples. The couples involved in domestic violence or abuses are creation of Nature who are mentally, physically and emotionally different, and acting in distinct ways. The differences placate the attitude and interactive behavior towards each other. The sociological assumptions in the society gave man the control of the family and having absolute right over woman as provided by the culture of man dominance in family setting. While, the psychological assumption of domestic violence among couples relates to the personality dynamic which is the expression of emotions and feelings towards one another. The understanding needed in marriages determine the love and mutual co-existence of the couples, and when those expected values are not available; it causes doubts and suspicious that leads to home crisis. The couples are suspicious and misinterpret the verbal and non-verbal communication of the individual thoughts, feelings, pains, needs, dependence in the home causing domestic conflicts and violence. The Domestic violence has dimensional effects on the partners, the children who have negative experience from a violence home, the society experiences high rate of single parenting, high level of crimes and maladaptive behaviour in the society and total failure of the marriage institutions among other implications. The writers made recommendations and concluded that, there should be understanding of the differences or diversity in our personality dynamics, and ensure couples accept and tolerate one another.

Assessment of legal framework and ethics of early childhood centres in Osun State

2023-11-28T17:40:14+00:00

The study assessed the level of awareness of Early Childhood Education (ECE) personnel of the legal framework of the Child Right Act (2003) in Osun State. It also explored the perception of ECE personnel towards the legal framework of the Child Right Act (2003) in Osun State; and investigated the ethics put in place by school owners to protect the legal rights of Child Right Act (2003) at the early childhood centres in the study area. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. A descriptive survey research design was used to access and predict the views, reactions or standings of a large number of people on a limited topic like the legal framework and ethics of early childhood education centres in Osun State. The sample consisted of two hundred and sixty (260) teachers out of one thousand nine hundred and eighty-four (1,984) qualified teachers in early childhood education centres in Osun State. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select the sample for the study. Four Local Government Areas (LGAs) were used for the study. One LGA was selected in each of the three senatorial districts in the state using simple random sampling technique. The fourth LGA was selected using random sampling technique. In each LGA, thirteen centres were selected using simple random sampling technique. In each centre, five personnel were selected using simple random sampling technique totaling two hundred and sixty (260) personnel that constituted the sample for the study. One self-designed research instrument tagged ‘’Assessment of Legal Framework and Ethics of Early Childhood Centers Questionnaire’’ (ALFEECCQ) was used to collect data for the study. The data collected were analysed using frequency count and simple percentage through Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The results of the study showed that the level of awareness of personnel on the legal framework that is hinged on the Child Rights Act (2003) in ECE centres in Osun State is high with statistical value of 60.8%.

A study on the intention to lose weight among adolescent undergraduates in a private university in Osun State

2023-11-28T17:49:23+00:00

This study investigated the intention to lose weight among adolescent undergraduates in a private university in Osun state. Descriptive survey method was used in this study. The participants of the study were drawn from undergraduate students in Bowen University, Iwo, Osun state, Nigeria. From each of the ten hall of residence on Bowen University campus, a total of four hundred and sixty students who were between the ages of 15 and 21 were purposively selected to participate in the study. Out of the 460 participants selected for the study, 407 undergraduates eventually participated in the study. Data were analyzed using simple percentages and t-test. Result obtained from the study revealed that there is intention to lose weight among adolescents’ undergraduate since average mean 3.92 is greater than weighted mean 3.50. Also, there is no significance difference in the intention to lose weight of Adolescents’ undergraduates based on age (Early and late adolescents). Furthermore, result obtained from the study indicated that there is no significance difference in the intention to lose weight of male and female adolescents’ undergraduates since mean for male is 28.80 and female is 28.97. The study therefore suggests that university management should put in place measures and policies that could check the eating habit of university students. University counsellors could organize seminars and workshops on healthy eating habits for university students and healthy intentions regarding weight loss. Developmental and counselling psychologists should design psychological interventions that could be used for managing eating disorders among adolescents and university students.

The effect of counselling on psycho-social adjustment of aged people in Makurdi Metropolis

2023-11-29T05:32:57+00:00

This study examined the effect of counselling on psycho-social adjustment of aged people in Makurdi Metropolis. The study was guided by three research questions and three hypotheses. The study employed a quasi-experimental design based on non-randomized control group pretest-posttest design. The population of this study consists of 230aged people out of which 38 sampled for the study. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled “Counselling and Psycho-Social Adjustment Questionnaire (CPSAQ)” The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions. t-test statistics was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that there is a significant difference in mean scores of psychological adjustment between aged people exposed to counselling and those that are not. There is a significant difference in mean scores of economic adjustment between aged people exposed to counselling and those that are not. It also found that there is a significant difference in mean scores of emotional adjustment between aged people exposed to counselling and those that are not. It was recommended that guidance services should target at aged people to enhance their emotional and psychosocial adjustment in life, the government should make policies and implement them to fullest concerning aged people funding so as enable them meet up with their economic challenges, among others.

Moderating role of work-life balance in the relationship between organisational climate and psychological wellbeing among service occupation workers in Osun State

2023-11-29T05:37:37+00:00

Security and safety of life and properties has become a major concern for every government and societal members. The improvement in the work functioning of those saddled with such responsibilities cannot be completed without giving recourse to their wellbeing while trying to sustain societal wellbeing. The study investigated the moderating role of work-life balance in the relationship between organisational climate and psychological wellbeing among Nigerian Police and personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Ile-Ife Osun State. A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted. Purposive and convenient sampling techniques were used to select 316 participants (Males-57.0%, and females-43.0%) with mean age of 37.56 (SD=7.64). They responded to an instrument containing psychological wellbeing (α = .72), organisational climate scale (α = .83), and work-life balance scale (α = .64). Data collected were analysed using simple linear regression analysis and Hayes process macro. Results showed that psychological wellbeing increases with significant increase in organisational climate (β = .45, t = 9.07, p <.05). Work life balance had a moderating role in the indirect effect of organisational climate on psychological wellbeing (β = 0.03, SE = 0.01, 95% CI = -0.07, -.00). The study concluded that improvement in personnel’s psychological wellbeing will be meaningful with consideration of a more favourable organisational climate. In addition, achievement of a balance in their work-life further contributes to how well an improved organisational climate will reflect on their psychological wellbeing.